Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Cyanodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Durvâ/Doob grass): an important plant in vedic ‘Sanâtan’ literature
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Prabhuji Shakti K., Rao Govind P., Pande Shail, Srivastava Richa, Srivastava Gaurav K., Srivastava Chhamta, Srivastava Madhulika
Review Articles | Published: 11 May, 2026
First Page: 0
Last Page: 0
Views: 60
Keywords: n Cyanodon dactylonn , Pooja samagri, Poaceae, Phytochemicals, Pharmacology
Abstract
Cyanodon dactylon or “durva” / doob grass has its distinct importance in “Sanâtan” literature and occupies special place in the “Pooja Samagri” in any religious-rites under “Sanâtan” system. This small plant is of cosmopolitan distribution and has been described to have several therapeutic properties that need scientific validation. For mass-cultivation for the multiple medicinal requirements of Cyanodon dactylon, micropropagation techniques have been employed. Besides several minerals C. dactylon plant has been found to contain so many bioactive phytochemicals like flavanoids, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoides, triterpenoids steroids, saponins, tannins, resins, phytosterols, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins and some volatile oils which make the herb potent enough to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-diabetiic, anti-cxancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diuretic, anti-microbial and wound healing activities.
References
Abhishek B, Thakur A (2012) Anthelmintic activity of Cynodon dactylon. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 1(3):1–3
Ahmed S, Reza MS, Jabbar A (1994) Antimicrobial activity of Cynodon dactylon. Fitoterapia 65:463–464
Ahn BJ, Huang FH, King JW (1987) Regeneration of Bermuda-grass cultivars and evidence of somatic embryogenesis. Crop Sci 27:594–597
Altemimi A, Lakhssassi N, Baharlouei A, Watson DG, Lightfoot DA (2017) Phyto- chemicals: extraction, isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from plant extracts. Plants (Basel) 6:1–23
Annapurna HV, Apoorva B, Ravichandran N, Purushothaman K, Brindha P, Swaminathan S, Vijayalakshmi M, Nagarajan A (2013) Isolation and in silico evaluation of antidiabetic molecules of Cynodon dactylon (L). J Mol Graph Model 39:87–97
Artunduaga IR, Talliaferro CM, Johnson SB (1989) Induction and growth of callus from immature inflorescences of “Zebra” Bermuda-grass as affected by casein hydrolysate and 2,4-D concentration. In Vitro Cell Dev Bioi 25:753–756
Ashokkumar K, Selvaraj K, Muthukrishnan SD (2013) Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.: an updated review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology. J Med Plant Res 7(48):3477–3483
Auddy B, Ferreira M, Blasina F, Lafon L, Arredondo F, Dajas F, Tripathi PC, Seal T, Mukherjee B (2003) Screening of antioxidant activity of three Indian medicinal plants, traditionally used for the management of neurodegenerative diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 84:131–138
Ausekar AS, Shirsat MK, Tarke SR, Chavan GC, Nilkanthe SS (2023) Formulation and evaluation of herbal gel of Cynodon dactylon (Durva) for wound healing. J Emerg Technol Innov Res 10(7):698–708
Avvarai SK, Kattamanchi G, Doni K, Anugu MR, Raju C (2011) Anti-diabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon root stalks in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Int J Adv Pharm Res 2(8):418–422
Babu KS, Shaker IA, Kumaraswamy D, Saleembasha S, Sailaja I (2012) Indigenous effect of Cynodon dactylon in experimental induced ulcers and gastric secretions. Int Res J Pharm 3(5):301–304
Bailey CA, Chen BH (1988) Simultaneous separation and identification of carotenoids and chlorophylls in turf Bermuda grass by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 455(2):396–400
Bhalerao SS, Vadnere GP, Patil AV, Chirmade HD, Patil SN (2011) In vitro antioxidant activity of over ground parts of Cynodon dactylon. L. Pers. Int J Herbal Drug Res 2(2):7–10
Chapman GW, Burdick D, Higman HC, Robertson JA (1978) Steam volatiles from coastal Bermuda grass. J Sci Food Agric 29(4):312–316
Chou CH, Young CC (1975) Phytotoxic substances in twelve subtropical grasses. J Chem Ecol 1(2):183–193
Dande P, Khan A (2012) Evaluation of wound healing potential of Cynodon dactylon. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 5(3):161–164
Dhande SR (2013) Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the 50% ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon. Int Res J Invent Pharm Sci 1(2):8–16
Duke JA (1983). Handbook of energy crops. Purdue University, Center for New Crops & Plants Products.
Ferdinand CJ (1986) The medicinal and poisonous plants of India. Scientific publishers, Jodhpur, p 71
Garg VK, Paliwal SK (2011) Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon. Int J Pharmacol 7(1):1–6
Garjani A, Afrooziyan A, Nazemiyeh H, Najafi M, Kharazmkia A, Maleki-Dizaji N (2009) Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract from rhizomes of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.on compensated right heart failure in rats. BMC Complement Altern Med 9:28
Johnson AW, Snook ME, Wiseman BR (2002) Green leaf chemistry of various turf grasses differentiation and resistance to fall Army worm. Crop Sci 42:2004–2010
Jolly CI, Narayanan P (2000) Pharmacognosy of aerial parts of Cynodon dactylon Pers. (Graminae). Ancient Sci Life XIX(3&4):1–6
Kaleeswaran B, Ilavenil S, Ravikumar S (2010) Screening of phytochemical properties and antibacterial activity of Cynodon dactylon L. Int J Curr Res 3:83–88
Kanimozhi D, Ratha BV (2013) In vitro anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon against HT-29 cell line. Int J Curr Sci 5:74–81
Kesari AN, Gupta RK, Singh SK, Diwakar S, Watal G (2006) Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of Aegle marmelos seed extract in normal and diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 107:374–379
Kirtikar KR, Basu BD (2001) Indian medicinal plants, vol Vol. VIII, Edition 3rd. Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, p 3692
Komali D, Alekya P, Latha YP, Keerthana VV, Sree BT, Chowdary KP, Panda J (2022) Chemical evaluation and antimicrobial activity of leaf powder of Cynodon dactylon. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 73(2):47–52
Krishnamoorthy M, Ashwini P (2011) Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon L. extract on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. J Environ Res Dev 5(3):551–557
Kumar A, Pranita K, Hemant S, Bhusan M, Ajit P (2011a) Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Int J Herbal Drug Res 1(2):31–35
Kumar AS, Gnananath K, Kiran D, Reddy AM, Raju C (2011b) Antidiabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon root stalks in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Int J Adv Pharm Res 2(8):418–422
Mangathayaru K, Umadevi M, Umamaheswara Reddy C (2009) Evaluation of the immunomodulatory and DNA protective activities of the shoots of Cynodon dactylon. J Ethnopharmacol 123:181–184
Nadkarni KM, Nadkarni AK (1995) Indian materia medica, vol Vol 1. Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd, Bombay, p 425
Nair GA (1995) Flavonoids of Cynodon dactylon. J Med Ethnobot Res 16(3–4):153–157
Najafi M, Nazemiyeh H, Ghavimi H, Gharakhani A, Garjani A (2008) Effects of hy- droalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. on ischemia/reperfusion induced arrhythmias. Daru J Pharm Sci 16:233–238
Oudhia P, Pal AR (2000) Rainy season medicinal weed flora in wastelands of Chamra Nallah watershed area at Bagbahera. J Med Aromat Plant Sci 22(4A & 23/1A):44–449
Pal DK (2008) Evaluation of CNS activities of aerial parts of Cynodon dactylon Pers in mice. Acta Pol Pharm Drug Res 65:37–43
Paranjpe P (2001) Durva. Indian medicinal plants: Forgotten healers, 1st Edn. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, Delhi, pp 75–76
Rai PK, Jaiswal D, Rai DK, Sharma B, Watal G (2010) Antioxidant potential of oral feeding of Cynodon dactylon extract on diabetes-induced oxidative stress. J Food Biochem 34:78–92
Ramgareeb S, Watt MP, Cooke AJ (2001) Micropropagation of Cynodon dactylon from leaf and nodal segments. S Afr J Bot 67:250–257
Renu S, Prakash NB (2012) Screening of antibacterial activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon (L.). Int J Res Ayurveda Pharm 3(6):827–829
Sadki C, Hacht B, Souliman A, Atmani F (2010) Acute diuretic activity of aqueous Erica multiflora flowers and Cynodon dactylon rhizomes extracts in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 128:352–356
Santhi R, Annapoorani S (2010) Efficacy of Cynodon dactylon for immunomodulatory activity. Drug Invent Today 2(2):112–114
Saradha DKM, Annapoorani S, Ashokkumar K (2011b) Evaluation of the immunomodulatory activities for ethyl acetate fraction of Cynodon dactylon in Balb/c mice. J Agric Sci 3(3):182–185
Shivalinge GKP, Satish S, Mahesh CM, Vijay K (2009) Study on the diuretic activity of Cynodon dactylon root stalk extract in Albino rats. Res J Pharm Technol 2(2):338–340
Sies H (1997) Oxidative stress: oxidants and antioxidants. Exp Physiol 82(2):291–295
Singh SK, Kesari AN, Gupta RK, Jaiswal D, Watal G (2007) Assessment of antidiabetic potential of Cynodon dactylon extract in streptozotocin diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 114(2):174–179
Sivrajan VV and Balachandran I (1994). Ayurvedic drugs and their plant source. In: Ayurvedic Drugs and their Plant Source. Oxford and IBH Pulishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, p. 147.
Solanki R, Nagori BP (2012) Physicochemical and phytochemical investigation of whole plant of Cynodon dactylon. Int J Comp Pharmacol 3(10):1–4
Vaidyaratnam PSV (2003) Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, vol Vol II. Orient Longham, Chennai, p 289
Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Raman Kutty C (1994) Indian medicinal plants, vol Vol 2. Orient Longman Limited, Hyderabad, p 290
Yogesh HS, Kidchadi SCK, Muchandi IS, Gopalakrishna B (2013) Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Cynodon dactylon Pers. on carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. Indian J Nat Prod Resour 4(2):151–154
Zhang YJ, Gan RY, Li S, Zhou Y, Li AN, Xu DP, Li HB (2015) Antioxidant phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Molecules 20:21138–21156
Author Information
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural and Environment, Prof. H.S. Srivastava Foundation for Science and Society, Lucknow, India