JATAMANSI (NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI DC.) IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DISORDERS: AN INTEGRATIVE NARRATIVE REVIEW OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS

Abstract

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the main contributors to the global burden of mental illness. It is affecting the quality of life and imposing critical socioeconomic challenges. Although conventional pharmacotherapy is beneficial for many patients, its long-term use is often associated with delayed therapeutic response, adverse effects, and incomplete remission. It underscoring the need for safe and evidence-based complementary therapies. Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (Jatamansi), Family Valerianaceae,  A well-known medicinal plant in Ayurveda, has traditionally been depicted as a Medhya, Nidrajanana, Unmadahara, and Apasmarahara drug, denoting its therapeutic applicability in disorders affecting the mind and nervous system.

This review aims to critically integrate the classical Ayurvedic literature with contemporary experimental and clinical evidence pertaining to the role of Jatamansi in the management of depression and anxiety disorders. The review summarises its Ayurvedic attributes, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological mechanisms, preclinical studies and available clinical evidence with centering on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, neurotransmitter modulating, and hypothalamic -pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis regulating activities. The current evidence implies that Jatamansi exhibits significant antidepressant and anxiolytic potential in various experimental models. While preliminary clinical studies indicate beneficial effects in improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, limitations such as small sample sizes, variability in extract standardisation, and the scarcity of high-quality randomised controlled trials mandate further investigation.

The integration of traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific evidence underlines Jatamansi as a promising complementary therapeutic agent for depression and anxiety. Future well-designed mechanistic studies and large-scale clinical trials are required to substantiate its efficacy, safety, and clinical applicability in evidence-based mental healthcare.