Abstract

REVIEW AND PRILIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF KATABHYADI YOGA - A PROMISING REMEDY FOR KEETA VISHA (INSECT POISIONING)

Sreedevi Anil Kumar and Sumanth Shenoy H.*

ABSTRACT

Agadatantra’ or ‘Damshtra Chikitsa’ is one among the eight branches of Ayurveda, which deals with the effects of poisonous substances, both animate and inanimate and their treatment. The Keeta Visha (insect poisoning) comes under Jangama Visha. Generally, it is having the affinity to vitiate all the three Doshas but predominantly Pitta and Kapha Dosha. So the Agadas medicaments used for treating Keeta Visha should have Vishahara (anti poisonous) and Pitta-Kaphahara (mitigating Pitta & Kapha) properties. Katabhyadi Yoga is one such classical compound mentioned by Acharya Charaka for treating Keeta Visha which can be used both internally as Kwatha and kalka (decoction & paste) and externally as Lepa (Ext. application). A comprehensive knowledge is necessary right from identification, procurement, physical–chemical-biological evaluations, to review the drug completely and to try the same clinically. Hence an attempt is made to review this formulation with its preliminary phytochemical characters.

Keywords: Katabhyadi Yoga (KY), Keeta Visha, Insect poisoning, Phytochemical Screening.