BHARANGI (Root)
Bharangi consists of dried roots of Clerodendrum serratum (Linn.) Moon (Fam. Verbenaceae); a shrub distributed throughout the country.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Angaravalli, Brahmanayastika
Assam. : —
Beng. : Bamun Hatee, Baman hatee, Bhuijam
Eng. : —
Guj. : Bharangee
Hindi. : Bharangee
Kan. : Gantubarangee
Kash. : —
Mal. : Cheruteku
Mar. : Bharangee, Bharang
Ori. : Chinds
Punj. : Bhadangee
Tam. : Cheruteku
Tel. : Ganttubrarangee
Urdu. : Bharangi, Baharangi
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Mature root hard, woody, cylindrical, upto 5 cm thick, external surface light brown having elongated lenticels; bark, thin and easily separated from a broad wood which shows marked medullary rays and concentric growth rings in a transversely cut surface; fracture, short; taste, acrid.
b) Microscopic
Mature root shows stratified cork composed of 14-20 layers of thin-walled, tangentially elongated cells; each stratification consists of 3-5 layers of cells; secondary cortex wide, outer 2 or 3 layers radially arranged and tangentially elongated, inner cells polyhedral or circular to ellipsoidal with intercellular spaces; a few cells modified into stone cells with greatly thickened wall having concentric striations and radiating canals with narrow lumen; some cells contain acicular crystals of calcium oxalate and a few contain brown colouring matter; secondary phloem consists of sieve elements and parenchyma mostly collapsed in outer region, forming ceratenchyma; some phloem parenchymatous cells modified into stone cells similar to those in secondary cortex but somewhat smaller and with greater thickening’ of walls; secondary xylem diffused porous consisting of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma traversed by xylem rays; macerated preparation show wider vessels cylindrical, drum-shaped, some being elongated at one end having bordered pits, rarely reticulate or pitted, while narrower ones elongated with spiral to reticulate thicken- tracheids long, cylindrical with tapering ends and bordered pits; xylem fibres moderately thick-walled with mostly tapering, pointed ends and oblique bordered pits; xylem parenchyma square to rectangular with simple pits on their walls; medullary rays 1-4 cells wide and 2-50 cells high, 2 or 3 cell wide rays more common, having simple pits on their walls; acicular crystals and abundant simple and compound starch grains measuring up to 20 μ in dia. present in a number of cells throughout the region.
Powder – Light-brown; shows vessels reticulate, spiral and with bordered pits, starch grains simple and compound, round to oval, measuring upto 20 μ in dia. and acicular crystals; stone cells as describes under microscopy present.
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 1 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 6 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 12 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using n-Butanol : Acetic acid: Water (4:1:5) shows in visible light two spots at Rf. 0.62 and 0.74 (both dirty yellow). Under UV light (366 nm) three fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.62 (yellowish green), 0.68 (blue) and 0.74 (yellowish green). On spraying with 5% Methanolic Sulphuric acid and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110°C two spots appear at Rf. 0.62 and 0.74 (both grey).
CONSTITUENTS – Saponins
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Pacana, Rucya, Vatahara, Swasahara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Ayaskrti, Kanakasava, Dasamularista, Rasnadi Kvatha Curna, Dhanvantara Ghrta, Maha Vatagajankusa Rasa.
THERAPEUTIC USES – Gulma, Jvara, Svasa, Kasa, Yaksma, Pinasa, Sotha, Hikka, Raktadosa.
DOSE – 3-6 g. of powder.
10-20 g. of kwatha curna.
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