Age Ayurveda Nighantu Ayurvedic practitioner? List or verify your practice

Kusha

Desmostachya bipinnata

Kusha (Desmostachya bipinnata) is a plant drug, also called Darbha and Dabha. Triterpene saponins are hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to bioactive sapogenins. Kshara preparation provides highly bioavailable alkaline mineral salts. Root decoction offers pre-hydrolyzed actives with improved absorption.

Key facts
Botanical nameDesmostachya bipinnata
Identity sourceAyurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. III: KUSA (Rootstock)
Also calledImperata cylindrica (attribution recorded without a cited source)
Eragrostis cynosuroides (nomenclatural synonym)
FamilyPoaceae · other entries in this family
OrderPoales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 4142071 · Wikidata Q659826 · NCBI Taxonomy 1245295
Names in other languages
Sanskritदर्भ (darbha)
Hindiडाभ (ḍābha)
Tamilதருப்பைப்புல்

Sources: efloraofindia's Desmostachya bipinnata page gives Tamil "darbhaipul, taruppai, acamantakam", i.e. தர்ப்பைப்புல் and தருப்பை.; efloraofindia, Desmostachya bipinnata: Hindi "डाभ (Dabh), Davoli, Durva, Dabhena".; efloraofindia, Desmostachya bipinnata: Sanskrit "barhi, darbha, darbhah, durbha" (romanised on the page).. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

11papers on this site for this drug, published 2012 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

  • 11Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishKusha

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (root powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kshara (alkali preparation), Capsule, Swarasa (juice)

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g root powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction; 250-500 mg Kshara; 10-20 mL juice

Optimal Timing: Decoction: before meals for urinary conditions; Kshara: between meals with water; juice: morning on empty stomach for diuretic effect

Storage: Root powder in airtight containers at 15-30°C. Kshara in moisture-proof glass containers (highly hygroscopic). Protect from humidity.

Marker Compounds: Orientin, Vitexin, Isoorientin, Tricin, Cylindrin, Arundoin, Potassium carbonate (Kshara), Silicic acid

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Krishnasamy N, Ramadoss R, Vemuri S and others. 2024. Optimizing Desmostachya bipinnata-derived platinum nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial and biofilm reductionMicrobial pathogenesis. PMID 39395748 · doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107004
  2. Putta SK, Kb K, Nayak UY and others. 2024. Design of floating formulations and antiulcer activity of Desmostachya bipinnataAAPS PharmSciTech. PMID 38383866 · doi:10.1208/s12249-024-02745-6
  3. Khadka A, Budha Magar A, Sharma KR. 2024. Chemical Profiling and Biological Activities on Nepalese Medicinal Plant Extracts and Isolation of Active Fraction of Nyctanthes arbor-tristisTheScientificWorldJournal. PMID 38515931 · doi:10.1155/2024/5080176
  4. Toppo AL, Dhagat S, Eswari Jujjavarapu S. 2023. Comparative study of response surface methodology and artificial neural network for optimization of process parameters for synthesis of gold nanoparticles by Desmostachya bipinnata extractPreparative biochemistry & biotechnology. PMID 35442160 · doi:10.1080/10826068.2022.2062773
  5. Shyam-Sundar N, Sivanesh H, Karthi S and others. 2021. Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab in response to plant extract of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) and its effect on non-target organism, earthworm (Eisenia fetida)Environmental science and pollution research international. PMID 33044694 · doi:10.1007/s11356-020-11015-4
  6. Ibrahim NH, Awaad AS, Alnafisah RA and others. 2018. In - Vitro activity of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf successive extracts against Helicobacter pylori clinical isolatesSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society. PMID 29844726 · doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2018.02.002
  7. Rahate KP, Rajasekaran A. 2015. Hepatoprotection by active fractions from Desmostachya bipinnata stapf (L.) against tamoxifen-induced hepatotoxicityIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 26069370 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.157130
  8. Golla U, Bhimathati SS. 2014. Evaluation of antioxidant and DNA damage protection activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Desmostachya bipinnata L. StapfTheScientificWorldJournal. PMID 24574873 · doi:10.1155/2014/215084
  9. Golla U, Gajam PK, Bhimathati SS. 2014. Evaluation of diuretic and laxative activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf in ratsJournal of integrative medicine. PMID 25074887 · doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(14)60029-7
  10. Abdur Rahman HM, Bashir S, Gilani AH. 2013. Calcium channel blocking activity in Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) explains its use in gut and airways disordersPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 22760998 · doi:10.1002/ptr.4761
  11. Shah NT, Pandya TN, Sharma PP and others. 2012. Mootrala Karma of Kusha [Imperata cylindrica Beauv.] and Darbha [Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf.] - A comparative studyAyu. PMID 23723646 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.108829

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.