INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL International Ayurvedic Medical Journal (October-November 2016) 1(1) 101-106 LITERATURE REVIEW OF PALASH (BUTEA MONOSPERMA LAMK .TAUB) Pravina Wanjari1 Deogade Meena2 Daf Sunil3 Published online: 16 November, 2016 © International Ayurvedic Medical Journal, India 2016 ABSTRACT The Palash (Butea monosperma Lamk.Taub.) belonging to family Fabaceae is used for therapeutic uses since ancient time. Most of the regions of India, it is used for worship of god as well as in many festivals. Pa- lash is pungent (katu), bitter (tikta) and astringent (kashay) in taste (Rasa), and its vipaka is katu and veerya is ushna. It alleviates kapha and vata doshas, but aggravates the pitta doshas. The flowers of Palash are bitter (tikta), pungent (katu) and astringent (kashay) in test (Rasa), madhur vipaka and sheeta veerya. So it alleviates pitta and kapha dosha and vata doshas. In literature it is found that Palash is useful in many diseases like Trishna (Thrust), Atisara (Diarrhoea), Pradara (leucorrhea), Jwara (fever), Charmarog (Skin diseases), Asti- banga (Fracture), Vatarakta (gout), Kushta (Leprosy), Apasmara (epilepsy), Prameha (Diabetic). There has been worldwide renewal of interest in herbal system of medicines. Palash (Butea monosperma (Lamk.)Taub) has been widely used in the traditional Indian medical system of ‘Ayurveda’ for the treatment of a variety of ailments. It is very essentials to have a proper documentation of such useful medicinal plants. In this review an attempt to compile and document information from literature on Palash. Keywords: Palash (Butea monosperma Lamk.Taub.), Therapeutic uses, Palash flowers INTRODUCTION Palash (Butea monosperma Lamk.Taub)[1], It is the most important plant for Yajna (ri- is medium-sized deciduous tree, 10-15 meters high tual) according to Vedic literature. belonging to the family Fabaceae, is found through- In India, in most of the regions it used in out India. There are four type of Palash viz. Rakta worship of god. In many festivals it is used in differ- (red), Pita (yellow), Shweta (white) and Nila (blue) ent way. According to an ancient science of life i.e. as mentioned by Narahari in Raj Nighantu[2]. Out of Ayurveda, there is always scientific theory behind above varieties, Shweta and Nila are seldom availa- celebrating any festivals and Aacharyas have scien- ble and Pita is rare. As Pita variety becomes endan- tific view for using any drug as medicine. The use of gered the abundantly available Rakta variety is used Rakta Palash flowers used for ‘Holi’, i.e. festival of commonly in medicines and it is called as flame of colour in India. The thought behind it was that, the the forest [3]. colour prepared from flowers is natural, good for Pravina Wanjari1 Deogade Meena2 Daf Sunil3 skin and has no any adverse effect. Though there is PG Scholar 1 Associate Professor2, Department of Dravya- an evidence of the uses of Palash since ancient time guna Vigyan, MGACH & RC, Salod (H), Wardha (M.S.), its review was chosen for study. 3 Medical officer (Kalmeshwar), Nagpur, Maharashtra, Drug review of Palash India 1. Historical Aspects: Email: [email protected] Pravina Wanjari IAMJ (October-November 2016) 1(1) 101-106 Review Of Palash The references of Palash tree are found in Vedic lite- of Bramha, therefore this tree is most important ratures. It is mentioned in Vedic literature that Pa- among all vanaspati . lash i.e. the god of fire. tree is a form of ‘Agnidevta’ 2. Samhita Era:- The dry stem of Palash was used to make sacred fire [4]. Since old ages this plant is used for ritual process Charak Samhita: In Caraka Samhita, Palash is not [13] in all ways. In Telanagana, these flowers are special- described in Mahakasaya . But it is mentioned in ly used in the worship of lord Shiva on occasion of Sutra, Chikitsa, and Siddhi sthana for treating the Shivratri. In Kerala, this is called as Plasu and Cha- diseases like Arsha, Atisar, etc. by the only name mata. Chamata is the vernacular version of Sanskrit Palash in Charak Samhita. [Table no.1] word Samidha, small pieces of wood that is used for Sushrut Samhita: In Susruta Samhita, Palash is de- Agnihotra or fire ritual. In Theravada Buddism, it is scribed in Rodhradi, Muskakadi, Ambasthadi and said to have used as the tree for achieved enlighten- Nyagrodhadi Gana [14].[Table no.2] ment or Bodhi by second lord Buddha. As per histo- ry of Palash forests, dhak forests covered much of Kashypa Samhita:In this Samhita kwath of Palash the doab area between the Ganges and Yamuna, but is used to give mukti from ‘Sheetaputana grah’ for these were cleared for agriculture in the early 19th kids. century as the English East Company increased tax Ashtang Hridaya: In Astanga Hridaya, Palash is demands on the peasants [5]. mentioned in Rodhradi, Muskakadi, Ambasthadi and [15] Nirukti-पलाश: Nyagrodhadi Gana . In Astanga Sangraha, Pa- [6] lash is mentioned in Rodhradi, Muskakadi, Ambas- । thadi and Nyagrodhadi Gana [16]. Referances found Palash, ‘the tree having beautiful and useful leaves’. in Chikitsa sthana-2/43- Raktapitta, Chikitsa stha- [7] Vyutpatti- कम॔णः। na9/68- Atisar. Chakradutta: He has told utility of Palash same as The Sanskrit word ‘Palash’ literally means looks like a flesh or blood. [8] Aacharya Charak but he used Kimshuk as its syn- 2.Vedic Era:- onym. Palash is also mentioned in Cikitsagranthas The reference of Palash is found in Vedic literature. like Gadanigraha, Bhaishajya Ratnavali and Bhava- The use of Palash is common in Vedic period not prakasha Samhita. only to treat diseases but also in routine life and in 4. Nighantu Era: holy rituals also. Samidha of this plant was used at In Nighantu, many drugs have been described in de- that time for different Homa and Yadnyas [9]. Ac- tail by giving different synonyms and their proper- ties and uses. The synonyms of Palash which are cording to ‘Kaushik Sutra’, Palasha is Medhajanan. found in most of the Nighantu are Brahmavriksha, Keshav told it was ‘Sarvaroga Bheshaja’and it was also used in Krimi Roga [10]. In Rigveda, the de- Kimshuka, Parna, Yajniya, Raktapuspa, Samidvara scription of Palash is found by synonym i.e. Kim- and Vatapotha etc. Many of the Nighantu have de- shuk (Synonym of Palash) found on sukta 85 of ad- scribed the properties of Palash. i. e., the Rasa of hyaya 7 of mandal 10. This synonym is given for Palash as ‘tikta and kashaya’, Virya ushna but Palash because of its attractive color of the flowers flower of Palash is ‘sheet’in nature. The fruit is lag- [11]. In Athervaveda, the reference of Palash is found hu, ushna and used in Prameha, Arsha, Krmi and in the contex of wound healing. Here the synonym Vatakaphaja rogas, according to Bhavaprakash Nig- [17] Parna is used for it [12] . In Upanishad, importance hantu . While in Nighantu Adarsh, the rasa of and description of Palash has been described. In this Palash is katu, tikta, kasaya, virya- ushna, vipaka – [18] ancient text the flower of Palash described beauti- katu, Doshaghnta- Kaphavatanasaka . fully. It is mentioned that the flower looks like flesh Palash in Nighnatu because of its red color. In this tree there is the seat IAMJ: October- November, 2106 www.iamj.in Page 102 Pravina Wanjari IAMJ (October-November 2016) 1(1) 101-106 Review Of Palash 1) Raj nighnatu- Palash flowers and beeja are men- neha -Seeds are oily, Samidvara -Describing its tioned in Raj nighantu in Karviryadivarga for Kush- usefulness in rituals as samidha, Krumighna- Paci- tha and Pama (skin diseases) fies krimi 2) Bhavaprakash nighnatu- Palash Flowers and Vernacular names of Palash [24] Beeja in Vatadi varga as Krumighna and Kushtha English-Flame of forest, Bastard teak, Hindi -Dhak, 3) Dhanvantari nighnatu -Navpatra in Aamradi var- Palas, Assamese-Palash, Bengali-Palas, Palash ga for Pliha, Gulma, Grahani, Arsha and Beeja in Gaccha, Gujarati-Khakara, Khakda, Khakhado, Aamardi varga as Krumighna Khakhar, Khakar, Kesuda, Kannada-Muttagamara, 4) Shodhal nighnatu -Kanda in Amradi varga as Ra- Muttug, Muttulu, Konkani-Palash, Malayalam- sayan and Beeja in Amradi as Krumighna Plasu, Pilacham, Palashin, Palash, Marathi-Palas, 5) Madanpal nighantu- Flowers in Vatadi varga as Oriya-Porasur, Punjabi-Chichara, Dhak, Palas, Grahi and Beeja in Vatadi varga as Kru- Sanskrit- Palash, Kimshuk, Vakrapushpa, mighna[Table no.3] Bhramavruksha, Raktapushpa,Tamil-Palashmaram, 5. Modern Era:- Chamata,Telugu-Modugai, Paladu, Chettu, Bihari- 1) Indian Material Medica [19] -The author of this Faras, Paras, Kashmiri-Dhak,Urdu-Dhak, Tesu book has mentioned vernacular names and chemical Botanical classification [25] constituents of this drug. Flowers are indicated in Kingdom - Plantae (plants) many diseases. Subkingdom - Angiosperms 2) Data base on medicinal plants used in Ayurve- Superdivision - Eudicots da Vol I [20]-Detail explanation regarding Palash Division - Rosids plant has been given such as family, classical text, Order - Fabales vernacular names, morphology, useful parts, along Family - Fabaceae with pharmacognosy, chemical constituents, phar- Genus - Butea macological activity, toxicology and therapeutic Species - B.monosperma evaluation is explained. Properties (Rasapanchak)[26] 3) Medicinal plants quality standards of Indian [21] Flower -Ras -Tikta, Katu, Kashay ,Guna -Laghu, medicinal plants -Description regarding plant is Singdha ,Veerya Sheet, Vipaka -Madhur Doshagh- given and also all types of phytochemical tests are – explained in details. nata -Kaphapittashamaka Bark, Leaf, Seed, Gum –Rasa-Katu, Tikta, Kashay, 4) The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India [22]-It Guna-Laghu, Ruksha ,Veerya-Ushna Vipaka –Katu, includes pharmacopeial standard of Palash. Scien- Doshaghnata- Kaphavatashamak tific data on Palash is available in this text. Karyakarana meemamsa [27] [23] 5) Indian Medicinal Plants -Palash is mentioned Palash is pungent (katu), bitter (tikta) and astringent in this book including sanskit meaning, paryay, (kashay) in taste (Rasa), pungent in the post diges- properties, and uses of Palash.