Sanskrit name: Rohish, Dhoopa Gandhika, Sougandhika, Kattrina, Devajagdha
Botanical name: Cymbopogon martinii Roxb.
Family name: Gramineae (Yava kula)
Identification No.- SDACH/HG/235
Vernacular names
Hindi name– Rusa ghas, Rosha Ghas
English name– Rusa grass, Palmarosa grass, Rosha Grass
Bengali name– Aghiyaga ghas
Gujarati name- Romsado
Marathi name- Rohish
Tamil name– Kavathan pillu
Synonyms- कत्तृणं रौहिषं देवजग्धं सौगन्धिकं तथा । भूतिकं ध्यामपौरञ्च श्यामकं धूपगन्धिकम् ॥१६७॥ रौहिषं तुवरं तिक्तं कटुपाकं व्यपोहति । हृत्कण्ठव्याधिपित्तास्त्रशूलकासकफज्वरान् ॥१६८॥
Classification
Charaka samhita– Sthanyajanana
Bhavaprakasha- Guduchyadi varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu– Guduchyadi varga
Kaiyyadeva Nighantu– Qushadhi varga
Raja Nighantu– Shalmalyadi varga
Habitat & Distribution: Herb, grassland, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Cultivated in most parts of the world
Morphology- Rohisha is a small herb growing to a height of 2-3 m and is found all over the temperate climate of India. The stem is smooth, pale white and has leaves emerging from it. The leaves are pleasant smelling, about 7-8 inch long and 1 inch wide and pointed at the tip. Flowers are covered by the leaves and are seen during the winter season.
Varieties: Motiya and Sofia are two varities
Substitute/ Adulterant: Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and even rose oil. Adulterants can include Abitol, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, and various synthetic chemicals.
Phytochemicals: The essential oil obtained from the motia variety is rich in geraniol (80-90%). The oil is known as Palmarosa. Sofia variety yields an oil with lesser geraniol. It is known as Ginger grass Oil. Apart from this the plant yields Linalol, Geranyl acetate, Geranyl formate, Carvone etc.
Raspanchaka- Rasa– Katu, Tikta; Guna- Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna; Virya– Ushna; Vipaka– Katu, Prabhava- Stanyajanan, dosha shamakta– Kaphavata shamak
Karma– Stanyajanan, Rogaghnata– Stanyajanan, Swedajanan, Raktashodhakn, Mutrajanan, Jwarghan, Kasa, Swasa, Aruchi, Agnimandha, Krimi, Visuchika
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
External: 1) The paste of the leaf and stem of Cymbopogon martini is applied over the area affected with scabies, discoloration of the skin.
2) The paste of the plant is applied over the joints affected with pain and inflammation as part of treatment.
Internal: 1) The decoction from the plant Rohisha is given in a dose of 50-60 ml to treat intestinal worms and diarrhea.
2) The oil extract of Cymbopogon martini is mixed with hot water and used for hot steam inhalation in conditions of asthma and common cold.
3) The plant is boiled in cow milk and given as a drink in a dose of 40-50 ml to improve breast milk in lactating women.
Part used: Stem, Leaf, Flower
Dose: Decoction-50 to 80 ml
Essential Oil- 1 to 3 drops
Yoga/Formulations: Agurvadi Tailam, Manashiladi Dhuma, Maha panchgavya Ghrita, Dhanwantaram Ghrita
IUCN Status: Not mentioned
Research updates
1) Anti-bacterial activity: The present study was designed to judge the in vitro antibacterial activity and comparision of Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon martinii. The antibacterial activity was studied in three different concentrations (10µl, 15μl, 20µl) were tested against Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The highest concentration of 20µl exhibits more Antibacterial activity and Cymbopgon martini shows more antibacterial activity than Ocimum basilicum in all three concentrations by using Well diffusion method.
2) Anti-oxidant activity: The present study deals with the in vitro study of antioxidant activity ofessential oil from Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) of family gramineae. The in vitro study of antioxidant activity of Palmarosa essential oil has been done by using DPPH assay, Nitrogen oxide assay, reducing power assay, carotene bleaching assay and FRAP method. IC50 values observed for DPPH and NO assay were 0.125 mg/mL and 12.5 µg/mL, respectively. In beta carotene bleaching method, the oil showed 93.15% bleaching for the first hour and it increased to 51.1% in second hour. There was a constant increase in the reducing activities with the increase in concentrations in both reducing activity and FRAP methods. In all the methods BHT and Gallic acid were kept as standards. The results clearly indicate that Palmarosa essential oil is effective in scavanging free radicals and has the potential to be a powerful antioxidant
