Article: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF KSHAVAKA: AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT OF AYURVEDA

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.100478

Pages: 19-24

Author: Shalini *, Srishti Dhyani

Abstract: Kshavaka is an important medicinal herb which has been used in Ayurveda. This herb having immense therapeutic uses such as an effective shirovirechnopaga drug, krimihara (vermifuge) drug etc. Leaves of Kshavaka are bitter, pungent, carminative and minute seeds are sneeze inducer. In Ayurvedic system of medicine it has been used for the treatment of nasa-roga (nasal disorders), udara-roga (abdominal disorders), kushtha roga (skin disorders) etc. It also showed anti-angiogenic activity, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity. This review showed that Centipeda minima having potential to treat different diseases of their respective systems. A lot of work is required to explore this herb for proper identification, documentation and to find out useful compounds.

Keyword: Centipeda minima, Kshavaka, Shirovirechana, Nasopharyngeal tumor, Nasya