European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON ETHNOMEDICINAL AND TRADITIONAL USES OF ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS ROXB. (RUDRAKSHA)

Prabhakar Shukla*, Suresh Chaubey and Swati Bala

ABSTRACT

The word Rudraksha, literally derived from two Sanskrit words –„rudra‟, a synonym for Lord Shiva and „aksha‟ meaning eyes.Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. is an evergreen tree, ripe fruits of which contain a hard and highly ornamental stony endocarp known as bead or nut,and is commonly termed as Rudrakasha in India.It holds popular belief reinforced by experiments that it has confirmed medicinal uses apart from its attractive stones. Traditionally the plant is used to treat various diseases such as mental diseases,hypertension,epilepsy etc. In the present review, an attempt has been made to congregate the botanical, phytochemical, ethno medicinal, pharmacological information on Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. belongs to family Elaeocarpaceae. It is prevalent for its fascinating fruit stones and medicinal properties. It procures a remarkable position in Hinduism and Ayurveda, the indigenous system of medicine.

Keywords: Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Hypertension, Rudraksha.