Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameAsarun
Urudu nameAsaroon, Taggar
Arabic name /
Persian name		Asarun / Saraniun
English nameIndian Valerian
Original plant nameValeriana wallichi DC., Indian Valerian
Family nameValerianaceae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification root
Collection informationIslamic Republic of Pakistan, Karachi [Karachi], Sind, Amjad Unani Medicine (Pvt.) Ltd.
Collection date1994/1/22
CollectorTsuneo Namba
IdentifierJaved Ahmad
DescriptionFeatures:
The drug is fragrant but irritant to the tongue, sub-cylindrical, dorsiventrally flattened, slightly arched and unbranched rhizome. Outer surface is yellowish brown to dark grey in colour, with prominent ring like scars. A transversely cut portion shows a dark brown cambium and 12 to 15 vascular bundles appearing as small dots arranged in a ring. Fracture - short and horny; odour - strong; taste - bitter.
TMPW No.14569

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　
Production area information
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25.0700428
67.2847875
Collection information
Islamic Republic of Pakistan,Karachi [Karachi], Sind
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameUrudu name,
English name		Asaroon, Taggar, Indian Valerian
Arabic name / Persian nameAsarun / Saraniun
crude drug image
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Original plant nameValeriana wallichi DC.
Family nameValerianaceae
Used partRoot / rhizome
Distribution areaA herb, distributed in the Himalayas, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Also found from Kashmir to Bhutan at 10,000 ft.
Function and propertiesOrgans, Ocular organs, Alimentary organs, Excretory organs.
It is deobstruent and its consumption gives relief in all internal pains. It is rarefying, dissolvent, detergent and it warms up cold organs. Tonic to brain and nerves.
Specific actionsDeobstruent, antispasmodic for liver, cephalic tonic and diuretic.
Frequency in useWild in temperate Himalayas.
Common usesOrgans: It is useful in disorders of the spinal and failing reflexes. It is useful in sciatica and coxalgia. Nervous symptoms during menopause are well treated by this root.

Ocular organs: It is useful in opacity of the cornea.

Alimentary organs: It is highly useful in obstructions and hardness of the liver and also in jaundice and dropsy. Administration of 13.5 gm of asarun soaked in 384 gm of the grape juice left over for two months and then filtered, is extremely beneficial in general dropsy, fever and hardness of the spleen.

Excretory organs: Asarun strengthens the bladder and kidneys, facilitates urination and serves as a purgative like white hellebore.

In stomach inflammations (like gastritis) it is of great benefit.
As tonic it is used for curing hemilpegia, facial paralysis, epilepsy, dementia, paralysis, numbness, sciatica and coxalgia.
It is aphrodisiac. It also promotes formation of semen.
Side effectIt is harmful for lungs. Large doses are regarded harmful for CNS, heart and intestines.
Medical systemUnani
Traditional conceptTemperamentIt is hot and dry in the second degree.
Drug effectIts use in facial paralysis and hemilpegia is very prominent and of great importance.
Dosage2 to 5 gm (approximately).
SubstituteZanjabeel (Zingiber officinalis Rosc.), Ginger dried; a href="https://ethmed.toyama-wakan.net/SearchEn/View/31993">Waj (Acorus calamus Linn.), Sweet flag root.
Related drugsAccording to Unani literature the real source of Asarun is Asarum europaeum Linn. It is indigenous to temperate Europe and North Asia. It is found in France, Rome, Africa and Russia. It is not found in India. It is called Asarum. The commercial supply of this root in India is mainly from Iran and Afghanistan.
In India other species (e.g. Valeriana hardwickii Wall. and V. officinalis Linn.) are found and are used in place of the real asarun. The above Indian species are also good substitute for V. wallichii DC. (Indian Valerian).
Corrigent (corrective)Mawaiz Munaqa (Vitis vinifera Linn.). Raisins large variety.
Important compound preparationsJawarish Jalinus, Jawarish ood shireen and Jawarish Basbas.
ReferencesReference book　

Tips！

Unani Adwiyah Mufradah, 1984. Ali, Saifuddin, A. (3rd edi.). Taraqi-e-Urdu Bureau, R. K. Puram, New Delhi.
p 27.

Indusyunic Medicine, 1997. Usmanghani, K., Saeed, A. and Alam, M. T. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi.
pp 435-436.

Hamdard Pharmcopoeia of Eastern medicine, 1969. Said, H. M. (editor), The Times Press, Sadar Karachi.
pp 80, 81, 87.

Al-Jamili Mufradt Al Adwiya Wal Aghziya (1197-1248 A.D.). Ibn al-Baytar. Vols. 1-3, 1985-1999. Central council for Research in Unani Medicine, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
Vol. 1, pp 51-52.

Al-Qanun Fil-Tibb. Avicenna. (English translation of the critical Arabic text), Book 2, 1998. Hameed, H. A. (editor), Dept. of Islamic Studies, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi.
pp 54-55.

Dictionary of Economic Plants in India, 1996 (2nd Rep.). Singh, U; Wadhwani, A. M. and Johri B.M. Indian council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
p 238.

Makhzanul-Mufradat (Khawasul Adviyah), Hakeem Kabiruddin, Daftar Al-Masih, Qarol Bagh, Delhi.
p 72.

Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs Used in Ayurveda, 1996. Sarin, Y.K., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
p 106.

Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement
pp 28, 252.

RemarksDioscorides first described this drug. After that the Arab physicians included this drug in their Materia Medica. Nard (Sumbul at-teeb) is an independent drug and its description has been given at its place separately. It is not having any similarity with Asarun and Tagar. In Indian market the Tagar is also sold in place of Asarun. The present sample of Asarun from Karachi is identified as Valeriana wallichii.

In India there is one drug which is sold under the name ''Tagar'' (V. wallichii).
It is mistaken in place of asarun. Thinking that both are similar. But in real terms asarun (Asaum europaeum) and Tagar (Valeriana wallichii) are different drugs. Botanically both belong to different genera. Tagar is also called Sumbul Jabali (Mountain Nard).
Last renewal date2024/02/22
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