%0 Journal Article
%T Identity of £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨© (Physalis Minima Linn.) in Ayurvedic Classics: A Literature Review
%A N Rajashekhar
%A Rohit A Gokarn
%A Supriya S Kallianpur
%J Archive of "Ancient Science of Life".
%D 2016
%R 10.4103/0257-7941.195408
%X Proper identification of drugs and their use in proper doses are important for successful treatment. Physalis minima Linn commonly known as country gooseberry has anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory potentials. The present paper is aimed to ascertain the proper identity of £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨© (Physalis minima Linn.) in Ayurvedic classics by a meticulous search and hence a review of the drug £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨© (Physalis minima Linn) was carried out in the texts of Ayurveda, modern literature, journals and online publications. The result of the search showed that the name ¡°£¿a£¿k¨¡r¨©¡± is not found in Vedic lore. In Sa£¿hit¨¡s, it is mentioned in Bh¨¡vaprak¨¡£¿a. Reference of the drug ¡°£¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡¡± is found in B£¿hattray¨©, Bhela, K¨¡£¿yapa, Cakradatta and Va£¿gasena. It is variously named as Cirapo£¿ik¨¡, K¨¡katikta, and V¨¡yas¨© by £¿alha£¿a and he describes it as gaura (pale), vartula (round), and as having avagu£¿£¿hita/ve£¿£¿hita (covered) fruit which matches the description of £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨© (P. minima Linn). A search for terms K¨¡katikta and V¨¡yas¨© showed K¨¡katikta to be synonymous to £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡ and V¨¡yas¨© to be synonymous to both K¨¡katikta and K¨¡kam¨¡c¨© (Solanum nigrum). Madanap¨¡la and £¿¨¡ligr¨¡ma Nigha£¿£¿us have mentioned the name Cirapo£¿ik¨¡ to be synonymous with £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨©. £¿odhala has used the term Parpo£¿¨© as a synonym of £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨©, which is the Gujarati name of P. minima Linn. Recent authors have considered £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡ as either P. minima or Cardiospermum helicabum. The regional names of P. minima are Cirpo£¿i (Hindi), Cirboli (Marathi), also the folklore uses and pharmacological activities of P. minima are in accordance with the indications of £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡ in classics. Thus with a complete review of both Ayurveda and modern literatures, it can be concluded that the drug mentioned as £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨© in Bh¨¡vaprak¨¡£¿a is the same as £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡ mentioned in the classics. Cirapo£¿ik¨¡ and K¨¡katikta are its synonyms. Cardiospermum helicabum is Kar£¿aspo£¿ha, and hence £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡ of classics is P. minima which is supported by the regional names, pharmacological activity and folklore claims
%K Ayurveda
%K Cirapo£¿ik¨¡
%K K¨¡kam¨¡c¨©
%K Physalis minima Linn.
%K £¿¨¡r£¿ge£¿£¿h¨¡
%K £¿a£¿k¨¡r¨©
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5255973/