Essential Leafy Vegetables For Healthy Eyes: November 2016
Essential Leafy Vegetables For Healthy Eyes: November 2016
Essential Leafy Vegetables For Healthy Eyes: November 2016
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E-ISSN: 2321-2187
P-ISSN: 2394-0514
IJHM 2016; 4(6): 120-123
Essential Leafy Vegetables for Healthy Eyes
Received: 19-09-2016
Accepted: 20-10-2016
P Pundareekaksha Rao
P Pundareekaksha Rao
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Shalakya Tantra,
Abstract
Ayurveda College, Coimbatore, Eyes are the most precious organs in the human body, which is useful for sight. The diseases of the eye
Tamilnadu. India are much more important than any other physical disability. In traditional India, leafy vegetables and
vegetables are used in wide range and its medicinal values are well documented in Ayurvedic classical
texts. It provides nutritional value like vitamins, minerals along with health benefits. Chakshushya
dravya are having the capacity to protect, restore and regeneration of the eyesight. Acharya
Yogarathnakara exclusively mentioned all leafy vegetables are achakshusya except Sakapanchaka i.e.
Jivanthi, Vasthuka, Matsyakshi, Meganadha, Punarnava in his text. These all leafy vegetables are having
anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic, analgesic, anti-oxidant activity etc. In present paper an attempt has been
made to analysis of five essential leafy vegetables.
1. Introduction
As per Ayurvedic principles, disease can be prevented and cured by use of proper diet,
lifestyle along with a proper use of medicine. Fruits and vegetables are rich in natural oxidants
and have been health promoting effects and these positive effects have been related with their
antioxidant activity [1]. Ingestion of several synthetic antioxidants such as butylated
hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole has been reported toxic to man [2].
Recently, there has been a worldwide trend towards the use and ingestion of natural
antioxidants present in different parts of plants due to their phytochemical constituents [3, 4].
Therefore, the use of natural antioxidant has gained much attention from consumers because
they are considered safer than synthetic antioxidants. Even today, tribal people and rural
population are still dependent on the herbs and plants of medicinal interest. Some reports
revealed that more than 80% of the world population relies on herbal and traditional medicine
[5, 6]
. It is estimated that roughly 1500 plant species in Ayurveda and 1200 plant species in
Siddha have been used for drug preparation [7, 8]. These medicines are popular due to their
efficiency, low toxicity and absence of side effects. Acharya Yogaratnakara coated “Sarvam
sakamachaksusyam chaksusyam sakapanchakam jeevanthi vasthu matshakshi meghanaada
punarnavaa” in his Yogaratnakara [9]. He has exclusively mentioned all leafy vegetables are
achakshusya except five. They are Jivanthi, Vasthuka, Matsyakshi, Meganadha, Punarnava.
Punarnava i.e. leafy vegetables are used not only in poly herbal products but also
recommended in daily food against wide range of health ailment and physiological disorders.
Boerhaavia diffusa known as punarnava (Punar + nava). Punar means - again, nava means -
becoming new (renews the body and re-grown). It grows profusely in the rainy season.
Literally the word punarnava means, one which Plant dries up during the summer season and
regenerates again during the rainy season. Thus the plant generally perennates through the
roots in the soil. Leptadenia reticulata (Retz), traditionally known as Jivanti, is a much
branched twining shrub belongs to Asclepiadaceae family. Chenopodium album is common
weed during summer and winter in waste places in the field of wheat, barley, mustard, gram
and reduces their yield. Amaranthus graecizans, is an annual species commonly called as
tumbleweed or pig weed. Amaranth consists of 60-70 species, Over 400 varieties within these
species are found throughout the world in both temperate and tropical climates, and fall
roughly into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. Many fall into more
than one [10]. Alternanthera sessilis Linn. commonly known as sessile joy weed a well known
herb with fleshy leaves.
Correspondence
P Pundareekaksha Rao
2. Geographical Distribution
Assistant Professor, Boerhaavia diffusa is distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions of the
Dept. of Shalakya Tantra, world. It is found in throughout the warmer parts of India, Pakistan, Australia, China, Sudan,
Ayurveda College, Coimbatore, Sri Lanka, Egypt, South Africa, USA and in several countries of the Middle East. Leptadenia
Tamilnadu. India reticulata (Retz) grows throughout India, Especially it grows in the sub-Himalayan tracts of
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International Journal of Herbal Medicine
Punjab to Sikkim, Khasi hills, Utter Pradesh, Gujarat and and Shimla [13]. A. graecizans is native of Africa, south
throughout the Deccan Peninsula up to an altitude of 900 m Europe and asia [14]. Alternanthera sessilis grows in the flood
and found particularly in hedges in India [11]. Chenopodium plain wetlands, margins of rivers, streams, canals, ponds,
album distributed throughout world. About 21 species occur reservoirs, tanks in India.
in India [12], particularly in Western Rajasthan, Kulu valley
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International Journal of Herbal Medicine
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