SANKALPNA (An International Multidisciplinary Journal) ISSN 2349- 4034

Medicinal Potential of Doob Grass ( Cynodon dactylon):

A Review
*Dr. Lalit Raj Singh,
** Dr. R. S. Bisariya

*Post Graduate Centre for Applied Medicinal Plants Sciences, Dev Sanskriti
Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar
**Associate Professor Department of Rural Management, Dev Sanskriti
Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar

Abstract:
This paper deals with focussing on multidimensional effect of Cynodon dactylon
in curing no. of ailments. Aim of this study was to review the efficieny of plant in
curing various ailments such as haemostatic, wound healer, skin infections,
Dispigmentation, Eyes disorders, Nose bleed, Urinary tract infection, Syphilis,
Epilepsy, Hysteria, Piles, Diarrhoea, Antiabortifacient and Anticancer. It is also
used as general tonic to enhance vigour and vitality of the body. Ethnomedicinal
uses of the plants help in curing various disorder/disease in human.
Phtoconstituents percentage, saftey, Purity, strength and therapeutic index of the
GACP plants is higher.
Keywords: GACP, Phytoconstituents, Ethnomedicines

Introduction: Medicinal plants and their derived drugs are considered as

ethnomedicines. These plants play an important role in the treatment of several
human ailments since ancient times. India has a great potential in traditional
healthcare system by the means of Ayurveda. Its a sacred perennial grass in
Indian Hindu mythology and is offered to Lord Ganesha. It is one of the important
component in ten auspicious herbs that constitute the group of Dasapushpam in
Ayurveda. Its found wild in temperate and tropical climate throughout the
country up to an altitude of 2500m. Medicinal plants offer alternative remedies
for various ailments in safe and efficient way. These have enough potential to
cure some uncurable disease also that need to be explored. According to WHO,
people of developing countries depends up on the herbal medicines for primary
healthcare. These are source of potential molecules for new drug design. Ethno-
medicinal practices are used to prevent, alleviate or cure several human disease.
Cynodon dactylon not only valued as herbal drug but also utilized for food,
fodder, essential oil, Phytotoxins, flavonoids (Catechin, Rutin, Quercetin,
Myricetin), carotenoids (beta carotein & Lutein), Phenolic compounds &
chlorophyll b etc.. The global market for the medicinal plants and herbal
medicine is estimated to be worth US$ 900 billion a year and the market for
Indian systems (Ayurveda, Unani & Siddha) of medicine is about Rs. 5000 crores

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per year. Therapeutic quality, purity and strength of the plant metabolite depends
up on the good agriculture cultivation practices (GACP). GACP (Good
Agriculture Cultivation Practices) enhances the percentage of phytoconstituents
and their therapeutic index in various diseases. Though, this plant is found wild
in temperate and tropical climate of the country.
Details of the Plant:

Botanical Name: Cynodon dactylon

Hindi Name: Doob, Durva
Family: Poaceae
Geographical Source: It is perennial creeping grass found at Tropical and
temperate climate throughout the country up to an altitude of 2500m. It has a
good tolerance to drought, salinity in soil and other water stress conditions
Morphology: Roots are fibrous, cylindrical up to 4 mm thick, minute hair like
roots arise from the main roots; cream coloured.
Plant part used: Roots and aerial part of grass
Chemical constituents : Protein, Carbohydrates, Vitamin A, Vitamin C,
Phenolic compounds, Phytotoxins, Flavonoids (Catechin, Rutin, Quercetin,
Myricetin), Carotenoids (beta carotene, Lutein) & Chlorophyll and some alkaloids
in small amounts
Purity: Foreign matter -Not more than 2%
Total Ash - Not more than 7%
Acid-insoluble Ash - Not more than 3%
Alcohol soluble extractive - Not less than 1%
Water-soluble extractive -Not less than 5%
Medicinal uses : Cynodon dactylon is used to cure no. of disorders and disease. It
is antibacterial and antiviral. It is haemostatic, wound healer, skin infections,
Dispigmentation, Eyes disorders, Nasal drops, Urinary tract infection, Syphilis,
Epilepsy, Hysteria, Piles, Diarrhoea, Antiabortifacient. It is also used as general
tonic to enhance vigour and vitality of the body. It gives strength to heart muscle.
Help in angiogenesis.
Animal Studies:
Aqueous extract of aerial part of of Cynodon dactylon shows hypotensive
activity in Wistar rats
Angiogenesis study of Aq. Extract shows positive results
Methanolic extract shows Antiulcer activity in Rats
Removal of kidney stone by decoction of C.dactylon in male wistar rats
Antioxidant effect of decoction of C.dactylon in male wistar rats
Anticancerous activity of swaras of C.dactylon in animals

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SANKALPNA (An International Multidisciplinary Journal) ISSN 2349- 4034

Ethnomedicinal usage of the plants in various disorders :

Diarrhoea: Swaras of roots of the grass is given to patient twice or thrice in day
for better results. Patient feel calm and relaxed.
Eyes disorder (Catarrhal condition): Swaras of aerial part is dropped (2-3) in
eyes twice or thrice a day
Erysipelas and cellulitis: Paste of freshly harvested grass (whole plant) is
applied topically on skin. Once or twice in a day
Wound Healing: Lepa of the plant is highly effective in ruptured tissue healing.
Swaras of the plant is mixed with Cow ghee and slow heat boiling is done for 30
minutes. Lepa is prepared.
Hiccup: Take 1gm swaras of Cynodon dactylon roots and mix 11 gm of Honey in
it. Take once or twice a day.
Anuria: Take 100 ml Swaras of Cynodon dactylon and mix with 2 litter of water.
Boil it untill th of the original volume is left. Mix honey in it after cooling at
room temperature. Take 10-15ml daily for better results
Antiabortifacient decoction: Take equal amount of Cynodon dactylon,
Asparagus racemosus, Trapa natans and Centella asiatica. Make the decoction of
it. Take the decoction by the empty stomach in the morning and evening for better
results. Abnormality in menstrual cycle is checked. Uterus pain & Uterine
infection is also cured
Rejuvenation & Vitality: Take 12gm of Cynodon dactylon, 10 Almonds and 12
Black pepper. Make uniform homogenised mixture of it. Prepare Sharbat of it.
Use once in a day for rejuvenation and vitality.
Summary & Conclusion: India is emerging country. It has great poetntial to
cure various disorder and disease. Quality, Purity and Strength of the herb
depends up on Good Agriculture Cultivation Practices(GACP). Percentage of
sec. metabolites enhances resulting in better therapeutic index. Cynodon dactylon
has great potential to cure no of disease as revealed from ethnomedicinal
practices. Further screening and investigations may give efficient molecules for
drug designing. More than hundred antibiotics will be body resistant up to 2020.
Medicinal plants may prove to be boon for us. It is found wildly in temperate
and tropical climate of India up to an altitue of 2500 m. Genuine planting mau be
easily available for further screening. It is easy to cultivate in farms for better
therapeutic results.

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Chunekar Krishnachandra, Bhavprakash Nighantu (Indian Materica Medica),
Varanasi, Chaukhamba, Bharti Academy, 2010

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