Rasanirdharana (Assessment Of Taste) Of An Extra- Pharmacopeial Drug Fragaria X Ananassa Duch. [Strawberry]

Abstract

Ayurvedic literature describes numerous drugs in terms of their nomenclature, properties, and therapeutic applications. However, many medicinal substances with significant therapeutic potential and widespread acceptance among various ethnic communities remain undocumented in the classical texts. These are not described in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia and hence extra-pharmacopeial in Ayurvedic field. Such drugs are collectively referred to as Anukta Dravya. The pharmacological action of an Anukta Dravya can be understood through its Rasapanchaka, namely Rasa (taste), Guna (quality), Veerya (potency), Vipaka (post-digestive transformation), and Prabhava (specific action)⁽¹⁾. Among these attributes, Rasa(taste) perceived through the gustatory receptors⁽²⁾of the tongue so Rasa is the only attribute that can be directly assessed through perception⁽³⁾.

Fragaria x ananassa Duch. is an extra-pharmacopeial drug with several ethnomedicinal claims. However, no scientific attempts have been made to explore its pharmacological properties or to evaluate its Rasapanchaka according to Ayurvedic pharmacological principles.

As per the Aptavachan (word of an authoritative person ) जगत्येवमनौषधम् न किञ्चिद्विद्यते द्रव्यं ||⁽⁴⁾ There is no substance in the world which cannot be used as a Medicine. So it is needed to be assess the pharmacological properties of anukta dravyas .Therefore, to assess the properties of the drug, Rasa analysis was conducted using the “taste perception method” by administering one well-ripened strawberry fruit to 30 volunteers⁽⁵⁾The questionnaire was prepared for the analysis where volunteers noted their responses. Final Data were collected using a structured questionnaire prepared based on Ayurvedic literature.

The majority of respondents identified Madhur Rasa (sweet taste) as the predominant Rasa (75.53%), while Amla Rasa (sour taste) was perceived as the Anurasa (after taste) (48.86%). Hence, it was concluded that Fragaria x ananassa Duch. possesses Madhur Rasa with Amla Anurasa. Its seeds contribute by Kashaya and Tikta Anurasa.