RASNA (Pluchea lanceolata)

Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata C.B.Clarke) is a well-known medicinal plant in Ayurveda, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-rheumatic properties. It is a perennial shrub native to the Indian subcontinent and often used in formulations targeting joint pain, swelling, and vata disorders. Rasna plays a vital role in traditional Ayurvedic formulations such as Rasnadi Kashayam, Rasnadi Churna, and Maharasnadi Kwath.

Rasna Scientific Names

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Pluchea
Species: Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke

Pluchea lanceolata Common Names

English: Rasna, Pluchea
Sanskrit: Rasna
Hindi: Rasna
Gujarati: Rasan
Punjabi: Rasna
Kannada: Rasnay
Tamil: Ilaiyam
Telugu: Rasnaaku
Malayalam: Rasnakkiray

Rasna Uses

Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic - Used to manage arthritis, rheumatism, and sciatica due to its vata-pacifying and inflammation-reducing properties.

Musculoskeletal Disorders - Beneficial in treating joint stiffness, muscle pain, and swelling pain.

Fever and Cold - Acts as a febrifuge in traditional preparations.

Digestive Support - Sometimes used in formulations to relieve abdominal pain and improve appetite.

Postnatal Care - Included in post-delivery formulations to aid recovery from muscle strain and body pain.

Phytochemical Constituents

Pluchea lanceolata is rich in a variety of bioactive constituents, which contribute to its therapeutic properties:

Flavonoids: Quercetin, Kaempferol
Terpenoids: β-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol
Steroids: Lupeol
Alkaloids: Plucheine
Phenolic compounds: Caffeic acid derivatives, Gallic acid
Essential oils: Caryophyllene, Humulene

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part-I, Volume IV, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.

Sharma, P. V. (1999). Dravyaguna Vigyan (Materia Medica-Vegetable Drugs), Vol. II. Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi.

Nadkarni, K.M. (2002). Indian Materia Medica, Vol. 1. Popular Prakashan.

Jain, A., & Jain, S. (2012). “Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigations of Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke.” International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 3(2), 553-558.

Rani, A., et al. (2011). “Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Pluchea lanceolata leaves.” Journal of Pharmacy Research, 4(8), 2702-2704.

European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition. Council of Europe.

Khare, C.P. (2007). Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary. Springer Science.

Mukherjee, P.K. (2002). Quality Control of Herbal Drugs. Business Horizons Publishers.