Punarnava

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Boerhaavia diffusa is an herb with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Punarnava is most often used for

Summary

Boerhaavia diffusa is an herb found in Ayurveda and other traditional medicines. Historically, Boerhaavia diffusa has been used for its anti-diabetic and diuretic properties. In different areas of the world, Boerhaavia diffusa has also been used for pain relief, anti-inflammation, and treating indigestion. Boerhaavia diffusa is a tropical crawling root plant, with bioactive compounds in both the leaves and roots.

There have not been any human studies conducted on Boerhaavia diffusa, but animal evidence suggests it is an effective diuretic, and can suppress the proliferation of immune cells. This can be harmful in some cases, like during flu season, but beneficial if the immune system is hyperactive. Boerhaavia diffusa also has an anti-proliferative effect on some cancer cells, which means it prevents them from spreading. This anti-cancer effect comes from the isolated bioactive purnavarine.

Boerhaavia diffusa also has anti-oxidant properties.

Boerhaavia diffusa’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative mechanisms are plausible explanations for _Boerhaavia diffusa’s potent anti-diabetic effects, which rivals the potency of standard drugs like Glibenclamide and Metformin. Further research is needed to confirm this relationship.

What else is Punarnava known as?
Note that Punarnava is also known as:
  • Punarnava
  • Boerhaavia Diffusa
Dosage information

The standard Boerhaavia diffusa dose used in rat studies is in the range of 200-400mg/kg, with a maximally effective dose of 1000mg/kg. This translates to a human dosage of 32-64mg/kg, or:

• 2,200-4,300mg for a 150lb person

• 2,900-5,800mg for a 200lb person

• 3,600-7,200mg for a 250lb person

These are estimated doses based off of animal research. There have not been any human studies conducted on Boerhaavia diffusa.

Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
8.^Maurya R, Sathiamoorthy B, Deepak MFlavonoids and phenol glycosides from Boerhavia diffusaNat Prod Res.(2007 Feb)
9.^Aviello G, Canadanovic-Brunet JM, Milic N, Capasso R, Fattorusso E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Fasolino I, Izzo AA, Borrelli FPotent antioxidant and genoprotective effects of boeravinone G, a rotenoid isolated from Boerhaavia diffusaPLoS One.(2011)
10.^Ahmed-Belkacem A, Macalou S, Borrelli F, Capasso R, Fattorusso E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Di Pietro ANonprenylated rotenoids, a new class of potent breast cancer resistance protein inhibitorsJ Med Chem.(2007 Apr 19)
13.^Borrelli F, Ascione V, Capasso R, Izzo AA, Fattorusso E, Taglialatela-Scafati OSpasmolytic effects of nonprenylated rotenoid constituents of Boerhaavia diffusa rootsJ Nat Prod.(2006 Jun)
15.^Pereira DM, Faria J, Gaspar L, Valentão P, de Pinho PG, Andrade PBBoerhaavia diffusa: metabolite profiling of a medicinal plant from NyctaginaceaeFood Chem Toxicol.(2009 Aug)
16.^Bharali R, Azad MR, Tabassum JChemopreventive action of Boerhaavia diffusa on DMBA-induced skin carcinogenesis in miceIndian J Physiol Pharmacol.(2003 Oct)
18.^Hiruma-Lima CA, Gracioso JS, Bighetti EJ, Germonsén Robineou L, Souza Brito ARThe juice of fresh leaves of Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae) markedly reduces pain in miceJ Ethnopharmacol.(2000 Jul)
21.^Prashanth D, Padmaja R, Samiulla DSEffect of certain plant extracts on alpha-amylase activityFitoterapia.(2001 Feb)
23.^Singh PK, Baxi D, Doshi A, Ramachandran AVAntihyperglycaemic and renoprotective effect of Boerhaavia diffusa L. in experimental diabetic ratsJ Complement Integr Med.(2011 Jan)
26.^Manu KA, Kuttan GImmunomodulatory activities of Punarnavine, an alkaloid from Boerhaavia diffusaImmunopharmacol Immunotoxicol.(2009)
28.^Pandey R, Maurya R, Singh G, Sathiamoorthy B, Naik SImmunosuppressive properties of flavonoids isolated from Boerhaavia diffusa LinnInt Immunopharmacol.(2005 Mar)
29.^Mehrotra S, Singh VK, Agarwal SS, Maurya R, Srimal RCAntilymphoproliferative activity of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa rootsExp Mol Pathol.(2002 Jun)
30.^Mehrotra S, Mishra KP, Maurya R, Srimal RC, Singh VKImmunomodulation by ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa rootsInt Immunopharmacol.(2002 Jun)
34.^Srivastava R, Saluja D, Dwarakanath BS, Chopra MInhibition of Human Cervical Cancer Cell Growth by Ethanolic Extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Punarnava) RootEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2011)
40.^Yamaguchi S, Wiessner JH, Hasegawa AT, Hung LY, Mandel GS, Mandel NSStudy of a rat model for calcium oxalate crystal formation without severe renal damage in selected conditionsInt J Urol.(2005 Mar)
43.^Jarald EE, Kushwah P, Edwin S, Asghar S, Patni SAEffect of Unex on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in ratsIndian J Pharmacol.(2011 Jul)
45.^Borrelli F, Milic N, Ascione V, Capasso R, Izzo AA, Capasso F, Petrucci F, Valente R, Fattorusso E, Taglialatela-Scafati OIsolation of new rotenoids from Boerhaavia diffusa and evaluation of their effect on intestinal motilityPlanta Med.(2005 Oct)
46.^Brown AM, Jeltsch JM, Roberts M, Chambon PActivation of pS2 gene transcription is a primary response to estrogen in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.(1984 Oct)
49.^Singh A, Singh RG, Singh RH, Mishra N, Singh NAn experimental evaluation of possible teratogenic potential in Boerhaavia diffusa in Albino ratsPlanta Med.(1991 Aug)