Ashwagola- Isabgol (Plantago ovata)

Ashwagola – Plantago ovata, more commonly known as Isabgol, is an Ayurvedic herb used for the treatment of constipation, distention of abdomen, herpes, piles. 

Latin name- Plantago ovata Forsk.
Family- Plantaginaceae

Scientific classification of Isabgula
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species: P. ovata

Psyllium husk Names in different languages:
Hindi name- Isabgol, Ashwagol
English name- Spogel seeds, Psyllium, Isphagul
Arabic name- Bajkathuna
Gujarathi name- Umatho jeeru
Kannada name- Isapgolu
Tamil name- Isappa
Telugu name- Isapgol

Sanskrit Synonym of Aswagol:
Ashwakarna- Seeds resemble ear of horse
Ishadgol- Seeds are little round
Sheetabeeja, Ashwagol

Morphology of Plantago ovata:

Aswagol is a small bushy shrub growing to a height of 2- 3 feet all over India. It is cultivated in some parts of North West India like Rajasthan and Punjab. The leaves are 4-8 inch long. The flower stalk is oval shaped. The fruits are little oval in shape and are about 7-8 mm long. The seeds inside the fruits are of ear shaped and white in color. The seeds are mucilaginous in nature.

Isabgol medicinal properties:

Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet)
Guna (Qualities) – Snigdha (Has moisture), Guru (Heavy), Picchila (Slimy)
Vipaka – Madhura (Undergoes sweet taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Madhura)
Karma (Actions) – Vata pitta shamaka (reduces vitiated vata and pitta dosha) Some others opine that it balances down Kapha and Pitta Dosha.

Part used- Seeds, Husk of seed
Dosage- 5 to 10 g

Chemical constituents of Plantago ovata:

The seed contains amino acids including valine, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, cystine, lysine, leucine and tyrosine; and a mucilage consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides composed mainly of xylose, arabinose and galacturonicacid; rhamnoseandgalactose are also present. The seeds also gave aucubin, the antibacterial principle. The seed coat contains fatty acids mainlylinoleic, oleic and palmitic acids in decreasing concentrations.

ईषद् गोलं परं वृष्यं मधुरं ग्राहि शीतलम् ।
पिच्छिलं तुवरं किञ्चित् वातकृत् कफपित्तहत्॥
रक्तातिसारास्रपित्तं नाशयेदिति कीर्तितम् ॥         ( वैह्यामृतम् )

Uses of Ashwagol:

• The seed husk of Ashwagol is absorbed water for two or three hours and later it is devoured to treat enlargement of mid-region, clogging and tooting.

  The seed of Isabgol is made into powder and the powder is expended in a portion of 3 to 5 g to treat consuming sensation, over the top thirst in the body and fever.

  The seeds are seared in ghee and expended to treat Irritable inside disorder.

  Seeds of Isabgol are made into glue and applied remotely in instances of Herpes, Localized expanding with consuming sensation, territory influenced with pustules.

  Cold imbuement of the seeds of Isabgol is devoured in a portion of 30-40 ml to treat maintenance of urine.us in nature.

Adverse effects: Excess use of the seeds or husk of Isabgol may cause severe purgation, leading to dehydration.

Ayurvedic medicines containing Psyllium husk:

Constiwin capsule: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. It is a laxative used to treat constipation, piles, flatulence and fistula in ano.

Laxoherb powder: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. It is used to treat hyperacidity, piles, fissures, indigestion, flatulence and heart burn.

Golax powder: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. It is used in the treatment of constipation, incomplete bowel evacuation, hemorrhoids, Irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis.

Laxogold capsule: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine useful to treat constipation.

Research articles related to Plantago ovata:

Anti-tumor action:Plantago major (seeds and leaves) and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar beans were dissected for general concoction segments including, unsaturated fats and amino acids. Plantago leaves separates showed higher cancer prevention agent action than plantago seeds and guar beans extricates. The ethanolic, hot and cold concentrates of plant initiated anticancer movement with different degrees. Ethanolic concentrate of P. significant leaves had the best impact on tumor cell development (Dead 74%) trailed by high temp water concentrate of P. significant leaves (Dead 54.6%). .

Protection of Intestinal mucosa: To assess the counter ulcerogenic impact on duodenal mucosa of the dissolvable fiber Plantago ovata husk, low-portion acetylsalicylic corrosive (10 mg/kg) was offered orally to creatures once day by day for 14 or 28 days with and without Plantago ovata husk (100 mg/kg). 24 h after last dosing duodenal examples were evacuated for anatomopathological assessment. Villi were inspected by both light and examining electron microscopy. Discoveries propose that Plantago ovata husk may ensure intestinal mucosa most likely by restricting acetylsalicylic corrosive entrance into epithelial cells, albeit further examinations are expected to affirm a similar impact in other test models of initiated mucosal harm and to explain the components of fiber assurance.