AQARQARHA (ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM DC.) A POTENT DRUG IN UNANI MEDICINE: A REVIEW ON ITS HISTORICAL AND PHYTO-PHARMACOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Aqarqarha (Anacyclus pyrethrum DC.) is a very famous botanical origin drug in Unani system of medicine. It is used since antiquity. It is described by Dioscorides, Galen, Avicena, Avenzoar, Ishaque bin Imran. According to Galen use of this drug is beneficial in chronic Paralysis, Khadar (numbness), toothache, intermittent fever. Rhazes and other Unani physician used it for strengthening the teeth, easy extraction of the teeth, paralysis, facial palsy, epilepsy, colitis, muqawwi-i-bah (aphrodisiac), mharrik-i- bah (sexual stimulant), and qate balgham (phelemenogogue). Usually the root of a plant is used as medicine; flowers and leaves are also used in Unani system of medicine. Various activities were evaluated like Spermatogenic, Anti-diabetic, Immunostimulating, Antidepressant, Anti-convulsant, Memory-enhancing and Anticancer Activity. It is used in various oral (Majoone, Tiryaqi, Jawarish) and local formulation (Roghan / oil, Tila / liniment, Sunoon / dentifrices, Qairooti / paste). These all findings reveal immense utility of Aqarqarha in Unani system of medicine and scope for developing as a potent therapeutic tool