MYRISTICA FRAGRANS HOUTT: STUDY ON ITS PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The history of any drug gives insight into its morphology, properties, therapeutics, or dietary utility as conceived by various authors at different stages of history. Jathiphala is well known for its medicinal uses. In Sankhaikhitha Dharmasuthra and Vishnu Dharmasutra, references are available about the external uses of Jathiphala. Jathiphala is mentioned thrice by charaka. Vagbhata described Jathikosha as Jathipatrika. Even though the plant is well- known as a spice, the medicinal utilities were not much exploited until the medieval period. Brihatrayis did not mention the drug Jathiphala in any of their classifications. In Gadanigraha written by Sodhala in 12th A.D mentions the plant for the first time. Later in 13th. A.D Acharya Sarngadhara mentioned the plant as Deepana, Pachana, Grahi and Suklasthambhaka dravya. Rajamarthanda authored by Bhoja and Bhavaprakasa delineates the external use of Jathiphala in the form of an ointment in the management of Vyanga. In a later period, many Acharyas have classified it under different headings. In Ayurvedic classics, Jathiphala and Jathipatrika are mainly indicated in the diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract like Atisara, Grahani etc. In the west Nutmegs, maces and their oils are largely used for flavouring and as carminatives. There are many herbal medicines explained in classicalliterature of Ayurveda for the disease Vipadika or Padadari etc., Jathiphala is one such drug where the pericarp of the fruit is being used in Vipadika. Keywords: Vipadika, Jathiphala, Nutmeg, Myristica fragrans.