A REVIEW ON SWERTIA CHIRAYITA (ROXB. EX FLEM.) KARSTEN: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AYURVEDIC PHARMACOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES

Abstract

Ayurveda is holistic system of medicine which utilizes wide range of herbs occurring in nature to cure various diseases. Among them chirayita (Swertia chirayita Roxb) is one valuable herb which is used as single drug and in compound formulations for treatment of various diseases. It is also used as nutritive supplement. Ayurveda describes use of chirayita in wide range of ailments like jwar, kustha, kandu, pramehaswaasa, kaasa, aruchi, trishna,daaha, krimi,vrana.etc. Modern researches have also highlighted those uses which have been described in ayurvedic classics. Some of them are fever, malaria, anaemia, bronchial asthma, liver disorders, hepatitis, gastritis, constipation,dyspepsia, skin diseases, worms, epilepsy, ulcer, scanty urine, hypertension. Current study attempts to compile properties and medicinal uses of Swertia chirayita described in Ayurveda, along with ethnobotanical uses phytochemical and pharmacological reports.