UTPALA (Flower)
Utpala consists of dried flower of Nymphma stellata Willd. (Fam. Nymphacem); an aquatic herb, generally found in tanks and ponds throughout the warmer parts of the country.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Kumuda, Nilotpal
Assam. : —
Beng. : Kumud, Sundi
Eng. : Indian Blue Water Fily
Guj. : Poyanu
Hindi. : Neel Kamal, Kumudinee
Kan. : Neeltare
Kash. : —
Mal. : Ambal Poovu
Mar. : Kamoda, Neel Kamal
Ori. : —
Punj. : Neel Kamal, Kamalini
Tam. : Alli, Ambal
Tel. : Allitamara, Kaluvapoovu
Urdu. : Neelofar
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug occurs mostly in broken form of varying sizes of dried pieces of flowers and buds, dark brown, attached with a pedicel of 0.5-1.0 cm long when present; sepals-5 – 6 cm long, 1.5 – 2.0 cm wide, oblong, lanceolate, tip acute or subacute, free, adnate to base of disc; petals – 3.5 – 4.5 cm long 2.0-2.5 cm wide, linear-oblong or lanceolate, yellowish-brown; stamen- 6 to indefinite, free, adnate to fleshy thalamus; filamentsdilated at base; anther – with lingual appendages, introrse, dithecous; gynoecium 3 to indefinite, enclosed by thalamus; style short; ovary unilocular.
b) Microscopic
Sepal – Single layered epidermis on either side, unicellular hairs present on upper epidermis; both epidermis followed by 4-6 layers of collenchymatous cells with angular thickenings; central region occupied by 4-5 layers of elongated, thin-walled, spongy parenchymatous cells; large stellate air canals and vascular tissues present in this region; tanniniferous content present in collenchymatous cells.
Petal -Epidermis on either side, followed by 2-3 layers of collenchymatous cells, central region composed of 3-4 layers, elongated spongy parenchyma; stellate air canals and vascular stellate tissues present in this region; tanniniferous contents also found scattered in petals.
Stamen – Single layered upper and lower epidermis, followed by 2-3 layers, rounded to oval, large parenchymatous cells; 3-4 layers elongated parenchymatous cells present in centre; stellate air canals present in this region; anther shows 4 splitting pollen chambers attached with parenchymatous connective tissues, vascular tissues and stellate idioblasts present in this region, endothecium consisting of single layered columnar cells, stromium in both the chambers and a few rounded 22 – 27 n in dia., pollen grains having thick smooth, exine and a thin intine.
Powder – Brown; shows groups of parenchymatous cells, stellate air canals, uniseriate hairs, yellowish-brown rounded pollen grains, measuring 22 – 27 n in dia., having ‘thick, smooth, exine and thin intine.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 8 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 22 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Chloroform :
Ethylacetate : Formic acid (5 : 4 : 1) shows in visible light three spots at Rf. 0.59, 0.68 and 0.81 (all bluish grey). On spraying with 10% Ferric Chloride solution (aqueous) two spots appear at Rf. 0.68 and 0.81 (both blue and correspond to that of Tannic acid).
CONSTITUENTS – Tannins.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya
Guna : Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Kesya, Medhya, Pittanasaka, Rucya, Rasayana, Dahapausikara, Daha, Dradhykara, Raktaprasadak.
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asokarista, Arvindasava, Usirasava, Candanasava, Kalyanaka Ghrta, Samangadi Curna, Kanaka Taila, Jatyadi Taila, Tungadrumadi Taila, Manjesthadi Taila, Candanadi Lauha, Triphala Ghrta.
THERAPEUTIC USES – Pipasa Daha, Raktapitta, Chardi, Murccha, Hrdraoga, Mutra Kecchra, Jvaratisara.
DOSE – 3-6 g. of the drug.
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