AN UPDATE ON SIDDHA HERB KORAI (CYPERUS ROTUNDUS, L.): A REVIEW

The Siddha System of Medicine (Traditional Tamil System of medicine), which has been most prevalent in the ancient Tamil land, is the foremost of all other medical systems in the world. Since, ancient times, several diseases have been treated by administration of plant extracts based on traditional medicine. Plants are the only economic source of some well established and important drugs. Indian Materia Medica includes about 2000 drugs of natural origin. The National Siddha Formulary of India lists more than 10000 well practiced Siddha formulations described in Gunavagadam (Siddha pharmacology). Cyperus rotundus Linn. belongs to the family Cyperaceae. It is the world worst weed native to India. It has a wide range of medicinal and pharmacological applications. According to the Siddha, C. rotundus rhizomes are considered astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, analgesic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, anti-tussive, emmenagogue, litholytic, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, vermifuge, tonic and antibacterial. This paper provides a review of medicinal uses and various updated pharmacological properties of C. rotundus rhizome. The update is essential for developing the traditional system.