Review of Khuskhus (Khaskhas) (Seeds of Papaver Somniferum Linn.) with special reference of Ayurveda Medicine

Abstract

Ayurveda is an ancient and traditional system of Indian medicine. A large number of herbal drugs are mentioned in Ayurved system of medicine, one of them is Ahiphen that is Papaver somniferum Linn. Herbal drugs are derived from plants as whole or its part i.e. roots, stem , bark, leaves, flower, fruit and seeds for the medicinal purposes . Khaskhas or Poshtadana or poppy seeds are the seeds of Ahiphen (Papaver somniferum Linn.) which belong to family Papaveraceae. Seeds contain a large percentage of a bland fixed oil called Maw or Poppy Oil. Poppy seeds are demulcent and nutritive, also mild astringent. According to Ayurveda literature it possesses most important theurapeutic values. In this paper we have provide a review on habitate and phytochemistry with special reference to Ayurveda Medicine.