NYAGRODHA:AN INSIGHT TOWARDS AYURVEDIC PHARMACOLOGY

Nyagrodha(Ficusbengalensis Linn) also called Vata in Ayurveda is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedicformulations.It belongs to the category of Panchaksheerivrksha in Ayurveda.Nyagrodhaposses many useful parts which have medicinal value such as stem bark,aerialroots,leaves,latexetc.The stem bark of Nyagrodha ,which is one among Panchavalkala is also having wide range of uses in Ayurveda. Panchavalkala is the group of stem bark of five medicinal species in Ayurvedic system of medicine,which is an ingredient of many formulations.As per reference of Sharangadharasamhitha ,if drug Nyagrodha is mentioned,the stem bark should be used .Being stem bark as most useul part, each part of Nyagrodhaposses different medicinal properties in Ayurvedic classics. Nyagrodha is an ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations such as ,Panchavalkalakasaya,Chandanasavam, Useerasava,Arimedaditaila,Nalpamaradikeraetc.On analysing the treatise, it is found that the drug is generally kapha-pitha-rakthahara in nature and is mainly indicated in rakthapitha,vranaetc,but its properties varies as per the parts used.Many properties of Nyagrodha are not widely explored yet, thus here is an attempt to describe various parts of Nyagrodha in detail owing to its therapeutic properties.