KARANJA (Leaf)
Karanja consists of dried leaf of Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Merr., Syn. P. glabra Vent. (Fam. Fabacem); a glabrous tree, upto 18 m or sometimes more in height, found almost throughout the country upto an altitude of 1200 m.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Ghrtakaranja, Karanjaka, Naktahva, Naktamala
Assamese : Korach
Bengali : Dahara karanja, Karanja, Natakaranja
English : Smooth leaved pongamia
Gujrati : Kanaji, Kanajo
Hindi : Karuaini, Dithouri
Kannada : Honge, Hulagilu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Pungu, Ungu, Unu, Avittal
Marathi : Karanja
Oriya : Karanja
Punjabi : Karanj
Tamil : Pungai, Pongana
Telugu : Ganuga, Kanugu
Urdu : Karanj
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Leaves imparipinnate, leaflets 2-3 pairs, ovate or elliptic with smooth margins, 6.2 – 11.5 cm long and 3.9-8.3 cm wide, dark green, petiolule short, 0.5-0.8 cm.
b) Microscopic
Leaf– Petiolule – circular in outline, covered with cuticle, epidermis single layered, consistig of tabular cells; cortex consisting of angular, isodiametric, parenchymatous cells without
intercellular spaces, a few cells containing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; pericyc1e present in the form of sclerenchymatous sheath; vascular bundle single, arcshaped, consisting of xylem and phloem; xylem vessels arranged radially, traversed by xylem rays; a few schizogenous cavities found scattered in cortex.
Mid rib – shows single layered epidermis, consisting of tabular cells, covered with thick cuticle, followed by 3-4 layered collenchymatous hypodermis; cortex consists of round to oval, thin-walled parenchymatous cells; pericycle present in the form of sclerenchymatous sheath; vascular bundle, collateral, conjoint and arranged in discontinuous ring; central portion occupied by oval to polygonal thin-walled parenchymatous pith; prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate present in cortex, phloem and pith.
Lamina -shows single layered epidermis covered with thick cuticle; palisade two layered; spongy parenchyma 3-5 layered, a few containing prismatic crystals similar to midrib, occasionally a few spongy parenchyma cells get elongated and look like palisade cells, palisade ratio 3.5-50; vein islet number 18-25 per mm square; stomata anisocytic, present in lower surface; stomatal index 12.5-20.
Powder -Green; shows spiral xylem vessels, mesophyll cells, epidermal cells and a few prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
CONSTITUENTS – A new Furanoflavone -3′ – methoxy pongapin in addition to Karanjin, Kanjone and its two isomers 7-Methoxyfurano-(4″,5″,6,5) – flavone and 8-Methoxyfurano-(4″, 5″, – 6, 5)-flavone and 8 methoxyfurano- (4″, 5″ – 6, 7) -flavone.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedana, Kaphahara, Vatahara, Pittavardhaka, Kandughna, Krimihara, Sothahara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Jatyadi Taila.
THERAPEUTIC USES – Krmiroga, Kustha, Vrana, Kandau.
DOSE – For external use only.
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