Medico-Historical Review of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata Linn.)

Abstract

Karanja is very well-known drug of Indian system of medicine, also called as Indian beech. Acharya Charaka mentioned as Kandughna and under Katu Skandha. While in Sushruta Samhita, Karanja is classified under Aragvadhadi, Varunadi, Arkadi and Shyamadi varga. The first reference of the drug Karanja is available in Sutra Sthana first chapter of Charaka samhita with the name of Prakirya and Udakirya as Karanja-Dwaya. In Sushruta samhita karanja is mentioned in Sutra 38^th chapter under Aragvadhadi, Varunadi, and Shyamadi varga. In Ashtangasangraha Acharya Vagbhata mentioned it in Dinacharya Adhyaya and also mentioned it used as Dustavrana vishodhana. In Ashtanga Hridaya, Karanja used for Danta Dhawana and also used in Arsha chikitsa. In Ashtangahridaya synonyms like Varanak and Shitivarak etc are used for Karanja. It has many synonyms like Prakirya, Udakirya, Naktamala, Chirabilwa, Snigdhapatra, and Ghritapoora. According to different Ayurveda classics, it has Katu Rasa (pungent in taste) and Tikta Rasa (bitter in taste) and having Tikshna Guna. It is Ushna virya (hot in potency) and Katu in Vipaka (produces effects of Katu rasa in body when final transformation occurs after the digestion). This article summarized medico-historical review of Karanja from all Ayurvedic classics.