Glossary of plant based drugs in nighantus-review article

Ayurveda, the “Science of life” is one of the earliest system of medicine known to mankind since the time immemorial. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain health of a healthy and treatment of the disease. Ayurveda gives utmost importance to Aahaara (diet and dietetics), Vihaara (practices and habits), Vichaara (thoughts), Aachaara (daily and seasonal regimens), Vyavahaara (occupation and professions) and Aadhyaathma (spirituality) as the first line for preventive, curative and rehabilitative management. Plant-based drugs occupy the prime position in pharmaco-therapeutic protocols, though it considers “Sarvam jagathyevam hi oushadham, na kinchith anoushadham” that means all substances available in the Universe is medicine and there is nothing like non-medicine. There are more than 1500 plant-based drugs described in Ayurveda classics. Ayurvedic literatures are classified into f ive groups, namely Brihaththrayees, Laghu thrayees, Contemporary classics, Nighantus and Rasoushadha granthaas. Nighantus are the compendiums which describe in detail the pharmacognostic, pharmacological, therapeutic, pharmacovigilant and toxicological aspects of the plant-based drugs. There are more than one hundred Nighantus available in the form of manuscripts found in different museums and orientalias, among which forty are in publication. Eight most popular and commonly referred Nighantus have been selected for representing the information of different timeline. In this paper, an in-depth study report on all aspects of plant-based drugs described in eight Nighantus are discussed.