Acorus calamus is widely used in the pharmaceutical as well as on biotechnological scale because it has great potency and defense system. Sweet flag acorus calamus cultivation and economics aspects g b lokesh department of agricultural economics university of agricultural sciences, gkvk, bangalore560065 email. Now pounded it with cows milk and apply on the pimples and acne. Calamus roots will also calm your senses, fight off stress, and ease irritation. Sweet flag is useful for the treatment of skin infections such as eczema and scabies. Some studies also suggest that the herb has ability to treat neuropathic pain. Acorus calamus is a reedlike, aquatic plant with a pungent smell that has been used medicinally since biblical times. Neuromodulatory effect of acrous calamus leaves extract on dopaminergic system in mice vengadeshprabu ka, george ta, vinothkumar ra, nancy ja, kalaivani ma, vijayapandi pb, akmch college of pharmacy, kalapatty road, coimbatore641 048,tamil nadu, india. It can cause kidney damage, shaking, and seizures the fda prohibits calamus use in food products because three of the four species of calamus found in the world contain a cancercausing chemical called betaisoasarone. This essential oil effectively provides relief from pain, like chronic back. Take the equal amount of powder of acorus calamus, symplocos racemosa and rice powder. Neuromodulatory effect of acrous calamus leaves extract on. Benefits of acorus calamus extracts and aromatherapy oils.
An overview on various properties and pharmacological studies of acorus calamus dhruti bhatt, gaurav kumar sharma, ronak soni, ashok dashora. Acorus calamus sweet flag, andor its bioactive phytochemical alpha. The calamus essential oil is much valued in the perfume industry. Analgesic and cytotoxic activity of acorus calamus l. When used in aromatherapy, calamus root oil creates a tranquilizing effect and the person using it feels a sedative effect.
However, the betaisoasarone content can vary widely among species from 0% to 96%. Acorus calamus sweet flag is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like. Acorus calamus is used as a sedative to induce sweating. Abstract acorus calamus sweet flag is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like, fever. An overview on various properties and pharmacological. Acorus calamus is a semiaquatic, perennial aromatic herb. Acorus calamus sweet flag is a wetland perennial monocot plant, in which the scented leaves and rhizomes have been traditionally used medicinally against different ailments like, fever, asthma, bronchitis, cough and mainly for digestive problems such as gas, bloating, colic, and poor digestive function. Introduction acorus calamus also called sweet flag or calamus, among many common names1 is a. Mainly the rhizome of acorus calamus is used because the content of the essential oil is highest in the rhizome. The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by insects. However, their essential oil should be used along with other vegetable oils such as jojoba and olive oil for medicinal purposes. Vacha acorus calamus uses, research, side effects, remedy vacha acorus calamus is very rich in medicinal values, used in ayurveda medicines since the times of chakara and sushruta. It has medicinal uses for a wide variety of ailments. The aim of the study was to evaluate analgesic and cytotoxic activity of acorus calamus l.
It is in flower from may to july, and the seeds ripen from july to august. Acorus calamus is an herb that is used in ancient ayurvedic and chinese medicine and is known to enhance the cognitive abilities of a human being. Acorus calamus is a perennial growing to 1 m 3ft 3in by 1 m 3ft 3in at a medium rate. Geetanjali institute of pharmacy, geetanjali university, udaipur302, india. Acorus calamus is a tall perennial plant belonging to the acorus genus.
Although used in traditional medicine over centuries to treat digestive disorders and pain, there is no clinical evidence for its safety or efficacy and ingested calamus may be toxic leading to its commercial. Bach is a popular medicinal plant used in several ayurvedic formulations in india. A continuing gradual decline of this species is taking place in. Provided by ars systematic botany and mycology laboratory. 2pharmacognosy research laboratories, department of pharmacy, kings college london, london, uk. Acorus calamus sweet flag calamus pfaf plant database. Acorus calamus has diploid, triploid, and tetraploid forms. The basic mechanism behind the plant revolves around the interaction of the gabaa receptors. Diploids are known to grow naturally in e asia mongolia and c siberia, at least and north america. Vacha acorus calamus uses, research, side effects, remedy. It has many traditional uses all over the world and is wellknown as a digestive and carminative. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic. Houghton2 1school of natural product studies department of pharmaceutical technology, jadavpur university, kolkata, india.
Acorus calamus commonly called sweet flag is a deciduous, spreading, marginal aquatic perennial that features irislike, swordshaped leaf blades to 34 wide typically growing in basal clumps to 30 tall. The rhizomes contain oil which has many medicinal uses. The regular application helps disappear in three days, if applied properly and religiously. The leaves are strongly scented rhizomes and have been traditionally used since centuries. While known by many names acorus, calamus, sweet flag, sweet sedge, bitterroot, myrtle grass, and grassleaf the root is used in western, chinese and ayurvedic medicines. Acorus calamus is known for its sweet scent and can be incorporated into topical uses and cosmetic products. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. The root of the plant is also one of the possible ingredients of absinthe. The plant is found in the northern temperate and subtropical regions of asia, north america, and europe.
It has been used as a flavoring compound, especially as the oil or extract. The record derives from wcsp data supplied on 20120323 which reports it as an accepted name record 2304 with original publication details. Learn more about calamus uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain calamus. Due to its aroma, calamus is also used to make essential oil. Often displaying a nice pink tinge in cold weather, the foliage is sweetly fragrant when bruised. Acorus calamus has many wide varieties which were used in different studies possesses antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, antiprotective and antihepatotoxic activities. A categorized index of firstperson experiences with calamus. Undiluted calamus oil was not irritating to the skin of mice, guinea pigs, rabbits or pigs. This species is accepted, and its native range is asia, n.
Acorus calamus also called sweet flag or calamus, among many common names is a species of flowering plant, a tall wetland monocot of the family acoraceae, in the genus acorus. Araceae, commonly known as sweet flag or calamus, is a semiaquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes. Traditional uses of wetland medicinal plant acorus calamus. The aim of the present article is different uses of acorus calamus in cns disorders. The leaves and rhizomes of these wetland monocot plants have a strong fragrance. The northern native americans use the herb for medical purposes as well as a stimulant.
Calamus or sweet flag rhizome is derived from the perennial herb acorus calamus, which is widely distributed in damp situations in europe and north america. The benefits and side effects of calamus acorus calamus. Acorus calamus also known as sweet flag is a perennial wetland monocot. Calamus essential oil contains powerful antiinflammatory compounds that are known to help reduce pain, redness, and swelling due to inflammation. Acorus calamus is one of 30 herbs listed as unsafe by the fda anon 1975. Despite safety concerns, calamus is commonly used by mouth for different stomach problems, including ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining. Also called calamus or sweet flag, acorus calamus is a tall perennial wetland monocot that belongs to the. Uses of acorus calamus different parts of the sweet flag plants have many medicinal uses. Ideal for wet areas, acorus calamus variegatus variegated sweet flag is an attractive herbaceous perennial forming a tuft of gracefully arching, narrow, swordshaped leaves adorned with creamywhite and green stripes. Pharmacological properties and ayurvedic value of indian.
Experimental evidence for use of acorus calamus asarone. Vacha acorus calamus is very rich in medicinal values, used in ayurvedic medicines since the times of chakara and sushruta. Scientific validation of ayurvedic tradition from natural resources pulok kumar mukherjee1,2, venkatesan kumar1, mainak mal1, and peter j. Acorus calamus, commonly known as sweet flag, is a seasoning and herb traditionally used in ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine for its cognitiveenhancing properties preclinical studies suggested that acorus calamus supplementation had potential for treating neuropathic pain unfortunately, supplementation of acorus calamus is not practical. Rhizomes of acorus calamus information regarding the chemical constituents and ethnomedicinal uses of acorus calamus, thus will help to the researchers and scientists to take action for future study in this displine. Ancient chinese used the rhizome against swelling and constipation. Roots and rhizomes of acorus calamus have been used as a single drug or as a component of certain compound drug preparations in the indian ayurvedic system of medicine for psychoneurosis, insomnia.