A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF PUNARNAVA
Main Article Content
Keywords
Boerhavia diffusa; Punarnava; medicinal plant; phytochemical constituents; pharmacological activities; diuretic activity; hepatoprotective effect; nephroprotective effect; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory activity; traditional medicine.
Abstract
Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa ) is a well-known medicinal herb extensively utilised in Ayurvedic practice for its rejuvenating and therapeutic benefits. Traditionally prescribed for the treatment of oedema, kidney ailments, liver disorders, inflammation, and metabolic imbalances, the plant has attracted increasing scientific interest. Phytochemical studies have identified a wide range of active compounds, including alkaloids such as punarnavine, along with flavonoids, rotenoids, lignans, steroids, and glycosides. These constituents are responsible for its diverse pharmacological actions. Experimental evidence supports its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Additionally, cardioprotective effects have been reported, reinforcing its traditional applications in chronic and lifestyle-related disorders. This review summarises and critically evaluates current findings on the botanical features, phytochemical composition, and medicinal properties of Boerhavia diffusa, emphasising its therapeutic significance and potential role in modern drug development. Further clinical investigations are required to validate efficacy, safety, and standardised formulations.
References
2. Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. *Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants*. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; 1956. p. 42–43.
3. Anonymous. *The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India*. Part I, Vol. I. New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; 2001. p. 141–143.
4. Singh A, Kumar S. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* L. leaves. *Int J Pharm Sci Res*. 2010;1(2):100–104.
5. Mishra AN, Tiwari HP. Diuretic activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* roots. *Indian Drugs*. 1971;8(7):153–154.
6. Rawat AKS, Mehrotra S, Tripathi SC, Shome U. Hepatoprotective activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* L. roots—A popular Indian ethnomedicine. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 1997;56(1):61–68.
7. Chandan BK, Sharma AK, Anand KK. Boeravinone B: A new anti-inflammatory agent from *Boerhavia diffusa*. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 1991;31(3):299–307.
8. Pari L, Satheesh MA. Antidiabetic effect of *Boerhavia diffusa* in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. *J Med Food*. 2004;7(4):472–477.
9. Ahmad F, Khan RA, Rasheed S. Study of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity from plant extracts of *Boerhavia diffusa*. *Phytother Res*. 1992;6(4):211–213.
10. Agrawal B, Das S, Pandey A. Boeravinones: Rotenoid derivatives from *Boerhavia diffusa* and their biological activity. *Phytochemistry*. 1989;28(12):3451–3453.
11. Sreeja S, Sreeja S. An overview on the pharmacological properties of *Boerhavia diffusa* Linn. *Asian J Pharm Clin Res*. 2009;2(4):8–17.
12. Jain SK. *Medicinal Plants*. 5th ed. New Delhi: National Book Trust; 2016. p. 78–80.
13. Pandey R, Maurya R, Singh G, Sathiamoorthy B, Naik S. Immunomodulatory properties of *Boerhavia diffusa* Linn. *Int Immunopharmacol*. 2005;5(5):693–700.
14. Hiruma-Lima CA, Santos LC, Kushima H, Pellizzon CH, Silveira GG, Vasconcelos PC, et al. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of *Boerhavia diffusa*. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 2000;71(1–2):153–157.
15. World Health Organization. *WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants*. Vol. 4. Geneva: WHO Press; 2009. p. 62–67.
16. Sharma RK, Dash B. *Charaka Samhita*. Vol. I–III. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office; 2005.
17. Sharma PV. *Sushruta Samhita*. Vol. I–II. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Visvabharati; 2010.
18. Murthy KRS. *Ashtanga Hridaya of Vagbhata*. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2012.
19. Bhavamishra. *Bhavaprakasha Nighantu*. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2013.
20. Sharma PV. *Dhanvantari Nighantu*. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2008.
21. Narahari Pandit. *Raja Nighantu*. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan; 2014.
22. Nadkarni KM. *Indian Materia Medica*. Vol. I. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan; 2007. p. 209–212.
23. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. *Indian Medicinal Plants*. Vol. 3. Dehradun: International Book Distributors; 2006. p. 2045–2048.
24. Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. *Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants*. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; 1956. p. 42–43.
25. Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee. *The Unani Pharmacopoeia of India*. Part I, Vol. II. New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; 2007. p. 87–89.
26. Anonymous. *The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India*. Part I, Vol. I. Chennai: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; 2008. p. 156–158.
27. Jain SK. *Medicinal Plants*. 5th ed. New Delhi: National Book Trust; 2016. p. 78–80.
28. Anonymous. *The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India*. Part I, Vol. I. New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; 2001. p. 141–143.
29. Rawat AKS, Mehrotra S, Tripathi SC, Shome U. Hepatoprotective activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* L. roots—A popular Indian ethnomedicine. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 1997;56(1):61–68.
30. Chandan BK, Sharma AK, Anand KK. Boeravinone B: A new anti-inflammatory agent from *Boerhavia diffusa*. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 1991;31(3):299–307.
31. Pandey R, Maurya R, Singh G, Sathiamoorthy B, Naik S. Immunomodulatory properties of *Boerhavia diffusa* Linn. *Int Immunopharmacol*. 2005;5(5):693–700.
32. Pari L, Satheesh MA. Antidiabetic effect of *Boerhavia diffusa* in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. *J Med Food*. 2004;7(4):472–477.
33. Sreeja S, Sreeja S. An overview on the pharmacological properties of *Boerhavia diffusa* Linn. *Asian J Pharm Clin Res*. 2009;2(4):8–17.
34. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. *Indian Medicinal Plants*. Vol. 3. Dehradun: International Book Distributors; 1999. p. 2045–2049.
1. 35.Sharma PV. *Dravyaguna Vijnana*. Vol. 2. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2013. p. 570–575.
35. Anonymous. *The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India*. Part I, Vol. IV. New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; 2004. p. 98–101.
36. Charaka Samhita of Agnivesha, revised by Charaka and Dridhabala, translated by Sharma RK, Dash B. Vol. 3. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Series; 2008. p. 357–360.
2. 38.Sushruta Samhita, translated by Bhishagratna KK. Vol. 1. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012. p. 395–398.
3. 39. Bhavamishra. *Bhavaprakasha Nighantu*. Commentary by Chunekar KC. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 2010. p. 295–297.
4. 40. Nadkarni KM. *Indian Materia Medica*. Vol. 1. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan; 2007. p. 211–214.
5. 41. Singh A, Pandey MB, Singh UP, Pandey VB. Anti-inflammatory activity of *Boerhavia diffusa*. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 2005;99(2):193–196.
6. 42. Rawat AKS, Mehrotra S, Tripathi SC, Shome U. Hepatoprotective activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* roots. *J Ethnopharmacol*. 1997;56(1):61–66.
7. 43. Chandan BK, Sharma AK, Anand KK. Boeravinone B: a novel anti-inflammatory agent from *Boerhavia diffusa*. *J Nat Prod*. 1991;54(3):763–766.
8. 44. Mishra J, Singh R, Sharma V. Evaluation of diuretic activity of *Boerhavia diffusa* in experimental models. *Indian J Pharmacol*. 2001;33(1):28–31.
9. 45. Srivastava S, Verma NK, Singh VK. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of *Boerhavia diffusa* L. *Pharmacogn Rev*. 2011;5(9):1–8.
10. 46. Khare CP. *Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary*. Berlin: Springer; 2007. p. 97–98.
11. 47. Jain SK. *Medicinal Plants*. New Delhi: National Book Trust; 1991. p. 83–85.
12. 48. Patwardhan B, Mashelkar RA. Traditional medicine-inspired approaches to drug discovery. *Drug Discov Today*. 2009;14(15–16):804–811.

