After recognizing the severe side effects of modern medicines, the world has started acknowledging the importance of Natural products over last few years.
Elaeocarpus Ganitrus (Rudraksha) plant is reported to display various biological activities like antihypertensive, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, antidiabetic and antioxidant activity.
Elaeocarpus ganitrus (Rudraksha) is popular in Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. According to the ayurvedic medicinal system, wearing of rudraksha can have a positive effect on heart and nerves.
As stated by Ayurveda system of medicine, wearing Rudraksha beads relieves strain, anxiety, lack of concentration, insomnia, depression, hypertension, palpitation, infertility, rheumatism, asthma, nerve pain epilepsy, migraine, arthritis and liver diseases.
Rudraksha fruit contains alkaloids, flavonoids tannins, triterpenes, carbohydrates and cardiac glycosides. They also contain rudrakine, a newly discovered alkaloid.
Rudrakine is a chemical constituent of rudraksha tree and classified as indolizidine alkaloids which have significant biological activities. Indolizidine alkaloids are a powerful inhibitor of α and β-glucosidases. Synthetic indolizidinone derivatives showed cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines. They are considered as potential chemotheraputric agents for cancer, diabetes, viral infections and immunosuppressive deficiencies.
Though Modern Scientific Research is going on to make the collections of the details like botanical, ethnomedicinal, pharmacological information and therapeutic potential of Elaeocarpus ganitrus, our ancestors had a profound knowledge about the benefits of this plant and its seeds in particular. In the ancient times, Indian sages who travelled extensively (and thus, were exposed to variety of contagions), used to wear Rudraksha malas as a protective shield against negative energies and diseases. Rudraksha is believed to form a protective cocoon of energies around the wearer thus keeping away health hazards.