KARAVIRA (Root)
Karavira consists of dried root of Nerium indicum Mill, Syn. N. odorum Soland (Fam. Apocynacem); a large glabrous, evergreen, woody shrub with milky juice, found throughout the year in upper Gangetic plains, Himalayas from Nepal to Kashmir upto 2000 m, Central and Southern India; also cultivated near the temples and gardens.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Divyapuspa, Satakumbha, Asvamaraka, Hayamara.
Assam. : Diflee, Sammulhimar
Beng. : Karbbe, Karbee
Eng. : Sweet-Scented Oleander
Guj. : Kaner
Hindi. : Kaner
Kan. : Kanagilu, Kharjahar, Kanigale, Kanagile
Kash. : —
Mal. : Kanaveeram
Mar. : Kanher
Ori. : —
Punj. : Kanir
Tam. : Sevvarali, Arali
Tel. : Kastooripatte, Errugumeru
Urdu. : Kaner
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug available in cut pieces, 0.5-2.6 cm thick, branched, cylindrical, external surface greyish with long irregular streaks caused by rupture of bark, internal surface cream coloured; fracutre, short; taste, bitter.
b) Microscopic
Root shows cork consisting of 5-12 layered, thin-walled, rectangular, compactly arranged, parenchymatous cells, with a few outer layers occasionally exfoliated; secondary cortex consisting of 6-10 layers of oval, tangentially elongated, thinwalled, parenchymatous cells, a few thick-walled laticiferous cells present in this region; secondary phloem composed of oval to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatus cells; secondary xylem consisting of usual elements, having pitted vessels, fibres with pointed tips; xylem rays usually uniseriate and rarely biseriate; prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and simple starch grains scattered in secondary cortex, secondary phloem and phloem rays; simple, oval to round, elliptical starch grains measuring 3-11 μ in dia., found-scattered in cortical cells, phloem and xylem rays.
Powder – Greyish-brown; shows thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, fragments of cork cells, pitted xylem fibres and vessels, a few prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, simple, round to oval, elliptical starch grains measuring 3-11 μ in diameter.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 1 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 7.5 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 8 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 8 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Chloroform: Methanol (8 : 2) shows under U.V. (366 nm) ten fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.11, 0.15 (both yellow) 0.19 (blue), 0.26 (yellow), 0.49 (pink), 0.60, 0.64, 0.72, 0.88 (all blue) and 0.95 (yellow). On exposure to Iodine vapour ten spots appear at Rf. 0.11, 0.22, 0.30, 0.49, 0.53, 0.64, 0.68, 0.72, 0.90 and 0.95 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105°C for about ten minutes eleven spots appear at Rf. 0.05, 0.11, 0.22, 0.30, 0.49, 0.53 (all grey) 0.64 (yellow), 0.68, 0.72 (both grey), 0.90 (violet) and 0.95 (brown).
CONSTITUENTS – Glycosides-Cardiac Glycosides and Resinous Matter.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sirovirecana, Caksusya, Krmighna, Sothaghna, Kandughna, Kusthhara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Brhanmaricadya Taila, Karaviradya Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Vrana, Upadansa, Kustha, Jalodara, Kandu.
DOSE – 30-125 mg. of the drug in powder form.
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