Vol 2|Issue 2| 2012 |97-105. 97 _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ PASHANBHEDA A GOLDEN HERB OF HIMALAYA: A REVIEW KM Ruby 1* , Jaya Dwivedi 1 , Rajani Chauhan 2 1 Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Tonk, Rajasthan, 304022, India. 2 Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali University, Tonk, Rajasthan, 304022, India. ABSTRACT Pashanbheda or stone breaker is a well known Indian drug referred to botanical name Bergenia ligulata. This plant already has been recognized for its role in dissolving kidney stone. Its pharmacological activity are antidiabetic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiprotozoal, diuretic, cardiovascular, antiscorbutic, antilithiatic, anti-inflammatory due to phytochemicals Bergenin, Pashaanolactone,β-Sitosterol, Stigmesterol, Tannic acid, Gallic acid, Parasorbic acid, Isovaleric acid, 1,8-cineole present in Pashanbheda. Key words: Pashanbheda, Stone breaker, Bergenia ligulata, Pharmacological activity, Phytochemicals. INTRODUCTION Bergenia ligulata belongs to family saxifragaceae. Pashanbheda, Pashana, Zakhmehayat, Asmaribheda, Ashmabhid, Ashmabhed, Nagabhid, Upalbhedak, Parwatbhed and Shilabhed are the common name of Bergenia ligulata. It is called Stone breaker becauses it dissolv slabs. Rhizome is the medicinalally used part of this. The plant Bergenia ligulata is main botanical source of Pashanbheda drug which is used in indigenous system of medicine [1-5]. SCINTIFIC CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Saxifragales Family: Saxifragaceae Genus: Bergenia Species: ligulata DISTRIBUTION Bergenia ligulata is a perennial climbing plant that grow well in moist and shady areas of Afghanistan, Himalayas (Kumaon to Bhutan), South Tibet, Meghalaya, Lushai hills west Bengal (Darjeeling, Labha, Takdah, Rimbick( Kalimpong), Arunachal Pradesh (Nyam Jang Chu), Bhutan (Phuntsoling district, Deothang district, Ha district and Mongar district). It is found in Kyongnosla, Changu, Karponanag, Lachen to Thongu, Nathang, Prekchu -Tsokha, Pangolakha- Subaney Dara, Gangtok (domesticated) in sikkim. The flower are white, pink or purple [3,6,7]. Biodiversity and Traditional knowledge of Bergenia Ligulata in Kumaun Himalaya Kumaun Himalaya is rich in biodiversity and home of several medicinal plants. Our ancesters were aware of the medicinal values of Pashanbheda and proves are our ancient literatures like Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, Susrata Samhita and Vagbhata which were known as divine truth of this plant. Bergenia ligulata is a well known Indian drug referred to as Pashanbheda or Stone breaker. It is an important medicinal plant of temperate Himalaya between 4,000 - 12,000 feet. Hooker (1888) has reported three species of this plant from India in the Flora of British India. Wehmer (1948) reported three species of Bergenia from India in the Wealth of India. Pande (1984) has observed one species i.e Bergenia ligulata from Almora district. Recently, Gaur (1999) reported only Bergenia ligulata from north-west Himalaya in the flora of the district Garhwal, north-west Himalaya. Sharma observed two species i.e Bergenia ligulata and Bergenia stracheyi from India in medicinal plants of India. Recently, Pangtey (2005) reported two species Bergenia ligulata from lower altitude and Bergenia stracheyi from higher altitude from kumaun Himalaya. * Corresponding Author KM Ruby E mail: rubysainiphd@gmail.com International Journal of Pharmacy Review & Research www.ijprr.com e-ISSN: 2248 – 9207 Print ISSN: 2248 – 9193