Mythological and Spiritual Review on Eloeocarpus Ganitrus and Assessment of Scientific Facts for its Medicinal Uses

Abstract

Elaeocarpus ganitrus (Syn: E. sphaericus) is the king of herbal medicines which belongs to family Elaeocarpaceae.  It is commonly known as Rudraksha and is popularly used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani system of medicine. It is a large evergreen tree which is found in himalyan region and also in area of gangetic plain. The plant reaches the height of 50-200 feet. The main trunk of tree is rough textured, cylindrical and grayish-white in colour. The leaves are shining, green, oblong, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, minutely crenate or serrate and almost glabrous in nature. The inflorescence is mainly racemes and mostly from the axils of fallen leaves. Fully ripe fruits are blue in color which bears seeds in it and so they are also known as blueberry beads. The seeds are hard and contain tubercles. Traditionally rudraksha is used in the treatment of hypertension, anxiety, epilepsy, migraine, depression, palpitation, nerve pain, asthma, arthritis and liver disease. In ayurvedic medicinal system, wearing of Rudraksha can have a positive effect on heart and nerves. Even the research has proved the powers of rudraksha scientifically with reproducible results which further proved the Rudraksha have dielectric, inductive, diamagnetic, para-magnetic, and dynamic polarity or the ability to change its polarity. The effective constituents are various alkaloids like elaeocarpidine, (+) – elaeocarpine, isoelaeocarpine, rudrakine, pseudo epiisoelaeocarpiline and flavonoids like quercetin. The present review is an effort to compile all the relevant information and to enlighten the need of research of this plant.