“KAIPHAL” (MYRICA NAGI THUNB.), A VERSATILE MEDICINAL PLANT WITH ITS PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL USES: A COMPENDIOUS REVIEW
Anwar Jamal, Aisha Siddiqui*, Azma Waseem, Afshan Khan and Mohammad Fazil
ABSTRACT
Myrica nagi also known as Myrica esculenta Buch is an evergreen plant of Myricaceae family. It is widely used medicinal plant in Unani Medicine with common names such as kaiphal, Ood al-Barq and Daa’rshishan. It is rich sources of myricetin which occurs in the bark in the form of the glycoside. In Unani Medicine, plant bark and its root has been used in upper respitatory tract infections and musculoskeleton disorder like Gout and other inflammatory conditions, whereas, its flowers is used to treat Wajaul uzn (Earache), Ishaal (purgation) and Falij (paralysis). It is also documented as Muhallil (Resolvent), Muhallil-e-Riyah (Anti flatulent), Mufatteh (Deobstruent), Qabiz (Constipative), Muqawwi-e-Aasaab (Nervine Tonic), Habis-al-Sailanaat (Dries up secretions), Muqawwi-e-Lissa (Strengthen Gum), Habis-ud-Dam (Haemostatic) and therapeutically used in Istirkha-al-Asab (Atony of the nerve), Bakhrul Anaf (Ozena), Qurooh-e-Afoonia (Putrid ulcers), Qulaa-e-Dahan (Stomatitis), Amraaz-e-Dandaan (Dental diseases), Nazf-ud-Dam (Haemoptysis), Nafkh-e-Shikam (Flatulence), Usr-e-Baul (Dysuria) and Qurooh-e-Zakar (Penile Ulcers). Various pharmacological studies have been accounted on this valuble plant through different models. The aim of this review article is to summarize the significant and appropriate information available on conventional uses, its phytoconstituents and ethno-pharmacological studies carried out so far and to give prominence for conducting further research activities with a scope of its medicinal and therapeutic potential in traditional field.
Keywords: Kaiphal (Myrica nagi Thunb.), Ethnomedicinal uses, Pharmacological activities, Unani drug.
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