# Pushkarmool

> Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa Hook. f.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. IUCN Critically Endangered; included in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine pharmacopoeias; no standalone WHO monograph but recognized in traditional medicine databases.

## Key facts

- **Botanical name:** Inula racemosa Hook. f.
- **Family:** Asteraceae (Compositae)
- **Pharmacopoeia status:** IUCN Critically Endangered; included in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine pharmacopoeias; no standalone WHO monograph but recognized in traditional medicine databases

## Names and identification

| Language | Name |
|----------|------|
| English | Pushkarmool |
| Latin/Botanical | *Inula racemosa Hook. f.* |

## Key Phytochemical Constituents

- [Alantolactone](/glossary/compounds-1-a/#alantolactone) (sesquiterpene lactone)
- [Isoalantolactone](/glossary/compounds-g-l/#isoalantolactone)
- [Inulin](/glossary/compounds-g-l/#inulin) (10.1%)
- Roylene
- Dihydroisoalantolactone
- Beta-[sitosterol](/glossary/compounds-q-t/#sitosterol)
- [Daucosterol](/glossary/compounds-c-d/#daucosterol)
- Inulicin

## How does it work?

- [Cardioprotective](/reference/cardioprotective/): Alantolactone inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, reduces serum cholesterol, and protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation
- Anti-asthmatic: Sesquiterpene lactones relax bronchial smooth muscle, inhibit [histamine](/glossary/compounds-g-l/#histamine) release, and suppress Th2-mediated airway inflammation
- [Anticancer](/reference/anticancer/): Alantolactone induces apoptosis via STAT3 inhibition and ROS generation; activates p53-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

## Which traditional uses are supported by research?

- Cardioprotective use (Hridya) validated through HMG-CoA reductase inhibition and myocardial ischemia protection in animal models
- Anti-asthmatic and bronchodilatory use (Shwasahara) confirmed by bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and anti-histaminic activity
- Angina treatment use supported by coronary vasodilatory effect and reduction of myocardial oxygen demand in preclinical studies

## What do recent clinical trials show?

- Rathore S, Raj Y, Debnath P and others 2022. [Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, agrotechnology, and conservation of Inula racemosa Hook f. - A critically endangered medicinal plant of the western Himalaya](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34600078/). *Journal of ethnopharmacology*. PMID [34600078](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34600078/) · [doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114613](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114613)  
  Documented critically endangered status and proposed agrotechnology protocols; confirmed broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory, [antimicrobial](/reference/antimicrobial/), and [hepatoprotective](/reference/hepatoprotective/) activities.

*2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.*

## Recent safety updates

- Critically endangered species (IUCN); sustainable sourcing is a major concern; cultivation programs needed to prevent wild over-harvesting
- Sesquiterpene lactones may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals; high doses may cause gastrointestinal irritation; limited human safety data available

## What is it made of?

### Key Active Markers

- Alantolactone
- Isoalantolactone
- Inulin
- Sitosterol
- Daucosterol
- Roylene
- Dihydroisoalantolactone
- Beta-
- Inulicin

**Analytical Methods:** HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)

## Dosage forms and preparation

**Dosage Forms:** Churna (root powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Avaleha (confection), Vati

**Standard Dosage:** 1-3 g root powder daily; 15-20 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg standardized extract twice daily

**Bioavailability:** Inulin (storage carbohydrate) from Inula racemosa root acts as prebiotic rather than being absorbed systemically. Alantolactone and isoalantolactone (sesquiterpene lactones) have moderate oral bioavailability (25-40%) with rapid absorption. These lactones are reactive electrophiles that interact with biological thiols; bioavailability may be reduced by glutathione conjugation. Inulin content provides beneficial prebiotic effects locally in the colon.

**Optimal Timing:** After meals for cardiac and respiratory conditions. Avaleha: 1-2 teaspoons with warm water/milk, morning and evening.

**Standardized Extract:** Pushkarmool root extract (6:1) standardized to alantolactone >3%, isoalantolactone >2%, total sesquiterpene lactones >6%. Inulin-rich fraction (>80% inulin) for prebiotic applications.

**Shelf Life:** Dried root: 18-24 months; Root powder: 18-24 months; Extract: 24 months; Capsules: 24-36 months; Avaleha: 18-24 months

**Storage:** Dried root: cool, dry, pest-proof containers, below 25 deg C. Powder and extracts: airtight, amber containers, below 25 deg C, RH <55%, protected from light. Avaleha: clean, dry glass or food-grade containers.

**Marker Compounds:** Alantolactone, Isoalantolactone, Dihydroisoalantolactone, Inulin, [Friedelin](/glossary/compounds-d-g/#friedelin), Beta-sitosterol, Daucosterol, Germacranolide

### Extraction Methods

- Hydroalcoholic extraction (60-70% ethanol) for sesquiterpene lactones
- Aqueous decoction for polar constituents and inulin
- Steam distillation for essential oil
- Methanol extraction for comprehensive profiling
- Supercritical CO2 for alantolactone enrichment
- Hot water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation for inulin isolation

### Synergistic Combinations

- [Pippali](/herb/pippali/) (respiratory and cardiac combination - Pushkaramooladi Churna)
- [Arjuna](/herb/arjuna/) (cardioprotective synergy)
- [Vasa](/herb/vasa/) ([bronchodilator](/reference/bronchodilator/) and [expectorant](/reference/expectorant/))
- [Kantakari](/herb/kantakari/) (respiratory and anti-asthmatic)
- [Guggulu](/formulation/guggulu/) (anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering)

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Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/pushkarmool/

## Sources

- Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database (700+ herbs, CC-BY-4.0)
- Web research (clinical trials, WHO monographs, safety databases)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Published by Age Ayurveda in the Nighantu. Educational reference only, not medical advice.
Incorporates material from the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database under CC BY 4.0.