TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF MASOOR DAL (LENS CULINARIS MEDIK.)

Dr. Pritil Balasaheb Ahire*, Dr. Ankush Dattatraya Khedkar and Dr. Swapnil Ashokrao Pimpale

ABSTRACT

Masoor suggested that its one of the herb traced easily in ancient classics since vedic literature. During vedic period it is mentioned mainly as one of the Dasha gramya dhanya. In Samhitas Masoor is mentioned in Shami dhanya varga of Aahar dravya and in some of the formulations in treatment of various disorders. Different properties of Masoor as Madhura, Kashaya rasa, Sheeta veerya, Ruksha, Laghu guna are explained by various Acharyas. Varnya action of Masoor is first explained in Ashtang samgraha. Different Aahara Kalpana of Masoor as Yusha, Yavagu, Soup etc. are mentioned as pathya in the treatment of diseases like Jwara, Raktapitta, Arsha, Pandu, Vaatarakta, Vrana, Visarpa etc. Considering the classification in Nighantu, it is observed that Masoor is described in all the Nighantus. It is explained in Dhanya varga of most of the nighantus. Masoor is explained as amgrahi, Virukshan, Varnya, Adhmaankara etc. Therapeutic indication of Masoor include its action on 22 different diseases as Jwara, Raktapitta, Pandu, Arsha, Visarpa, Vaatrakta, Vaatvyadhi, Mutrakruchchha, Vrana, Visarpa, Kushtha, Netra roga etc. Modern texts include description of Masoor with reference to its botanical description, habitat, morphology, cultivation and propagation, geographical distribution, pharmacological and therapeutic uses etc. In review of literature it is seen that many biological activities of Masoor such as Anti-hyperlipidemic, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-spasmodic, Bronchodilator, Vasodilatory, Anti- oxidant, Nephro protective had been screened by other scholars.

Keywords: Masoor, Shami dhanya, Varnya.