Phoenix dactylifera Linn.(PIND KHARJURA): A review

Abstract

The medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional medical practitioners for curing various diseases in their day to day practice. Phoenix dactylifera Linn. (Pind Kharjura) is the most useful traditional medicinal plant in India. Its fruit is known as Date which is the edible part of the plant. It is now considered as a valuable source of unique natural products for development of medicines and used against various diseases. Its fruit contains high amount of tannins and are used in the different disease condition like raktapitta (heamorrhage), swasa (dyspnoea), kasa (cough), daha (burning sensation), murchha (syncope), abhighata (injury) and kshaya (tuberculosis). The fruits are rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and proteins. Its fruit is sweet (madhura), astringent (kasaya) in taste. Now-a-days its fruit is being used in the different Ayurvedic formulation for the treatment of various diseases. It has different pharmacological action like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-asthamatic, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and aphrodisiac activities. Phytochemical investigation shows that the fruit contains anthocyanins, phenolics, sterols, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Present review highlights phytopharmacological and different traditional uses of Phoenix dactylifera Linn. which is mention in ancient Ayurvedic texts. This review stimulates the researchers and scientists for further work on Phoenix dactylifera.