Botanical Name :- Pluchea lanceolata Oliver & Hiern., Family:- Asteraceae.
Synonyms :- Berthelotia lanceolata DC., Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke, Berthelotia lanceolata var. lanceolata.
Regional Name :- Hindi : Rayasan, Rayasana, Rasna, Urdu : Rauasan, Rasna, Sanskrit : Suvaha, Sugandha,Yukta, Elaparni, Assam : Rasnapat, Bengali : Rasna, Kannada : Rasna, Dumme-Rasna, Marathi :Rasna, Rayasana, Punjabi : Reshae, Telugu :Sanna Rashtramu,
Part Used :- Leaf.
Description :- Rasna is an annual, ashy and pubescent, under shrub having spreading roots extending to several metres; it grows abundantly in sandy soils in upper Gangetic plain and Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Leaves of rasna are simple, 3-5 cm long, 0.6-2 cm broad, sessile, obtuse, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, both surfaces pubescent, distinct small hairs more prominent veins; texture, brittle, papery; odour, characteristic; taste, astringent and slightly bitter.
Phytoconstituents :- Flavonoids - Quercetin and Isorhamnetin, triterpene, triterpenoids, sterols, flavonoids and lactones. Moretenol, Moretenol acetate, Sterol glycosides, Taraxasterol.
Ayurvedic Properties :- Rasa :Tikta, Guna : Guru, Vipaka :Katu, Virya :Usna, Karma :Kaphavatahara, Amapacana.
Ayurvedic Applications:- Sotha, Svasa, Jvara, Kasa, Vatavyadhi, Vatarakta, Udararoga, Adhyavata, Amavata, Sidhama.
Medicinal Uses :- Rasna is used in Asthma, bronchitis, pleuritis, psoriasis, inflammation, Fever, chest pain, Rheumatoid arthritis and Vata disorders, Amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, itching, ring worm and eczema. It is used in diseases of nervous system, joints, alleviates dryness and slows down the ageing process.