CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON THE BENEFITS OF BHARANGI

Abstract

Bharangi in the treatment of respiratory disorders mainly- Kasa, Shwasa, Hikka, Kshatshina, Nasaroga, Swarbheda& also in Apsmara, Prameha, Pandu, Kushtha & VishaChikitsa. Charaka has not incorporated Bharangiinto Mahakashaya (50 groups of drugs according to action) but included it in Harit Shak varga. Sushrutahas categorized it in PippalyadiGana. He has mentioned it as a Panacea for epilepsy and also as Stanyashodhak (lactodepurant). Charaka, Sushruta, as well as Vagbhata have cited its usefulness in respiratory complaints. Approximately 54 synonyms of Bharangi are described in various Nighantus. Amongst these, maximum numbers of synonyms i.e. 18 are enlisted in SodhalNighantu. Dhanwantari Nighantu: In this Nighantu, synonyms of Bharangi like Angarvalli, Padma, Brahmahyashtika which explain external morphology of Bharangi & Kasaghni which tells us pharmacological activity of Bharangi are mentioned. The aqueous extract of the root bark (10 to 500µg/ml) exhibited a graded inhibition of histamine responses on the isolated guinea pig ileum and tracheal chain, but did not affect the response to acetylcholine or barium chloride. The ethanolic extract of the root bark per se showed histamine release similar to that affected by compound 48/80 in chopped pieces of guinea pig lung. However, the per cent of histamine release (37.8) caused by compound 48/80 was reduced to 7.1 when the extract was reincubated with the histamine liberator 48/80.