Jiny Varghese et al., IJPSR, 2010; Vol.

1(10): 50-59 ISSN: 0975-8232

Available online on www.ijpsr.com 50
IJPSR (2010), Vol. 1, Issue 10 (Review Article)

Received on 01 June, 2010; received in revised form 18 August, 2010; accepted 18 September, 2010
DASAPUSHPAM: THE TRADITIONAL USES AND THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF TEN
SACRED PLANTS OF KERALA STATE IN INDIA
K. Jiny Varghese*, J. Anila, R. Nagalekshmi, S. Resiya and J. Sonu
Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham University, AIMS Healthcare Campus, AIMS Ponekkara P. O., Kochi, Kerala, India











ABSTRACT
The Western Ghats of Kerala is famous for its medicinal
plant wealth and the tradition of indigenous system of
therapy, specifically the Ayurveda. Dasapushpam constitute
a group of ten potential herbs which are culturally and
medicinally significant to the people of Kerala in India. They
are a group of ten herbs with which the ladies decorate
their hairs and dance the Thiruvathira Kali on the day of
Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. These
plants are therapeutically very active for various diseases
and ailments. Many of them are traditionally used from
time immemorial. Some of them are scientifically validated
for various bioactivities. Still there are lots of possibilities
for potential pharmacological activities from these herbs,
yet to be explored. This article would give an insight of
these ten sacred plants and their properties to further
popularise these plants.
Keywords:
Dasapushpam,
Kerala tradition,
Sacred plants,
Strangury
Correspondence to Author:
K. Jiny Varghese
Department of Pharmacognosy &
Phytochemistry, Amrita School of
Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham University, AIMS
Healthcare Campus, AIMS
Ponekkara P. O., Kochi, Kerala, India

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

51
INTRODUCTION: Plants have been one of the
major sources of medicines since the beginning
of human civilization. There is a growing
demand for plant based medicines, health
products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements
and cosmetics in the recent days. Kerala is one
of the lovely states in India, famous for scenic
beaches and serene back waters. Not only the
beaches and backwaters but also the entire
length and width of Kerala is popular for medical
tourism, the indigenous system of therapy,
Ayurveda and tourism in Kerala is famous for
Ayurveda the ancient system of Indian medicine.
The tourism of Kerala to a major extent depends
upon the Ayurveda which utilizes various herbal
preparations to rejuvenate the body and cure
diseases. A fairly good collection of plants over
200 taxa used in Ayurveda include
Dasapushpam, ten sacred plants of Kerala
tradition and culture.
As per the Tradition of Kerala, the women wears
Dasapushpam garland on the head for it was
considered sacred plants. In front of the
household shrine, the ten sacred plants of
dasapushpam were displayed in a gleaming
brass plate in the Malayalam month of
Karkkidakam (the monsoon season in Kerala) in
the olden days. It was also prescribed by the
rajavaidyas (doctors for the king) to the ladies to
wear these plants on their head, probably due to
the medicinal value imparted by them. Several
studies were undertaken on different members
of Dasapushpam. In this endeavour, we would
throw some light to further popularise these
sacred plants as these plants are essential as
better remedy for various ailments. The plants
which are called as Dasapushpam are listed in
the following table 1.
TABLE1: DASAPUSHPAM
BOTANICAL SOURCE MALAYALAM NAME SANSKRIT NAME PARTS USED
Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.ex.Schult. Cheroola Bhadra Whole plant
Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC Mukkutty Viparitha lajjalu Whole plant
Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Valliyuzhinja Indravalli Shoot, leaves
Curculiogo orchioides Gaertn. Nilappana Musali Tuber
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Karuka Durva Leaves
Eclipta alba (L.)Mant Kayyunyam Bringharajan Shoots, leaves
Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC Muyalcheviyan Akhukarni Shoots, leaves
Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L.var.alsinoides Vishnukranthi Hari Krantha Whole plant
Ipomea sepiaria Koen. ex Roxb. Thiruthali Lakshmana Whole plant
Vernonia cinerea (L.)Less. Puvamkurunnel Sahadevi Whole plant

Aerva lanata

(L.) Juss. Ex. Schult: this plant is
commonly known as polpala, of Amaranthaceae
family an important gregarious shrub growing
throughout Bangladesh, particularly along waste
places

in India
1
. It is a branched plant which has
white to pale pink spikes of clusters of flowers 1
to 1.5 inches long. The herb is cultivated
throughout India, Ceylon, Arabia, Tropical Africa,
Java, Philippines. The plant is endowed with
various components such as flavonoids,
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

52
alkaloids, Triterpenes, steroids, polysaccharides,
tannins, and saponins etc., which possibly
contribute its diverse uses in folklore medicine.
Several phytoconstituents including 6 alkaloids
have been reported earlier. Canthin-6- one, 10-
methoxycanthin-6-one (methylaervin), 10-
hydroxycanthin- 6- one (aervin), 10- - D-
glucopyranosyl- oxycanthin- 6-one (aervoside),
- carboline- 1- propionic acid and 6- methoxy-
- carboline- 1- propionic acid (aervolanin) are
some of the phytoconstituents isolated from the
herb. The plant also contains palmitic acid, -
sitosterol and alpha-amyrin.
It also has anthelmintic action. The roots
of plants are used in the treatment of headache.
It is also used as demulcent & useful in strangury
(Ayurveda). It is used in traditional medicine as
antidiarrhoeal, diuretic, and in lithiasis. It is
valued for cough, as a vermifuge for children, in
the treatment of headache, and in arsenic
poisoning. The herb is also used in malaria and
skin diseases. The plant is reported as anti
inflammatory, diuretic in lithiasis
2
, antimicrobial
3
, anti diabetic
2
, antitumour
4
.

FIG 1: AERVA LANATA (L.)JUSS.EX.SCHULT
Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC: This herb is
commonly known as Lajjalu in Hindi, belonging
to Oxalidaceae family, distributed throughout
the hotter parts of India as weeds in moist shady
places and all over tropical Africa and Asia to the
Philippines. It is a very small flowering plant, an
annual herb of erect stem, stout or slender, and
glabrous. Leaves crowded into a rosette on the
top of the stem, petiole is short, and leaflets
opposite, on either sides spreading out from a
common base, 1 cm long, 6-12 pairs, oblong in
shape and obliquely rounded and apiculate at
the apex. Each plant produces five to ten small
flowers with yellow petals
5
.
This plant flower (Mukkutty) is an
important flower for the people of Kerala. The
flower is used in Athapoo, special floral
formation that adores courtyards and public
places during Onam, the national festival of
Kerala. The main constituent present is insulin.
The other constituents are two biflavones,
cupressuflavone and amentoflavone, three
flavonoids, luteolin -7-methyl ether, isoorientin
and 3-methoxyluteolin 7-O-glucoside as well as
two acids, 4-caffeoylquinic acid were isolated
from the aerial parts of Biophytum sensitivum.
In Ayurveda, this is a tonic, stimulant and
in the treatment of stomach ache, diabetes and
asthma. It is also used in insomnia, convulsions,
cramps, chest-complaints, inflammations,
tumors, chronic skin diseases. Decoction is given
in asthma and phthisis. Roots decoction is given
in lithiasis. The plant is bitter, expectorant,
stimulant and tonic. The leaves are diuretic,
relieve strangury. The seeds are powdered and
applied to wounds. The root in decoction is
given in gonorrhea and lithiasis. The crushed
whole plant is used in chronic skin troubles. It is
eaten to induce sterility in man
6
. The effect of
the leaf extract for the treatment of
hyperglycaemic patients was studied on glucose
homeostasis in rabbits. The study revealed the
insulinotropic effect of Biophytum sensitivum.
The anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous and
methanol extracts of aerial parts and roots
were studied in the carrageenin-induced rat paw
oedema model. All the extracts except the
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

53
methanol extracts of aerial parts exhibited anti-
inflammatory activity.
FIG 2: BIOPHYTUM SENSITIVUM (L.) DC
Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.: This herb is
known as Durva, belonging to family Poacea can
grow in poor soil. It is a creeping grass growing
throughout the country. Bermuda grass or Dhub
grass was considered as a sacred grass by the
Hindus, and it is still used for worships in
temples. In ancient days, the Romans squeezed
the juice from the stems and used it as a diuretic
and also used to stop bleeding. It grows in open
areas where there are frequent disturbances
such as grazing, flooding, and fire. The various
common names are Bermuda grass, Bahama
grass, Devils grass. The parts used medicinally
are the stems and the leaves
7
.
The leaves are narrowly linear or
lanceolate and finely acute with 2-10 cm length
and 1.25- 3 mm width. The stem is slender, very
smooth and yellowish-green in colour. The roots
are cylindrical, cream coloured and upto 4 mm
thick. Bermuda grass is reported to contain
cynodin, hydrocyanic acid, and triticin. Phenolic
phytotoxinsferulic, syringic, p-coumaric,
vanillic, p-hydroxybenzoic and O-hydroxyphenyl
acetic acids, are reported from the plant. The
leaves contain flavone C glycosides and a
flavonoid sulphate. The grass is a remedy in
epitaxis, haematuria, inflammed tumours,
whitlows fleshy excrescences, cuts, cystitis,
nephritis and in scabies and other skin diseases.
Herb is possessing astringent, anticatarrhal,
styptic properties.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
describes the dried fibrous root in menorrhagia,
metrorrhagia and burning micturation. It is also
reported to be antiseptic, demulcent, diuretic,
and emollient. A decoction of the root is used to
stop bleeding from piles. Internally it is used in
the treatment of chronic diarrhoea and
dysentery. The leaf juice has also been used in
the treatment of hysteria, epilepsy and insanity.
The plant is a folk remedy for headache,
haemorrhage, hypertension, measles, snake
bite, uro-genital disorders warts and wounds.
FIG 3: CYNODON DACTYLON (L.) PERS.
Emilia Sonchifolia Dc.: This plant is commonly
known as Red Pualele, belonging to Asteraceae;
Compositae family. A glabrous slender herb, 30-
40 cm in height. Erect, variously branched.
Leaves obovate and flowers purplish in colour.
Distributed throughout India, Ceylon, most
tropical and sub tropical regions. Whole plant is
used medicinally. Also known as Cupids shaving
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

54
brush. This is found in waste grounds and moist
areas. The aerial part of the plant has been
reported to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, and
terpenes. The aerial parts contain pyrrolizidine
alkaloids, senkirkine and doronine. Presence of
simiaral, -sitosterol, palmitic and triacontannic
acids is also reported in the plant
8
. The plant is
sudorific, antiseptic, astringent, depurative,
diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, and
ophthalmic. A tea made from the leaves is used
in the treatment of dysentery. The juice of the
leaves is used in treating eye inflammations,
night blindness, cuts and wounds and sore ears.
It is used in infantile tympanitis and bowel
complaints. Root used as antidiarrhoeal. Leaf
used for otitis media under medical supervision.
Fresh juice and methanoic extract of E.
sonchilfolia leaves reported to possess anti
inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The
water extract of this plant showed antimicrobial
activity. It has been reported that the alcohol
extract of this plant (aerial part) has cytotoxicity,
as well as anti Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma (EAC)
and anti Daltons lymphoma ascites (DLA)
activities in mice.


FIG 4: EMILIA SONCHIFOLIA (L.) DC
Eclipta Alba Hassk.: This plant is commonly
known as False Daisy belonging to the family
Asteraceae. Erect/ prostrate annual herb
distributed throughout India in moist waste
lands. The roots are well developed and a
number of secondary branches arise from main
root, and greyish in colour. Cylindrical stems are
dark Green in colour and shows longitudinal
ridges. The leaves are 2.2-8.5 cm long, 1.2-2.3
cm wide and usually oblong, lanceolate in shape.
Small flower heads contain white, compressed
ray florets and yellowish disc florets. Fruits are
one seeded achenial cypsela.
In Ayurvedic medicine, the leaf extract is
considered to be powerful liver tonic,
rejuvenative and especially good for the hair. A
black dye obtained from Eclipta alba is also for
dyeing hair and tattooing. It also has traditional
external uses, like eczema and dermatitis, on the
scalp to treat hair loss and the leaves have been
used in the treatment of scorpion stings. It is
reported to improve hair growth and colour.
Coumestan derivatives such as wedelolactone
and demethylwedelolactone and nor-
wadelolactone.Thiophene derivatives ecliptal
and various dithiemylacetylene esters (I, II, III)
reported from roots, saponin compounds like
eclalbosaponins I-IV and other common sterols
and triterpenoids.
The flavonoids glycoside eg: luteolin-7 O
glucoside and long chain alcohols such as
hentriacontanol, 14- heptacosanol have also
been reported along with certain alkaloids and
polypeptides. The whole plant contains
ecliptine, nicotine and stigmasterol. The entire
plant contains triterpenes: ecalbatin,
echinocystic acid, oleanic acid, ursolic acid,
flavone. It is a potential hepatoprotective agent,
in jaundice and in conditions of liver and spleen
enlargement, Hypotensive and myocardial
depressant activity, anti-inflammatory, abortion
and miscarriage, piles, insect bites, swellings and
other skin diseases.
Dried aerial parts are used as a purgative,
emetic, cholagogue, antiasthmatic. Leaves are
used to treat epilepsy in India. Roots are used
for insanity. The entire plant is used for
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

55
tuberculosis and as haemostatic. Oil soluble
extracts helps in promotion of growth and
colour of hairs. Its hair oil preparations are used
as a scalp tonic in India
9
.

Coumestans are known
to possess estrogenic activity.
Wedelolactone possesses a wide range
of biological activities and is used for the
treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis, as an
antibacterial, anti-haemorrhagic, as an antidote
for snake venom. The hydroalcoholic extract of
the dried leaf reported analgesic activity, when
administered intragastrically in mouse 100
mg/kg. The chloroform and methanol extract of
the dried leaf 1 gm/ml showed antibacterial
activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus
aureus. Various Other biological activities which
have been reported in the literature for the
extracts of E. alba: hepatoprotective, antiviral,
antirheumatic, molluscicidal, antimalarial and
antifertility.


FIG 5: ECLIPTA ALBA (L.) MANT

Ipomoea sepiaria koen. Ex Roxb.: This plant
known as Lakshmana in Sanskrit belongs to
convolvulaceae family. Distributed throughout
greater part of India. Whole plant is used
medicinally. This is a perennial vine. Annual,
stems very long and slender, often purplish,
twining, glabrous. Leaves are simple, alternate,
entire, petiolate, cordate, blotched with
brownish or purplish patches towards the centre
and thin; flowers pale purple or pink, funnel
shaped, in umbellate axillary cymes. Fruits ovoid
capsules, 2-4 seeded, seeds grey colored
covered over silky pubescence.
Ipomoea resin, the seeds contain non-
ergoline type indole alkaloids, ipobscurine A & B,
and a serotonin alkaloid Ipobscurines C
10
.

Juice
of the plant is used as deobstruent, diuretic,
hypotensive, uterine tonic, antidote to arsenic
poisoning. Seeds used as cardiac depressant,
hypotensive, spasmolytic. Plant is also used in
the treatment of sterility in women, urinary
retention, constipation, gynaecological
disorders. The plant is reported to show
aphidicidal activity and appeared to be useful as
pesticides.

FIG 6: IPOMOEA SEPIARIA KOEN. EX ROXB.

Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn.: Plants
common names are Balloon vine, Heartseed
vine, love in a puff and Winter Cherry. A plant of
Sapindacea family wide spread in tropical and
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

56
subtropical Asia and Africa. A climbing tendril
bearing herb with wiry stem throughout the
plains of India. Branches slender and leaves
deltoid, 2-ternate, petioles 2-3.8 cm long and
flowers are white. Seeds are globose. In India,
leaves are commonly consumed as leafy
vegetable.
It is known to contain saponin,
quebrachitol, apigenin, proanthocyanidin and
stigmasterol. The seeds show the presence of
luteolin-7-o-glucuronide, -sitosterol- -D-
galactoside. The leaves contain (+)-
pinitol,apigenin and its 7-O-glucuronides,
chrysoeriol and luteolin. The roots contain -
sitosterol. The leaves contain an alkaloid, oxalic
acid and amino acids. The root is considered
diaphoretic, diuretic, and aperient. The fried
leaves are considered emmenagogue. The
leaves and stem are used against common cold
and angina. The leaf paste is applied on
domestic animals to kill lice and other insects. It
is used in the treatment of rheumatism,
lumbago, skeletal fractures, nervous diseases,
amenorrhoea, haemorrhoids, and erysipelas,
emetic, laxative, rubefacient and stomachic.
The herb is used in hair oils for treating
dandruff, alopecia and for darkening hair. The
plant extracts showed marked insecticidal
effects as ovicide and larvicide for Musca
domestica Linn. and as larvicide for Philosamia
ricini (Boisd.) Alcoholic extract of the plant
showed antisickling and antiarthritic activity. In
the pharmacological validation of this plant, the
toxicological evaluation of C. halicacabum
revealed that the drug is safe and is not toxic
upto 40 g/kg in rats. The plant extract showed
significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory
activity and sedative effect on CNS. The drug
also showed (transient) vasodepressant activity.
Seeds have positive anabolic activity and
increase body weight by inducing a positive
nitrogen balance. The alkaloid fraction from the
seeds showed hypotensive activities and cardiac
inhibition in anaesthetized dogs; blocked
spasmogenic effects of acetylcholine, histamine
on guinea pig ileum, biphasic action on frog
rectus abdominus muscle. The seeds also
showed antibacterial activity.

FIG 7: CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM L.
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.: In Sanskrit, this plant
is known as Vishnus step and was used in
worship belongs to Convolvulaceae family. The
plant was used as a remedy for dysentery and
was used to enhance intelligence and improve
memory. This is widely distributed in tropical
and subtropical regions throughout the world. It
grows as a weed in open and grassy places
throughout India. It is a small perennial herb
with small woody root stock. The leaves are
alternate, simple, elliptic-oblong in shape. The
flowers are light blue in colour, solitary or
sometimes in pairs. Fruits are globose, four
valved drooping capsules.
The plant contains beta-sitosterol,
stearic, oleic, linoleic acids, pentatriacontane
and triacontane. Betane, sterols, tannins,
carbohydrates, proteins and alkaloid namely
evoline are present in the whole plant. The
whole plant is used for various ailments. The
plant is bitter, acrid, febrifuge, aphrodisiac,
anthelmintic, expectorant and useful in
bronchitis, brain tonic, an aid in conception,
astringent, antidysenteric and asthma. It is also
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

57
useful in epilepsy, forgetfulness, falling and
greying of hair, intermittent fevers and general
debility. It is also one of the ingredients of the
polyherbal formulation, Bramhi Grita. Used in
nervine affections (epilepsy, insanity,
spermatorrhoea), and duodenal ulcers, also for
uterine affections uterine bleeding and internal
haemorrhages. A decoction of the herb is given
as a blood purifier. It is reported to show
powerful stimulant activity on respiration and
blood pressure (possibly analeptic). Aqueous
extract of the petal showed antifungal property.

FIG 8: EVOLVULUS ALSINOIDES (L.) L. VAR. ALSINOIDES
Vernonia cinerea (Linn.) Less: This plant is
commonly called as ash-coloured fleabane
belonging to the family Asteraceae, Sahadevi in
Hindi and puvvamkurunnila in Malayalam. It is
distributed throughout India, as a weed on
roadsides and open places. An erect annual
herb, 12-75 cm in height with cylindrical
branched stem, leaves is variable in shape and
flowers are many pinkish violet in small heads.
Regarding the history of the plant, it was
mentioned in Sanskrit texts as being present in
northern, western and southern India.The chief
constituents are the triterpenes. Aerial parts
gave luteolin- monobeta- D- glucopyranoside.
Whole plant gave triterpene compounds-
betaamyrin acetate, lupeol acetate, betaamyrin
and lupeol; sterols- beta- sitosterol, stigmasterol
and alpha-spinasterol; phenolic resin and
potassium chloride. Parts that were used include
the flower (treatment of conjunctivitis), seeds
(used as anthelmintic), root (dropsy), and juice
(piles).
The whole plant is also considered to
promote perspiration in febrile condition. The
plant is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antiviral,
antifungal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and
stomachic. The roots are useful in diarrhoea,
cough, inflammations, skin diseases, leprosy,
renal and vesical calculi. The leaves are useful in
humid herpes, eczema, ring worm,
guineaworms, and elephantiasis. The flowers are
used in conjunctivitis, vitiated condition of vata
and fever. The seeds are useful in roundworms,
threadworms, cough, flatulence, leucoderma,
psoriasis, chronic skin disease; the plant is used
as anticancer, febrifuge, diaphoretic (infusion of
herb, combined with quinine, is used against
malaria). Used as a specific herb for leucorrhoea,
dysuria, spasm of bladder, strangury and for
haematological disorders, as a blood purifier and
styptic, also used in asthma.

FIG 9: VERNONIA CINEREA (L.) LESS.
Seeds used as antiflatulent,
antispasmodic; used in dysuria, decoction used
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

58
for colic. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the plant in intermittent fever,
filariasis, pityriasis versicolour (tinea versicolor),
blisters, boils, vaginal discharges and in cases of
psychoneurosis. The water soluble fraction of
the methanol extract of the defatted dried
ground whole plant of Vernonia cinerea showed
significant diuretic activity in rats comparable to
lasix a known diuretic.

Curculigo orchioides Gaetrn.: This plant is
known as Musali in Sanskrit and Kali Musali in
Hindi belonging to family Amaryllidaceae, is an
important Ayurvedic as well as Unani drug. It has
been recorded occurring in the subtropical
Himalayas from Kumaon eastwards ascending to
1800 meters, the Hhasia hills, Bengal, assam,
Konkan, the western Peninsula and madras
extending South as far as cape comorin. In
Malayalam, this plant is known as nilappana. Kali
Musali grows as forest herb. In many parts of
India, due to its over exploitation, kali musali is
becoming rare in occurrence.
Leaves sessile or petiolate linear or
linear-lanceolate and root stock stout. Flowers
are bright yellow in colour. A new orcino;
glucoside, orcinol-1- beta D- apiofuranosyl beta-
D glucopyranoside was isolated. Orcinol
glucoside, curculigoside, curculigoside B &C,
Syringic acid, 2, 6 dimethoxyl benzoic acid. The
rhizome contains saponins (curculigosaponin C
and F) sapogenins; phenolic glycosides, a
triterpene alcohol; a pentacyclic triterpene, an
aliphatic compound, hentriacontanol, sitosterol,
stigmasterol, cycloartenol and sucrose. A
peptide, Curculin C, containing amino acids, has
been isolated from the fruit. It is present in
several drug formulations used in the treatment
of menorrhagia and other gynaecological
problems. Since generations, it is in used as folk
medicine. The root is bitter, appetizer, nervine,
adaptogenic, sedative, anticonvulsive,
androgenic and anti-inflammatory. It is also used
in Jaundice, urinary disorders and skin diseases,
useful in piles, fatigue, diseases of the blood.
The rhizome is used for asthma, diarrhoea, and
gonorrhea, demulcent and diuretic, tonifying
kidney and for strengthening muscles and
bones. According to Ayurveda, root is heating,
aphrodisiac, appetizer, useful in the treatment
of piles, fatigue, blood related disorders.
According to Unani system of medicine, root is
carminative, tonic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic and
useful in bronchitis, ophthalmic, indigestion,
vomiting.
In traditional Chinese medicine, dried
rhizome, containing curculigoside is used as a
tonic for its immunological and protective
property. In Indian medicine, powdered
rhizomes with milk are taken as a restorative
tonic, also for sexual debility. Curculigosaponin C
and F promoted proliferation of spleen
lymphocytes very significantly; F and G
increased the weight of the thymus in vitro in
mice. Alcoholic extract of the plant exhibited
hypoglycaemic property. The plant is reported
to possess hepatoprotective, immunostimulant
and antioxidant activities.

FIG 10: CURCULIGO ORCHIOIDES GAERTN

CONCLUSION: The therapeutic potential of
these ten sacred plants are unlimited and not
explored properly to cure various illness.
Research and development must be encouraged
for developing new drug molecules from these
plants. The detailed investigation of its
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research ISSN: 0975-8232
Available online on www.ijpsr.com

59
standardization, pharmacological activity,
toxicity and clinical trials may help to develop
new drugs for controlling various diseases. The
global scenario has shown a great increase in
phytomedicine research. So, the drug
development from these plants has tremendous
scope in the future. Some of the research
activities have been carried out on these plants
during the past few decades which give
sufficient motivation among the scientist
community in exploring more information about
these sacred plants. A research and
development programme should be undertaken
on Dasapushpam for their potential in economic
and therapeutic utilization. Appropriate
measures for conservation can be executed
since some of the plants like Kali musali, an
Ayurvedic Dasapushpam and a rejuvenating and
aphrodisiac drug is on the verge of extinction.
So, those plants need to be conserved and
cultivated.


REFERENCES:

1. The wealth of India: First Supplementary Series. NISC
CSIR, India, Vol-1, 2000: A-92.
2. Vetrichelvan T, Jegadeesan M, Palaniappan M S, Murali
N P, Sasikumar K : Diuretic and anti-inflammatory
activities of Aerva lanata in rats. Indian Journal of
Pharmaceutical Sciences 2000; 4:300-305.
3. Dulaly C, Abu Sayeed , Anwarul Islam, Shah Alam
Bhuiyan M, Astaq Mohal Khan G R M : Antimicrobial
and cytotoxicity of Aerva lanata. Fitoterapia 2002;
73:92-94.
4. Nevin K G, Vijayammal P L: Effect of Aerva lanata on
solid tumour induced by DLA cells in mice. Fitoterapia
2003; 74:578 -582.
5. Kirtikar K R, Basu B D: Indian medicinal plants.
International book distributors, Dehradun, India,
Edition 3,Vol. ,2005:
6. The wealth of India: First Supplement Series. NISC CSIR,
India, Vol-1, 2000 : A-Ci:140.
7. Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. Controller of Publications,
Delhi, Edition 1, Vol-3, 2001: 47-48.
8. The wealth of India: First Supplement Series. NISC CSIR,
India, Vol-3,2002 : D-1 : 79.
9. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. Controller of Publications,
Delhi, Edition 1, Vol-2, 1999:21-24.
10. The wealth of India: Second Supplement Series. NISC
CSIR,India,Vol-2,2007:G-Ph:101.

****************