An updated review on Shankhpushpi- As Medhya Rasayana

Abstract

Shankhpushpi is a plant and known as best brain tonic medicine which is classified under four Medhya Rasayana by Acharya Charaka. It is also included as main ingredient in many herbal extractives or decoction-based brain tonics or memory boosting formulations. Various Ayurvedacharya have named it as manglayakusuma, ksheerpushpi, medhya etc. Shankhpushi is also comes under convolvulacea family indicated as Convolvulus pluricaulis. The Charaka Samhita, which is an ancient book of Ayurveda described the use of paste (kalka) as Medhya Rasayana. There are so many experimental, pharmacological, clinical studies done on Convolvulus pluricaulis revealed the promising results as neuroprotective, memory enhancer, and antianxiety properties. The studies analysed its chemical composition like convolidine, convolvine, confoline etc. and may help to stimulate the brain activities. In addition, the studies have shown other properties like diuretic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, antiulcer, antipyretic which helps to manage the various disorders. The various dosage forms like powder, paste, syrup is prepared by using whole plant or different parts of plant as indicated in classical texts. The present review study on Shankhpushpi basically focused on the experimental or clinical studies done in the management of various ailments.