Rasapanchakas Assessment of Seeds of a Folk Plant - Gnetum ula Brongn.

Background: Ayurveda opines that every plant has its own medicinal values, but there are many less explored plants which are not popular though beneficial either as food or as medicine. But this knowledge is passed from tradition to tradition in folklore practices but within a few groups of a society. One such plant from gymnosperm group is Gnetum ula Brongn. (Gnetaceae) found commonly in and around Udupi. Locally known as kumti beeja. Seeds are roasted or boiled and consumed as it is said to be very nutritious and having krimighna action by folk practitioners. The present work aimed in such less explored plants for its assessment of Rasapanchakas. Methods: The study conducted was to assess the rasapanchakas of seeds of G.ula in which Rasa was assessed by healthy volunteers of sample size 10 and giving scores. Asessement of guna, and vipaka at the level of dosha, dhatu and mala by using animal model and by the experience documented by the folk lore practioners. Asessment of virya by exothermic, endothermic reactions in distilled water. Results: Study revealed seeds of G. ula having, kashaya as pradhana rasa, anurasa is madhura -tikta, guna is guru, ruksha and ushna. Virya is ushna and vipaka is katu. Conclusion: Folklore medicine has tremendous source of information regarding the utility of locally available plants for both as food and as medicines. Such plants have to be properly explored and scientifically documented before putting it into use.