A CRITICAL REVIEW ON DRUG AHIPHENA BIJA (PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM LINN.) IS MENTIONED IN CLASSICAL TEXTS OF AYURVEDA

Abstract

Ayurveda is an Ancient system of medicine. Many plants have been described in Ayurveda, One of them is Ahiphena. Ahiphena is botanically known as (Papaver somniferum Linn.) belonging to family Papaveraceae. In Ayurveda it is known as Ahiphena with synonyms like Tilabheda, Khastila, Sukshmabija, Subija, Sukshmatandula etc. It is cultivated under State control of license in certain areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jalandhar in Punjab. Ahiphena have 2 useful parts one the seeds of Ahiphena also famous by name Khaskhas is commonly known as Postadana and Poppy seeds and other Fruit. Latex exudate called Opium. Opium yields wide range of Alkaloids namely Morphine, Codein, Thebaine and Papaverine. Ahiphena bija has many Medicinal, Nutritive and Therapeutic values. Ahiphena bija is used in treatment of many diseases like Atisara, Grahani, Viryastambhana, Sotha, Sula and Darunaka in the form of Vati, Curna and Asavas. In this paper the detailed description of Ahiphena bija is mentioned from various Ayurvedic literatures.