Katphala
Katphala
Katphala
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Dravyaguna, Manjushree Research Institute of
Ayurvedic Science, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
2
Head, Quality Control Laboratory, ALN Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College, Koppa,
Karnataka.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Dravyaguna, Manjushree Research Institute of
Ayurvedic Science, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
ABSTRACT
Article Received on
13 Sep. 2019, Pain said to be one of the nature’s earliest sign of morbidity. Pain is
Revised on 02 Nov. 2019, also one of the commonest presentation seen in medical practice due to
Accepted on 23 Nov. 2019,
DOI: 10.20959/wjpps201912-15179 modern life style and stress, which brings disturbance in equilibrium
state of a person. In order to manage such conditions, there are number
of drugs available in Ayurveda. For relieving pain Acharya Charaka
*Corresponding Author
mentioned Vedanasthapana Mahakashaya1, in which Katphala
Dr. Nishma P. Nanavati
Assistant professor, (Myrica Nagi thumb.) is one among them. In the present study,
Department of Dravyaguna, Katphala Churna is selected to evaluate its Vedanasthapana activity.
Manjushree Research Methodology -The efficacy of Katphala Churna is evaluated on
Institute of Ayurvedic
experimental method by using Eddy’s Hot plate method on albino rats.
Science, Gandhinagar,
Result - The experimental conducted on albino rats showed an
Gujarat.
excellent latency time in the different intervals through the Eddy’s Hot
plate method. Conclusion - it is noted that the reason for the inhibition of pain is possible by
the aid of ushna veerya and kapha-vataghna properties of the dravya Katphala.
INTRODUCTION
There are so many health problems in our life due to wrong lifestyle. Ayurveda has many
ways to cure diseases because the purpose of Ayurveda is to help maintain the health of
healthy individual and to cure the illness of diseased.[1] Most of the diseases start with pain
and in Ayurveda it is known as Vedana. In Ayurveda, vedana or shoola refers to any type of
pain like janu shoola, shira shoola, karna shoola etc. Shoola can appear as roopa or upadrava
of a disease. Acharya Charaka has classified the medicinal plants based on pharmacological
aspects in 50 classes, known as Dashemani. Katphala[2] (Myrica Nagi Thunb.) is one among
the vedana sthapana maha kashayas quoted by Acharya Charaka and Vagbhatta.[3] Sushruta[4]
quoted Katphala in Rodhradi gana, Surasadi gana, Parushakadi gana and Laxadi gana.
Katphala has properties like kashaya, tikta, katu rasa; ushna, tikshna guna; ushna veerya; katu
vipaka, vata kapha hara, ruchikara, mehaghna[5] etc. Considering these points in view, this
study was made to evaluate and establish the efficacy of Katphala for its analgesic effect.
Authentification
The tree was identified by botanist of CCRAS. It was confirmed by Dr. Prashant Kumar Jha,
Head, Quality Control Laboratories, Koppa.
Preparation of drugs
The bark was collected, cleaned and was dried in shade. The air dried bark was subjected to
pulverizer to obtain fine powder and was stored in air tight container. The work was carried
out in the department of Bhaishajya-kalpana, A.L.N. Rao Memorial Ayurveda Medical
College, Koppa.
1. Source of animals
The required number of healthy Wistar Albino rats of either sex was provided by Animal
house, ALN Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College, Koppa.
3. Preparation of animals
The animals were randomly selected, marked to permit individual identification and kept in
their cages for one week prior to dosing to allow for acclimation to the lab condition.
6. Procedure[7]
Healthy Wistar Albino rats of either sex weighing 180-200 gms were selected for the
experimental study. The rats were fed with standard laboratory rat feed and clean water
was supplied. Rats were divided into three groups of six each. They were starved
overnight with water prior to the day of experiment.
The hot plate method was originally described by Woolfe and Mac Donald (1944) was
used for investigation.
6 rats of either sex with weight of 180 – 200 grams were used for each group.
The hot plate, which is commercially available, consisted of electrically heated surface
was used.
The temperature was controlled for 55º to 56º C.
The animals were placed on the hot plate and the time until either licking or jumping
occurs was recorded by a stop-watch.
The latency was recorded before and after 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes following
oral administration of drug.
CRITERIA OF ASSESSMENT
The paw lick or jump responses in all the three groups were noted separately and subjected to
statistical analysis in order to evaluate the analgesic activity of the drug.
DISCUSSION
Significant differences were found at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 minutes. The experimental
conducted on albino rats showed an excellent latency time in the different intervals through
the Eddy’s Hot plate method. This shows that trial drug had highly significant analgesic
effect when compared to Control.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is thankful to the Head of Quality Control Laboratory, ALN Rao Memorial
Ayurvedic Medical College, Dr. Prashant Zha, Associate professor, Department of
Dravyaguna, Dr. Dipa Mehta for their guidance and support during the process of writing this
article.
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