See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/345306874

A Review On Chaturjataka

Article · November 2020

CITATIONS READS
0 1,973

3 authors, including:

Rakshitha D. Gazala Hussain

JSS Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital SDM College of Ayurveda & Hospital
16 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS    97 PUBLICATIONS   34 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Chaturjataka View project

A CRITICAL REVIEW ON RAMABANA RASA View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Rakshitha D. on 04 November 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

A Review On Chaturjataka

*Rakshitha D1, Devika Balagopalan2, Gazala Hussain3

1
P.G Scholar, 2Ayurvedic Physician, 3Associate Professor
1,3
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana
Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka
2
Vaduthala Kochi, Kerala

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chaturjataka are a group of four herbal drugs which are aromatic in nature includes Twak

(Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), Patra (Cinnamomum tamala Nees) and

Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea Linn). Reference of individual drugs are seen but as ‘Chaturjataka’ is mentioned in

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Mahoushadhi Nighantu and Basavarajeeyam. Materials and Methods: Literary review

has been carried out on individual drugs of Chaturjataka. In this study, an attempt was made to collect their

information from different authenticated books of Ayurveda. Observations: Description of each drug of

Chaturjataka including their habitat, gunaadikarma, etc. were mentioned. Discussion: Depending on the rasaadi

karma, nature of drugs; grouping was done by different Acharya. Though they differe in their action individually

but when taken in combination, they possess kapha-vatahara, vishaghna (antipioson), deepana (digestive) and

varnya (complexion promoter) action. Conclusion: They are aromatic in nature and possess different properties

individually.

KEYWORDS: chaturjataka, twak, ela, patra, nagakesara

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 510
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

INTRODUCTION

Chaturjataka are a group of four aromatic herbal drugs namely Twak (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Ela

(Elettaria cardamomum Maton), Patra (Cinnamomum tamala Nees) and Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea Linn).

Trijataka (Twak, Ela and Patra) are first mentioned by Acharya Vagbhata and in later days reference of

Chaturjataka includes nagakesara along with trijataka are mentioned. These four drugs in combination are

mentioned as ‘Chaturjataka’ in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Mahoushadhi Nighantu and Basavarajeeyam. In

general, they possess katu (pungent)-madhura (sweet) rasa, ruksha (dry)-tikshna (high potency) guna, ushna (hot)

virya, katu (pungent) vipaka and they are kapha-vatahara, vishaghna, deepana and varnya1. Chaturjataka being

aromatic are useful in many Ayurvedic preparations and also as prakshepaka dravya in many formulations of

asava-arishta. Though they differ in their gunaadi karma but have some similarities in action; they are deepana

(digestive), pachana (carminative), mutrala (diuretic), hridya (cardiotonic), etc. Their distribution is almost

throughout India. Each called by different names in different regions with many synonyms and many Ayurvedic

books have mentioned their properties and indications accordingly.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literary review has been carried out on individual drugs of Chaturjataka. Many authenticated Ayurvedic texts and

Nighantu have mentioned their description, properties, indications, etc. in a different view and were collected,

analyzed, summarized and quoted here.

OBSERVATIONS

TWAK

Twak (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) is the dried inner bark (devoid of cork and cortex) of the stem

Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Twak commonly known as dalchini in Hindi, cinnamon in English, belongs to

Lauraceae family. It includes many synonyms like utkata, varaanga, kavacha, shakala, bhringam, etc 2. It is a

moderate sized evergreen tree, 6.1-7.6 m high with reddish brown soft bark, inner surface is darker than the outer

and finely striated longitudinally. Bark is endowed with a sweet taste and a delicate fragrance, leaves are

coriaceous, glaucous green above with spicy odour when it is bruised, flowers are small with disagreeable smell,
IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 511
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

ellipsoidal fruits with dark purple berry, one seeded. Majorly found in southern coastal region of Western India,

evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The bark is aromatic, deodorant, diuretic, digestive, carminative,

cardiotonic in nature. Cinnamon oil is carminative, emmenagogue and useful in anorexia, inflammations, vitiated

conditions of vata, vomiting, odontalgia 3. Two varities of Twak were quoted by Nighantu writers and

commentators namely Indigenous (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and Imported (Cinnamomum cassia). Twak

includes chemical constituents like cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, cumic aldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, tannin,

mucilage, etc4. Therapeutically useful in trishna (thirst), kantamukharoga (diseases of throat-mouth), pinasa

(sinusitis), krimiroga (worm infestation), arsha (piles), hridroga (heart disease), vastiroga (diseases of urinary

system) in the dose of 1-3 g of the drug in powder form, oil of 2-5 drops5. Description of twak and its properties

are also mentioned in Bhavaprakasha, Raja Nighantu, Dhanwantari Nighantu, Madanaadi Nighantu, Shaligrama

Nighantu, Ayurveda Vijnana6.

ELA

Ela (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) is a well documented aromatic condiment in Indian Medicine and tradition,

belongs to Zingiberaceae family7. Reference of ela belongs to Scitaminae family is also found 8. Commonly,

known with the names cardamom in English, elachi in Hindi. It is more often used by Brihat Trayi and Nighantu

writers. Sushruta and Vagbhata have catalogued a group with its name as Elaadi gana. Raja Narahari, documented

and reported the abortificient property of ela for the first time 9. It includes synonyms such as korangi, dravidi,

tuttha, triputa, triti. Ela is a tall annual herb with subterranean branching root stock 1.5-5 m in height, leaves are

subsessile, elliptic or lanceolate with sheathing base, flowers are many shortly pedicelled, lip larger than the

corolla- segments, white sheathed with violet. Fruits are trilocular, subglobose capsules, marked with fine vertical

ribs, seeds are 15-20 per pod, brownish black covered by a thin mucilaginous membrane. It is cultivated mainly in

Western Ghats and South India. Seeds are aromatic, cooling, stimulant, diuretic, carminative, digestive,

abortificient, expectorant and tonic in nature, useful in asthma, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, renal- vesical calculi,

halitosis, vitiated conditions of vata, burning sensation, debility. Cardamom oil is useful in many pharmaceutical

preparations7. Two varieties of ela are mentioned in almost all books namely Sukshma ela (E. cardamomum) and

Brihat ela (A. subulatum). Chemical constituents are bornneol, camphene, heptanes, linalool, menthone, sitosterol,

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 512
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

alpha-beta terpeneols, etc9. Therapeutically, it is useful in timira (cataract), hridroga (heart disease), mutrakricchra

(dysuria) with the dose of 0.5-1 g in powder form10. Properties of ela are also found in Dhanwantari Nighantu,

Madanaadi Nighantu, Bhavaprakasha, Raja Nighantu, Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Nighanturatnakaram, Charaka

Samhita11.

PATRA

Patra (Cinnamomum tamala Nees) consists of mature dried leaves of Cinnamomum tamala Nees, belongs to

Lauraceae family12. It is commonly known as Indian cassia lignea in English and tejpatra in Hindi. It includes

synonyms like patra, tamala patra, patranaamaka. Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhata have quoted ‘dala’ as a

synonym13. Patra is a moderate sized evergreen tree upto 7.5 m height with blackish or brown rough bark. Leaves

are simple, opposite to sub- opposite or alternate, acuminate, glabrous, 3-nerved from base to apex, flowers are

pale yellowish in axillary and terminal, fruits are ovoid, black drupe, fleshy, supported by enlarged perianth tube.

Its distribution is mainly in Himalayas, in areas of 900-2400 m elevation. Leaves are aromatic, thermogenic,

digestive, carminative, anthelmintic, diuretic, tonic, stimulant, useful in cardiac disorders, inflammations, colic,

dyspepsia, proctitis, hepatopathy and splenopathy14. Chemical constituents are eugenol, cinnamic aldehyde,

linalool, d-alpha-phellandrene, etc13. Patra is therapeutically useful in aruchi (tastelessness), hrillasa (nausea),

arsha (piles), pinasa (sinusitis) with the dosage of 1-3 g in powder form15. Description of patra is also mentioned

in Abhidhaanamanjari, Raja Nighantu, Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Nighanturatnakaram, Dhanwantari Nighantu,

Madanaadi Nighantu, Bhavapraksha16.

NAGAKESARA

Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea Linn) belongs to Guttiferae family is mentioned in the Atharvaveda Parishishta and

also in Brihat Trayi texts. Almost all Nighantu have described the properties and indications of nagakesara. It is

commonly known by the names Iron-wood in English, nogkesar in Hindi has synonyms like ahi pushpa, ibha,

naga renuka, rukmam, hema pusham, champeyam, etc. Ahi pushpa and Ahi kesara are the synonyms used by

Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhata respectively17. It is known as Naga Campa in some places. It’s a medium sized

to large glabrous, evergreen tree 18-30 m in height with reddish brown bark that peels off in thin flakes. Leaves

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 513
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

simple, lanceolate, thick, opposite covered with waxy bloom underneath, red when young, acute or acuminate,

flowers are fragrant, white, solitary or in pairs, fruits are ovoid with a conical point surrounded by enlarged

sepals, seeds are 1-4, dark brown, angular and smooth. Nagakesara distribution is throughout India in evergreen

forests up to 1500 m. Flowers are acrid, sudorific, digestive, carminative, diuretic, anthelmintic, expectorant,

aphrodisiac, haemostatic, cardiotonic useful in hiccough, asthma, cough, scabies, leprosy, ulcers, fever, burning

sensation of the feet, haemoptysis, etc. Seed oil is useful in vitiated conditions of vata and skin diseases 18. It

includes chemical constituents such as beta amyrin, beta sitosterol, cyclohaxodione, messuaferrone- A,

messuaferrone- B, mesuol, flavanoids, etc. Therapeutically, it is useful in raktarsha (bleeding piles), raktaatisara

(diarrhea with blood), kushta (diseases of skin), jwara (fever), shiroroga (diseases of head), kandu (itching),

trishna (thirst) in the dose of 1-3 g of powder19. About its description and properties are also mentioned in

Madanaadi Nighantu, Bhavapraksha, Dhanwantari Nighantu, Abhidhaanamanjari, Raja Nighantu,

Nighanturatnakaram, Gadanigraham20.

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 514
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

Table 1: Gunaadikarma of individual drugs of Chaturjataka21

Sl. Drugs Twak Ela Patra Nagakesara

No.

1 Botanical Cinnamomum Elettaria Cinnamomum Mesua ferrea

Name zeylanicum cardamomum tamala Nees Linn

Blume Maton

2 Family Lauraceae Scitaminae Lauraceae Guttiferae

3 Rasa Katu Katu (pungent), Madhura Kashaya

(pungent), Madhura (sweet) (sweet), Katu (astringent),

Tikta (bitter), (pungent) Tikta (bitter)

Madhura

(sweet)

4 Guna Laghu (light), Laghu (light), Tikshna (high Ruksha (dry),

Ruksha (dry), Ruksha (dry) potency), Laghu Tikshna (hight

Sheeta (cold) (light), Picchila potency), Laghu

(slimy) (light)

5 Veerya Ushna (hot) Shita (cold) Ushna (hot) Ushna (hot)/

Anushna

(neither hot nor

cold)

6 Vipaka Katu (pungent) Katu (pungent) Katu (pungent) Katu (pungent)

7 Doshaghnata Vata-pittahara Kapha-vatahara Kapha-vatahara Kapha-pittahara

8 Part used Bark, oil Seed, oil Leaf Flower, stamen,

leaf

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 515
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

Table 2: Grouping of individual drugs of Chaturjataka according to different Ayurvedic treaties

Sl. Drugs Twak Ela Patra Nagakesara

No.

1 Charaka - Swasahara,

Angamarda

prashamana,

Katuka

skanda,

Shirovirechana

2 Sushruta Elaadi gana Elaadi gana, Elaadi gana Elaadi,

Pippalyadi Vachadi,

gana Anjanadi,

Priyangvadi

gana

3 Vagbhata Elaadi, Elaadi, Elaadi, Elaadi,

Trijataka Trijataka Trijataka Vachadi,

Anjanadi,

Priyangvadi

gana

4 Bhavaprakasha Karpuradi Karpuradi Karpuradi Karpuradi

Nighantu varga varga varga varga

5 Mahoushadhi Trijataka, Trijataka, Trijataka, Trijataka,

Nighantu Chaturjataka Chaturjataka Chaturjataka Chaturjataka

6 Basavarajeeyam Chaturjataka Chaturjataka Chaturjataka Chaturjataka

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 516
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

DISCUSSION

Chaturjataka are group of four herbal drugs which are mainly aromatic in nature so they grouped under in

combination. Trijataka was first mentioned by Acharya Vagbhata but Nagakesara was not included in a group

meanwhile Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhata have included Nagakesara in elaadi, vachadi, anjanadi, priyangvadi

gana. But in later days, reference of Chaturjataka in combination are mentioned in many Nighantu. Part used in

each are different possess different actions based on their gunaadi karma but have same vipaka at the end that is

katu. They possess kapha-vatahara property in general and in common they have deepana, pachana, mutrala,

hridya action. Except patra, other drugs have laghu-ruksha guna in common where patra has laghu-picchila guna

which may hamper its stay for longer time 21. Acharya Charaka have included ela under above mentioned gana

may be because of its peculiarity in gunakarma compared to other drugs. Bhavaprakasha Nighantukara have

grouped Chaturjataka under karpuradi varga as they are aromatic in nature. Chaturjataka in combination act

differently than being used individually as their action differs when taken in combination.

CONCLUSION

In Brihat Trayi, one cannot find the reference of Chaturjataka in combination but description of individual drugs

are quoted. Chaturjataka as a single group are mentioned in many Nighantu and other Ayurvedic texts after Brihat

Trayi. They are aromatic in nature and possess different properties individually with katu vipaka at the end and

deepana, pachana, mutrala, hridya action in similar. They are all grouped under different gana and varga

depending on their rasaadi karma and nature of drugs. In combination, they possess katu-madhura rasa, ruksha-

tikshna guna, ushna virya, katu vipaka and they are kapha-vatahara, vishaghna, deepana and varnya.

IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 517
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

REFERENCE

1. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol I:p.281.

2. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.464.

3. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited; 2006;Vol

2:p.87.

4. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.465.

5.Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. First

edition. New Delhi. The Controller of Publications Civil Lines, Delhi: 2001.Part I vol I.p.114.

6. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited; 2006;Vol

2:p.89-90.

7. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited; 2006;Vol

2:p.360.

8. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.527.

9. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.528.

10. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.529.

11. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited;

2006;Vol 2:p.363-64.

12. Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. First

edition. New Delhi. The Controller of Publications Civil Lines, Delhi: 2001.Part I vol I.p.115.

13. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.918.

14. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited;

2006;Vol 2:p.84.
IJRAR2AA1341 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 518
© 2020 IJRAR November 2020, Volume 7, Issue 4 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

15. Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. First

edition. New Delhi. The Controller of Publications Civil Lines, Delhi: 2001.Part I vol I.p.116.

16. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited;

2006;Vol 2:p.86.

17. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.68.

18. Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited;

2006;Vol 4:p.27.

19. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II:p.74.

20. . Indian Medicinal Plants. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal ed. Chennai: Orient Longman Private Limited;

2006;Vol 4:p.29-30.

21. Sastry J.L.N. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012;vol II.

IJRAR2AA1341
View publication stats
International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 519