Medicinal Plants Herbs Flowers

SVETAPUNARNAVA (Root)

Svetapunarnava consists of root of Boerhaavia verticillata Poir. (Fam. Nyctaginacem), a herbaceous weed with a tendency to climb, widely distributed in the plains throughout India during rainy season.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vrsciva
Assamese : —
Bengali : Shatapunyaa
English : Horse purslene, Blunt leaved Hogweed
Gujrati : Vasedo, Vasedee
Hindi : Safed Punarnavaa, Gada Poornaa
Kannada : Maachchugoni, Vinleey Duvelladkilu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Pundharighentuli
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Itsita
Tamil : Sharunnai, Mukkarattai-Kirai

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Roots occur in small pieces of 5 to 7.5 cm in length and upto 2 cm in thickness; texture rough; lenticels dot like or slightly transversely elongated, arranged in transverse rows; colour brown, freshly cut surface creamish to light brown; odour and taste not distinctive.

b) Microscopic

Root shows anamolous secondary growth; periderm present and consisting of phellem, phellogen and phelloderm; part of phellem and phellogen sloughed off and phelloderm mostly crushed but forms a continuous layer around the stelar region; the phellogen consists of 4 or 5 layers of rectangular and tangentially elongated cells; cortex composed of parenchymatous cells that are usually crushed; raphides present in some cells of cortex; centre of the root occupied by xylem consisting mostly of vessels, fibres and tracheids; concentric but irregular rings of cambium, patches of xylem and phloem, and parenchyma alternate in turn towards the periphery; medullary rays are not distinct; starch abundant in parenchyma; most of the starch grains rounded or hemispherical in shape; the compound starch grains, however, are scanty.

Powder – The powder show raphides (usually broken) and fragments of fibres, and vessel members showing scalariform thickenings; starch present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene:ethylacetate:acetic acid (5:4.5:0.5), shows under U.V. (366nm) spots at Rf 0.37, 0.59, 0.80 (All Blue). On spraying with anisaldehyde: sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110oC spots appear at Rf 0.19(Greyish Black), 0.59 (Greyish Black), 0.69 (Blue), 0.79 (Purple).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Kaphahara, Vatahara, Visaghna, Pittasamaka, Agnidipaka, Jvarahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kumaryasava (A), Punarnavadyrista, Dhanvantara Ghrta, Dadhika Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sopha, Sotha, Hrdroga, Kasa, Pandu, Pliharoga, Sula, Sarpavisa, Udararoga, Vrscikavisa, Visavikara, Urahksata, Rakta Vikara, Paittika Jvara, Caturthikajvara, Srava, Vatakantaka, Vidradhi Alarkavisa, Musakavisa

DOSE – 5-15 g.

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TAILAPARNAH (Leaf)

Tailaparnah consists of mature leaf of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Fam. Myrtacem) a large tree attaining a height of 90 m or more, native to Australia, but planted world wide and introduced in Nilgiris, Anamalai and Palni hills, Simla and Shillong at an altitude of 1500-2500 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Nilaniryasa, Ekalipth, Sugandha Patrah
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : Blue gum, Eucalyptus
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Yukeliptas
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Yukkaalimaram
Marathi : Nilgiri
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Yukkaalimaram
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug consists of mature leaves, more or less scimitar shaped, thick, leathery, greyish-green, petiolate, upto 26 cm long and 4 cm broad; petioles 2.0 to 3.5 cm long and 0.5 to 1.5 mm thick, sometimes twisted; apex acute to acuminate, base obtuse; midrib prominent, particularly on the lower surface; margin of leaf entire and somewhat thickened, brittle and possess numerous brown to dark brown corky warts. In transmitted light, numerous oil glands can be seen as transluscent dots; upper surface smooth, lower surface slightly rough due to the presence of projecting veins; venation – unicostate reticulate; lateral veins anastamose near the margin forming a continuous line; odour strong and characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Leaf – T.S. shows typical isobilateral structures with two or three rows of palisade cells on both upper and lower sides, surfaces show thick cuticle; numerous sunken stomata and large ovoid schizogenous oil cavities of 160 to 200 n diam.; idioblasts present with rosettes or prismatic calcium oxalate crystals; rosette crystals 25 to 35n in size, prismatic crystals 15 to 25n in size; vascular bundle of midrib are crescent shaped with one vascular strand present on each side, all having interrupted patches of sclerenchyma; corky warts comprising of 10 or more layers of cells; laminary bundles enclosed in bundle sheath, the cells of which extend to the epidermis on both sides; upper and lower epidermal cells have straight walls; stomata anomocytic; stomatal index on both upper and lower surface 5 to 10; the palisade ratio on upper surface 5 to 17 and lower surface 3 to 6.

Powder – Yellowish brown, free flowing, characterized by the presence of cluster and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; epidermis straight walled with sunken stomata; fibers present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 9 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 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 21 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Essential oil Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of hexane extract on silica gel 60 F 254 plate using Toluene : Acetone (95:05) shows four spots at Rf 0.22, 0.35, 0.41 and 0.49 on spraying with Vanillin- Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 15 minutes at 110oC.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil containing terpenes such as 1,8 – cineole, camphene, sabinene, myrcene, p-menthone, α-and γ-terpinene, fenchone, α- β- thujone, citral, verbenone.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Hrdya, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Pacana, Vatahara, Durgandhinasaka, Agnimandya, Balaprada

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Ekadasasatikaprasanini Failam, Mahasugandhika Taila, Pancavaktra Rasa, Pancaguna Taila, Martandabhairava Rasa, Jvaramari Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Agnimandya, Svasa, Hrdroga, Jvara, Krmi, Ksaya, Puyameha, Pliharoga, Pratisyaya, Pravahika, Svarabheda, Visamajvara, Jirnakasa, Bastiroga

DOSE – 1-2 g.

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TINISAH (Wood)

Tinisah consists of wood of Ougeinia oojeinensis (Roxb.) Hochr. syn. O. dalbergioides Benth. (Fam. Fabacem), a small to medium sized deciduous tree, found in the outer Himalayas and sub Himalayan tracts from Jammu to Bhutan up to an altitude of 1500 m and extending through the whole of the northern and central India into greater part of Deccan Peninsula.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Tinih, Syandanah, Rathadru
Assamese : —
Bengali : Tinish
English : Sandan
Gujrati : Tanacha
Hindi : Sandan, Saanana, Tinisaa
Kannada : Karimutale, Kalabangaa
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Totukara, Malavenna
Marathi : Timas, Syandan
Oriya : Vanjan
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Narivengai, Naiponai
Telugu : Tellamotuku, Dargu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Wood pieces are roughly cubic and about 2 to 3 cm in size; outer part yellow or cream, internal part light to dark brown in colour; cut surfaces are fibrous, wood pieces devoid of any odour.

b) Microscopic

Sap wood – Diffuse porous, vessels in cross sections solitary, in short radial multiples or in clusters, forming oblique chains, about 30 to 220 n in diam. with reticulate thickenings and simple pits, without gummy deposits; frequency of vessels per sq. mm is 14 to 18; axial parenchyma is paratracheal, aliform, confluent – broad and filled with simple starch grains 4 to 21 n in dia. with prominent striations and slit like centric hilum; fibres present in patches; marginal fibres possess abundant prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, 4 to 10 n in size; fibres are occasionally septate; rays uni- to multiseriate, heterogenous, usually homocellular, some cells may contain minute starch grains of about 8 n diam.; cells contain no tannin.

Heart wood – T.S. shows vessels of same size as those of sap wood but are usually filled with brownish gummy material and possess bordered pits; frequency of vessels per sq. mm is 6 to 8; axial parenchyma is paratracheal, aliform and is usually filled with brownish substance but lack starch grains; marginal fibres contain abundant prismatic crystals of same size as observed in the sapwood, ray, axial parenchyma and fibres contain tannins.

Powder – Brown, fibrous, free flowing, characterized by the presence of several lumps of brown gummy material, xylem parenchyma, medullary ray cells, simple starch grains, xylem vessels with several small slit like pits and fibres containing crystals of calcium oxalate.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.5 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 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of methanol extract on silica gel ‘G’ plate using diethyl ether : hexane (78:22) shows six spots at Rf 0.47, 0.50, 0.62, 0.65, 0.72 and 0.86 on spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 15 minutes at 110oC.

CONSTITUENTS – Flavonoids mainly homoferreirin and ougeinin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kusthaghna, Medohara, Pittahara, Rasayana, Visaghna, Vranaropana, Kaphasosana, Sonitasthapana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Ayaskrti

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Svitra, Daha, Krmi, Kustha, Medoroga, Prameha, Pravahika, Raktatisara, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Vrana, Atisara, Panduroga

DOSE – 50 – 100 ml Kvatha.

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TINTIDIKAH (Aerial Part)

Tintidikah consists of mature dried aerial part of Rhus parviflora Roxb. (Fam. Anacardiacem), an evergreen or sub-deciduous shrub commonly found on the dry hot slopes of Himalayas from Punjab to Nepal and in the hills of Peninsular India at an altitude of 600-2100 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Tintidika
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : Sumac
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Tungalaa, Samakadana, Raitung
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : —
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Khatte Masoor, Raitung, Tungaa
Tamil : —
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : Sumaak

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Stem – Young stem branched, reddish-brown, tomentose; stem pieces 10 to 15 cm long and upto 4 cm in diam., old ones woody with longitudinal striations and glandular protuberances, greenish-brown, bark separable from wood, inner surface of bark reddishbrown, wood light brown in colour; fracture, hard and fibrous.

Leaf – Trifoliate when intact, leaflets elliptic, oblong, obovate, petiolate, petiole 2.5 to 3.5 cm in length, tomentose, terminal leaflet large, obovate, 7 to 8.5 cm in length, 3 or 4 cm broad, rather thick, basal margin entire and cuneate, upper coarsely and irregularly crenate, pubescent, laterals relatively broader and more rounded at base, sessile, pubescent and smooth.

Fruit – Drupe, oval, yellowish-green to brownish-green, glabrous, shining, fruits present on panicles; calyx persistent; fruit wrinkled.

b) Microscopic

Stem – T.S. shows cork, cortex and stele; patches of cortical fibres, secretory canals and rhomboid crystals of calcium oxalate, measuring about 13 n well distributed in the cortex; xylem in the form of a continuous cylinder traversed by uni or biseriate medullary rays; border pitted and scalariform vessels present; lignified fibres septate, measuring 300 to 770 n in length and upto 50 n in width; pith parenchymatous, possessing tannins, starch grains and rhomboid crystals of calcium oxalate.

Petiole – T.S. shows a single layered epidermis covered with cuticle; abundant unicellular and multicellular, uniseriate trichomes measuring 30 to 360 n in length and 10 to 20 n in width; cortex consisting of 3 or 4 layers of collenchymatous cells and 5 or 6 layers of parenchymatous cells, some cells of collenchyma and parenchyma contain rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate, measuring upto 20 n; collateral vascular bundles 15 to 17 in number, surrounding a central parenchymatous pith and capped by an arch of pericyclic fibres; secretory canals present in phloem region.

Midrib – T.S. shows single layered epidermis, covered with cuticle; nonglandular, unicellular and uniseriate, multicellular trichomes abundantly present on the epidermis, followed by collenchymatous tissue; vascular bundles 5 to 7 in number, arranged in a circle, conjoint, collateral, each capped by an arch of fibres; secretory canals present in phloem region; pith consists of parenchymatous cells.

Lamina – T.S. shows dorsiventral structure, epidermal cells composed of cubical to slightly elongated and rectangular cells, externally covered with cuticle; below upper epidermis 2 or 3 layers of palisade parenchyma present; lower epidermis single layered with thick cuticle; unicellular and uniseriate, multicellular trichomes present on both surfaces, measuring upto 200 n in length and about 30 n in width; palisade parenchyma followed by loosely arranged spongy parenchyma cells; mesophyll traversed by vascular bundles; each vascular bundle surrounded by bundle sheath, extending from upper epidermis to lower epidermis as bundle sheath extension. In surface view lower epidermis shows anomocytic type of stomata while upper epidermis is devoid of stomata; stomatal index 6 to 10 on lower epidermis; vein islet number 12 to 15; palisade ratio 2 to 4.

Powder – Brown, odour slightly strong, somewhat acrid in taste; fragments of palisade tissue, calcium oxalate crystals, trichomes, starch grains, bordered pitted vessels and vessels having scalariform thickenings.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.7 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol: acetic acid (80:20:2) shows under UV (254 nm) six spots at Rf. 0.11, 0.18, 0.29, 0.54 (all brown), 0.80 and 0.91 (both yellowish green). Under UV (366nm) seven fluorescent spots appear at Rf. 0.11, 0.18, 0.29, 0.54, 0.70 (all brown), 0.80 and 0.91 (both pink). On exposure to iodine vapour eight spots appear at Rf. 0.11(pinkish brown), 0.15, 0.22 (brown), 0.38, 0.64, 0.74, 0.80 and 0.91 (all yellowish brown). On spraying with 5% ferric chloride solution seven spots appear at Rf. 0.15, 0.24 (both green), 0.41 (faint brown), 0.54 (blue), 0.73 (faint brown) 0.83 and 0.91 (both brown).

CONSTITUENTS – Tannins (Gallic acid); flavones (myricetin, quercetin, myricitrin, quercitrin, kampferol); glycosides (isorhmnetin-3-α-Larabinoside)

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Amla
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Amla
Karma : Dipana, Grahi, Jvaraghna, Kaphavatahara, Pittakara, Rocana, Vatahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Yavani Sadava, Hinguvacadi Curna, Sri Ramabana Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Aruci, Atisara, Pravahika, Trsna, Vatavikara

DOSE – 3 – 6 g.

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TRAPUSAM (Seed)

Trapusam consists of dried seed of Cucumis sativus Linn. (Fam. Cucurbitacem), an annual trailing or climbing plant, numerous varieties widely cultivated throughout India upto an altitude of 1200 m. The seeds are devoid of mucilagenous outer layer.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Svetakarahatakam, Sudhavasah, Mutralam, Kantakiphalam
Assamese : —
Bengali : Ksheeraa, Shashaa
English : Cucumber
Gujrati : Taanslee
Hindi : Kheeraa
Kannada : Mullusavte, Santekaayi
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Vellari
Marathi : Tause, Khiraa
Oriya : Kantiaali Kaakudi
Punjabi : Khiraa
Tamil : Vellarikkaay, Pippinkaay
Telugu : Khirakaya
Urdu : Kheeraa

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds compressed, elongated, ellipsoid, dorsiventrally convex and laterally ridged; size variable, about a cm or occasionally more in length and upto 0.5 cm wide; micropyle pointed, distinctly visible; outer surface glossy, brittle, peelable; yellowishwhite; kernel, oily, creamish-white; taste, mildly sweet, oily; not slippery to touch when moistened: odour, nil.

b) Microscopic

Outermost layer of testa absent; hypodermis sclerenchymatous, two layered, outer layer of small, circular, stone cells, inner layer of large, oval, thick walled, striated, lignified sclereids placed at right angle to outer layer; a large zone of mrenchyma filled with loosely packed parenchymatous cells; cotyledon lined by compact layer of cuticularized thin walled epidermis, cotyledon of several layers of elongated, closely packed parenchymatous cells, largely hexagonal, packed with aleurone grains, starch and fat globules; innermost two layers much more elongated, palisade like, and distinct; each cotyledon shows five distinct patches of small, thin walled, polygonal cells present midway, in a roughly trapezial shape.

Powder – Creamish-white to light-green, oily, shows groups of yellowish, wavy-walled sclereids from testa in surface view, also isolated ones; fragments of parenchymatous cells; annular or spiral xylem vessels in groups; abundant oil globules, aleurone grains, and starch grains.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6 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 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol (20:0.5) shows spots at Rf 0.31 (purple), 0.40 (brown), 0.48 (purple), 0.52 (light purple), 0.60 (purple), 0.70 (light grey) and 0.78 (pinkish brown) on spraying with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Fixed oil and sugars.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Kaphakara, Mutrala, Vatapittahara, Abhisyandi, Mutrabastivisodhaka, Agnisadana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Chardi, Mutrakrcchra, Raktavikara, Mutraghata, Raktapitta, Daurbalya, Daha, Anidra, Sirahsula, Sitajvara

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sitajvara, Anidra, Chardi, Daha, Daurbalya, Mutraghata, Mutrakrcchra, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Sirahsula

DOSE – 3-6 g powder.

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TUNI (Stem Bark)

Tuni consists of stem bark of Cedrela toona Roxb. (Fam. Meliacem), a large, rapidly growing, nearly evergreen tree attaining a height upto 18 m, and distributed in tropical Himalayas from the Indus eastward, ascending to 1000 m and also throughout the hills of Central and Southern India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Nandivrksa, Tuni, Tuna, Nandi
Assamese : —
Bengali : Toongaachha
English : Toon, Red ceder
Gujrati : Toonee
Hindi : Tun, Toonee, Tuni
Kannada : Mandurike, Kempu Gandagheri
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Madagirivempu, Ikana, Patukarana
Marathi : Toonee, Kurak
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Karamusuli, Shevagil Malavembu
Telugu : Nandichettu, Galimanu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Bark available in long pieces, channelled, of varying thickness; external surface, rough and rugged due to exfoliation and vertical cracks, fissured, dark grey having lenticels, inner surface, red, laminated and fibrous; fracture, fibrous and splintery; odour, very mild and pleasant; taste, sharp and acrid.

b) Microscopic

Stem bark shows exfoliating cork, 8 to 10 layers consisting of tangentially elongated, radially arranged, thin-walled cells; cortex, 12 to 15 layers of rectangular parenchymatous cells, outer layers having cells filled with small rosette crystals of calcium oxalate at regular intervals; inner layers of cortex of isodiametric cells having abundant larger rosette crystals; occasionally stone cells may be present in outer cortex; phloem fibres abundant in patches, thick walled; medullary rays narrow, generally biseriate; starch grains, simple or compound, present in cortical region.

Powder – Light reddish-brown; shows occasional fragments of cork cells; fibres, large, abundant in groups, a few isolated, lignified with distinct lumen, tips bluntly pointed or having distinct indentation; stone cells, few, of varying shapes, elongated to isodiametric; phloem parenchyma, thin-walled, containing calcium oxalate rosettes and prisms; abundant prismatic and rosette calcium oxalate crystals, rosettes of varying sizes measuring 11 to 60 n, prisms, small; starch grains, simple or compound having 2 to 6 components, 3-component grains most common, round and oval measuring upto 10 n in dia., cleft hilum.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using petroleum ether : hexane : ethyl acetate : formic acid (10:30:15:1) shows spots at Rf. 0.34, 0.44, 0.57 and 0.88 (all purple) on spraying with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Triterpenoids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Grahi, Kaphahara, Medohara, Pittahara, Bhagnasandhanaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Gandamala, Kandu, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Visavikara, Vrana, Yoniroga, Bala Pravahika, Svetakustha, Medovikara

DOSE – 3-6 g kvatha-10-20 ml.

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VANDA (Leaf)

Vanda consists of the dried leaf of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), an epiphyte, mostly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vrksadani, Bandaka, Vrksaruha, Samharsa
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : Bandanike, Bandhulu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Ittikkanni, Itil
Marathi : Baandagul, Banda
Oriya : Vrudhongo
Punjabi : Pulluri
Tamil : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Telugu : Jeevakamu

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Leaves petiolate, exstipulate, opposite, decussate, simple, ovate to oblanceolate, glabrous, soft and leathery when young, brittle when dry; margin entire; base decurrent; apex acute; slightly astringent; odour resembling those of tealeaves.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of the leaf shows a thick cuticle, upper and lower epidermis composed of squarish cells with convex periclinal outer walls; surface views of upper and lower nearly similar; stomata paracytic, present on both surfaces; mesophyll of lamina consisting of 2 to 4 layers inner to upper and lower epidermis made up of compactly arranged short rectangular cells and irregularly arranged parenchyma cells of middle layers but possesing a few intercellular spaces; occassional vascular strands passing through this middle portion; isolated sclereids about 50 n thick containing prismatic crystals of about 12 n present in parenchyma; midrib buldging prominently on both the surfaces and containing a group of 3 to 5 vascular bundles; xylem of vascular bundles oriented towards upper epidermis and consisting of tracheids, vessels and parenchyma; phloem present towards lower epidermis and consisting of thin walled cells; bundle sheath absent; each vascular bundle associated with patch of collenchymatous cells outside the phloem; tannin (ranging from yellow to brown in colour) abundant in parenchyma cells of midrib and lamina region, especially in the 2 or 3 subepidermal layers; stomatal index 9 to 13 on upper surface and 10 to 14 on lower surface.

Powder – The powder shows angular epidermal cells and groups of thin walled, rectangular, closely packed parenchyma cells many of which contain tannins.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcohol soluble extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethyl formate : formic acid (5:4:1) as mobile phase shows under U.V. (366 nm) spots at Rf. 0.06 (Brown); 0.39(Blue); 0.46 (Blue); 0.55 (Red); 0.81 (Pink). On spraying with anisaldehyde: sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110o C two spots appear at Rf 0.35(Light Green), 0.45 (Orange).

CONSTITUENTS – Leaves contain flavonoids such as Quercetin, quercetrin;Tannins comprising of gallic and chebulinic acid.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sukrajanana, Grahi, Kaphahara, Mutravirecaniya, Pittahara, Raksoghna, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana, Sramahara, Netrya, Grahanasana, Mangalakara, Garbhasthapana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagandara, Hikka, Mutraroga, Raktapitta, Visamajvara, Visaroga, Vrana, Vandhyatva, Vata-Smari

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml juice.

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VANDA (Stem)

Vanda consists of the dried stem of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), an epiphyte, mostly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bandaka, Samharsa, Vrksadani, Vrksaruha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : Bandhulu, Badanike
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Itil, Ittikkanni
Marathi : Baandagul, Banda
Oriya : Vrudhongo
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Pulluri
Telugu : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Small twigs of mrial branches ranging from 2 mm to 2.5 cm in thickness; the bark of stem thin, dark brown and specked with lighter brown, uniformly distributed lenticles; the wood reddish-brown after removal of thin bark; stem slightly rough to touch; fracture irregular; fractured surface dark brown; no distinct taste or odour.

b) Microscopic

A transverse section of stem reveals a circular outline with a thick cuticle, and epidermis made up of squarish or barrel shaped cells with convex outer periclinal walls and interrupted here and there by lenticular openings; cork made up of thin-walled, crushed rectangular cells; cortex consisting of many layers of tangentially elongated and rounded cells interspersed with sclereids upto 85 n in size and in groups of 2 to 4; many cells of cortex, especially those of outer few layers contain tannins ranging in colour from yellow, orange to dark brown; groups of pericyclic fibres form a ring outside phloem; cambium present; xylem surrounding the central pith and composed of well developed vessels, fibre and parenchyma, 1 to 4 seriate medullary rays composed of radially elongated cells present; pith consists of thin walled, rounded or polygonal parenchymatous cells; small groups of sclereids, up to 85 n each in size present in both pith and medullary rays; prismatic crystals present in association with sclereids and medullary ray cells.

Powder – Powder shows vessel elements with simple pitted thickenings, groups of sclereids containing prismatic crystals (size of crystal 30 to 35 n long and 15 to 17 n wide) and fragments of parenchyma cells containing tannins.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 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 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcohol soluble extract of the drug in chloroform as a mobile phase shows under UV (366 nm) spots Rf 0.13 (Grey); 0.24 (Green); 0.35 (Blue); 0.56 (Yellow); 0.76 (Grey); 0.85 (Orange Pink); 0.96 (Pink).

CONSTITUENTS – Young shoots contain nearly 10 per cent tannins and the stem contains β-amyrin-0-acetate, oleonolic acid its methyl ester acetate,β-sitosterol and stigmasterol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sramahara, Sukrajanana, Garbhasthapana, Grahi, Grahanasana, Kaphahara, Mutravirecaniya, Mangalakara, Netrya, Pittahara, Raksoghna, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagandara, Hikka, Mutraroga, Raktapitta, Vata-Smari, Vandhyatva, Visamajvara, Visaroga, Vrana

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml juice.

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VANDA (Aerial Root)

Vanda consists of the dried aeial root of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), an epiphyte, mostly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bandaka, Samharsa, Vrksadani, Vrksaruha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : Badanike, Bandhulu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Itil, Ittikkanni
Marathi : Baandagul, Banda
Oriya : Vrudhongo
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Pulluri
Telugu : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Adventitious root greyish brown outside, yellowish to brown inside, slender, contorted and knotty in appearance, sending out haustoria into the host plant or, also into its own branches; rarely branched; fracture, irregular; odour and taste not distinct.

b) Microscopic

A transverse section of adventitious root is circular in outline; cuticle and epidermis sloughed off; outermost zone consists of broken tissue of cork and cortex followed by cork cambium made of rectangular cells; cortex wide, many layered, made of thin walled rounded cells and selereids upto 50 n size, present singly or in groups of 2 to 4; many cells of cortex contain tannin; patches of pericyclic fibres surround the vascular ring; phloem composed of small thin walled cells present outside the xylem and separated from it by the vascular cambium; xylem interrupted by short, 1 or 2 seriate medullary rays composed of radially elongated cells; xylem composed of scattered vessels, parenchyma and fibres; pith wide, composed of rounded parenchymatous cells interspersed with thick walled fibres of about 5 n in dia.

Powder – Powder shows tracheids and vessel members with simple pitted thickenings, broken fibres; stone cells with faint incomplete radial striations, upto 50 n in size and containing prismatic crystals.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcohol soluble extract of the drug on silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol (80:20) as mobile phase shows under U.V. (at 366 nm) spots at Rf 0.35 (Blue); 0.58 (Blue); 0.90 (Blue).

CONSTITUENTS – Catechin and leucocynidin in the bark.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sramahara, Sukrajanana, Garbhasthapana, Grahi, Grahanasana, Kaphahara, Mutravirecaniya, Mangalakara, Netrya, Pittahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Mutravirecaniya Kasaya Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagandara, Hikka, Mutraroga, Raktapitta, Vata-Smari, Vandhyatva, Visamajvara, Visaroga, Vrana

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml juice.

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VANDA (Flower)

Vanda consists of flowers of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn.f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), a semi-parasite, mainly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bandaka, Samharsa, Vrksadani, Vrksaruha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : Badanike, Bandhulu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Itil, Ittikanni
Marathi : Baandagul, Banda
Oriya : Vrudhongo
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Pulluri
Telugu : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, regular, complete, coloured, apetalous, epigynous with cup or disc shaped receptacle, pentamerous; perianth-tepals 5, free and strap shaped towards the distal end and in the form of a sickle-shaped tube towards the basal end; surrounded at the base by a cup-shaped calyx; the perianth tube measures about 40 to 55 mm in length; it is narrow at the base and gradually widens towards the upper part; the perianth lobes become strongly reflexed at maturity. Inside the perianth tube are 5 cushion shaped nectarines; androecium stamens 5, epiphyllous, starting from two-thirds of length of perianth tube and continuing to the tip of perianth lobes, appressed to the style in young flowers; filaments orange coloured; anthers monothecous, dark, basifixed; gynoecium ovary 1, inferior, obscurely unilocular; style long, filamentous; stigma capitate; placentation basal, one ovule in each locule.

b) Microscopic

Powder – The powder shows characteristically triradiate, smooth walled, pollen grains upto 45 n in size and having a depression in the centre at distal end of each arm, and endothelial tissue.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 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 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethylformate : formic acid (5:4:1) as mobile phase shows under U.V. (at 366 nm) spots at Rf value 0.11, 0.16, 0.26 (Blue), 0.45 (Pink). On spraying with anisaldehyde : sulphuric acid reagent and on heating the plate for ten minutes at 110oC spots at Rf. 0.07 (Black); 0.12 (Green Black); 0.22 (Blue); 0.31 (Yellow); 0.40 (Yellow); 0.88 (Green) appear.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Raksoghna, Sramahara, Sukrajanana, Garbhasthapana, Grahi, Grahanasana, Kaphahara, Mutravirecaniya, Netrya, Pittahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagandara, Hikka, Mutraroga, Raktapitta, Vata-Smari, Vandhyatva, Visamajvara, Visaroga, Vrana

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml juice

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VANDA (Fruit)

Vanda consists of the dried fruit of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), an epiphyte, mostly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bandaka, Samharsa, Vrksadani, Vrksaruha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : –
Kashmiri : Ittikkanni, Itil
Malayalam : Baandagul, Banda
Marathi : Vrudhongo
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Pulluri
Tamil : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Telugu : Jeevakamu

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The fruit is an ovate pseudo berry, upto 3 mm in thickness and 3 to 8 mm in length; greenish-yellow when mature and turning brown when dry; the top of the fruit is crowned by a persistent calyculus; the fruit contains an elongated, flask-shaped seed upto 5 mm long and 2 mm thick, rugose, brown, hard, and enclosed in a shiny, viscid film.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of the pseudoberry shows the outer tissues of thalamus separated by a zone of viscid mass from the inner tissues of the seed. Fruit tissue consist of an outer epicarp formed of a single layer of epidermis composed of squarish or rounded, thickly cuticularized cells followed by 3 or 4 layers of thick walled, larged sized, squarish cells containing tannins; mesocarp consist of multiple layers of small relatively clear cells with interspersed groups of stone cells. Fruit wall delimited inside by multiple layers of large, rounded, thin walled parenchymatous cells containing yellow to dark brown tannins; the seed consists of an outer viscid zone delimited towards inside by a ring of tissues made of several layers of isodiametric cells mostly containing brown pigment in outer 2 or 3 layers and a ring of vascular bundles. Inner to this is a zone comprising of radially elongated, compactly arranged thin-walled cells rich in starch towords the center; centre of the seed occupied by a mass of uniform, isodiametric, parenchymatous embryonic cells.

Powder – Cellular debris and stone cells with circular striations 20 to 35 n are seen, groups of cells containing tannins also present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 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 17 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene: ethylacetate: acetic acid (5:4.5:0.5), shows under U.V. (366nm) spots at Rf. 0.23 (Greyish Black), 0.57, 0.72 (Pink), 0.81 (Blue), 0.89 (Pink). On spraying with anisaldehyde- sulphuric acid reagent and on heating the plate for ten minutes at 110o C spots appear at Rf. 0.22, 0.37 (Blue), 0.52 (Purple), 0.57 (Greyish Black), 0.67, 0.72 (Dark Blue), 0.75 (Purple).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Grahi, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Visaghna, Vranaropana, Raksoghna Sramahara, Grahanasana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Arsa, Kantharoga, Mutraghata, Mutrakrcchra, Mutraruja, Netraroga, Raktapitta, Slipada, Vatarakta, Vatavikara, Vrana, Mutrasarkara, Garbhasrava, Sopharoga, Amatisara, Visamjvara

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml.

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VANYAJIRAKA (Fruit)

Vanyajiraka consists of dried fruit of Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze (Fam. Asteracem), an annual, robust, erect herb, found throughout India upto 1850 m in Himalaya and Khasi hills and often cultivated.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Aranyajirakah, Brhatpali, Somaraji, Vanajirakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Somaraaj
English : Purple Flebane, Worm Seed Fleabane
Gujrati : Kaaleejeeree, Kadavijeeree
Hindi : Kaalijeeree, Karajiri, Soharaai
Kannada : Kaadujeerage, Kaarijirige
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Krimishatru, Kattujirakam
Marathi : Kadujire
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Kaattuchirakam, Chittilai
Telugu : Adavijilakaroa, Garetikamma
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The fruits are cypsela, indehiscent, 3 to 5 mm long and 1 to 2 mm in diameter; tapering towards base, pappus present over flattened upper end; surface exhibits about 20 longitudinal ridges, hairy, blackish-brown to black in colour; taste, bitter and odour indistinct.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of fruit exhibits about 20 ridges and furrows; the epidermis is single layered, covered externally with thick cuticle; trichomes are of two types – covering and glandular; covering trichomes unicellular, elongated with tapering ends, present mostly on the ridges; glandular hairs, sessile with unicellular heads are seen in the furrows; rest of the pericarp consists of thin walled parenchymatous cells; vascular bundles are present below the ridges, followed by discontinuous and laterally extending arches of thick walled and lignified sclerenchymatous tissues; testa is single layered followed by thin walled parenchymatous cells of the cotyledon, most of them consisting of aleurone grains and a few exhibit oil globules.

Powder – The powder exhibits fragments of fibres, fibre sclereids, scalariform vascular elements, thin walled parenchymatous cells with aleurone grains and oil globules, covering as well as glandular trichomes thin walled radially elongated cells of pappus.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2.0 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 4.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of petroleum ether extract on Silica Gel G 60 precoated plate (Merck) using Petroleum ether (60-80oC); Diethyl ether: Acetic acid (70:32:2), shows under UV (366 nm) one spot at Rf. 0.48 (light blue); on exposure to iodine vapours 4 spots appear at Rf. 0.48 (dark orange), 0.57, 0.68 and 0.84 (all faint orange); after spraying with 5% ethanolic sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 30 minutes, 4 spots appear at Rf. 0.48 (black) 0.57, 0.68 and 0.84 (all faint brown).

CONSTITUENTS – Sterols, avenasterol and vernosterol, a bitter principle, essential oil,resins and fixed oil consisting of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and vernolic acids

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Stambhana, Vatahara, Jantunasaka, Netrya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Madhusnuhi Rasayana

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Sopha, Svasa, Gulma, Hikka, Jvara, Kasa, Krmi, Kustha, Mutraghata, Raktavikara, Vrana, Kandu, Svitrakustha

DOSE – 1-3 g.

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ROHISA (Whole Plant)

Rohisa consists of dried leaf, stem and root of Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. (Fam. Poacem) a perennial, sweet scented grass, 1.5 to 3.5 m high, occurs wild in dry localities and cultivated in many parts of India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : —
Assamese : —
Bengali : Agam Ghaas, Agiyaa Ghaas
English : Rosha Grass, Rusa grass
Gujrati : Rondso, Ronsdo
Hindi : Rohis, Roosaa, Roosaaghaas, Mirchagandha
Kannada : Dunllu, Harehullu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Sambhaarppullu
Marathi : Rohish gavat
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Agya ghass
Tamil : Kaavattampillu, Munkipul, Chooraippul
Telugu : Kaamakchhi – Kassuvu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root – Short, stout and woody; roots fibrous; many culms arise from root stumps.

Culm – Erect, terete, smooth shiny, upto 6 mm in dia., internodes 5 to 16 cm long, solid.

Leaf – Blades linear-lanceolate or lanceolate tapering to long filiform acuminate point, cordate and amplexicaul at base, upto 50 cm long and 3.5 cm broad; upper leaves are smaller, leaf surface glabrous, margin scabrid; midrib prominent and protruded on the lower surface; leaf sheath shorter than the internodes, glabrous, striate, auriculate, tight and clasping the culm, ligules membranous, 2 to 3 cm long.

Inflorescence – Spathate panicle, compound, upto 30 cm long; primary axis bears 2 or 3 branches at each node, these end in a spatheole which bears a pair of racemes, spatheole
1.8 mm long become reddish at maturity; racemes 1.5-2.0 cm long become subsessile or shortly pedicelled, lower raceme base and lower most pedicel swollen; sessile spikelet about 3.5 mm long, lower glume 1 mm wide, ovate, with deep median groove, broadly winged, 2 nerved; awn 12 to 18 mm long; pedicellate spikelet about 4 mm long, glabrous; lower glume lanceolate, 8 nerved, flower hermaphrodite or male, stamens-3, anthers 1 or 2 mm long, style 2, stigma pilose.

b) Microscopic

Root – T.S. shows thin walled epiblema with unicellular root hairs; cortex composed of thin walled, parenchymatous cells; large air chambers present in the cortex; endodermis single layered and pericycle two cell layered; central vascular strand has outer 2 or 3 layers of sclerenchymatous cells followed by 3 to 5 cells deep zones of thin walled phloem with a row of circular cavities of 12 to 25 n diam.; 5 to 10 cell layer thick zone encloses xylem vessels; which are 35 to 50 n in diam.; pith cells thick walled and devoid of any cell contents.

Stem – T.S. shows thick cuticle; epidermis devoid of any appendages; hypodermis 6 to 10 cells deep and composed of sclerenchymatous cells; vascular bundles scattered throughout the ground tissue with a row of smaller vascular bundles in the hypodermis; cells of ground tissue thin walled, parenchymatous; vascular bundles present in the ground tissue enclosed by 2 or 3 layers of sclerenchymatous cells.

Leaf – T.S. shows isobilateral structure, with a spongy mesophyll between; outline showing a slightly concave upper surface and a convex lower surface; midrib protruded towards lower side; cells of upper epidermis interrupted by the presence of bulliform or motor cells; lower epidermal cells are more uniform in size and smaller; stomata present on both surfaces, characteristically placed in a straight line between veins, mesophyll consists of chlorenchymatous cells placed radially around smaller vascular bundles; bundle sheath present around smaller vascular bundles, on either side of the midrib vascular bundle; group of sclerenchymatous fibres are found and may extend upto bundle sheath; vascular bundle of midrib usually has two conspicuous metaxylem vessels. Lower epidermis can be distinguished from the upper epidermis by its having more number of stomata, smaller epidermal cells and presence of microhairs and papillm; stomata of the lower epidermis – oval, mostly with low dome shaped long cells present between the veins; long cells of lower epidermis possess 1 or 2 papillm, while papillm are absent on the long cells of upper epidermis; short cells over the veins in rows of more than 5 cells and may be in pairs; silica bodies abundant over the veins mostly dumbbell shaped, occasionally cross-shaped, narrow and crenate; prickle and micro hairs present; micro hairs two celled, observed only on lower epidermis; the basal cell of micro hairs is wide as compared to distal cell; distal cell tapers to an acutely pointed apex.

Powder – Brown, fibrous, free flowing, shows debris from leaves showing characteristic graminaceous stomata, silica bodies, and micro hairs; also contains pitted parenchyma and fiber.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 7 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 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Essential oil Not less than 0.2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of essential oil on silica gel ‘G’ plate using hexane : ethyl acetate (90:10) shows seven spots at Rf 0.25, 0.38, 0.47, 0.57, 0.64, 0.71 and 0.78 on spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 15 minutes at 110oC.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil (0.5 percent) containing terpenes such as geraniol, geranyl acetate, citronellol, linalool, geranyl butyrate, myrcene,α- and β-pinene.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Pittahara, Kaphavatasamaka, Balagrahahara, Pumstvaghna

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Bala Taila, Masabaladi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Apasmara, Aruci, Hrdroga, Jvara, Kasa, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Pinasa, Kaphajvara, Kantha Roga, Katisula, Vrscika-Visa

DOSE – 10-20 g.

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VIDARIKANDA (Tuber)

Vidarikanda is the dried tuber of Pueraria tuberosa DC. (Fam. Fabacem), a large, perennial climber with tuberous roots, upto 60 cm long and 30 cm thick, even weighing upto 35 kg, from about 5 or 10 kg; they are distributed nearly throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Iksugandha, Vidari
Assamese : —
Bengali : Shimiya, Shimiabatraji, Bhui Kumdo
English : Indian Kudju
Gujrati : Khakharvel, Vidaree, Vidareekand
Hindi : VidareeKand, Bilaikand, Sural, Patal Kand
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Bendriya bel, Bindree, Vendrichavel
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Siali
Tamil : Nilpushni Kezhugu
Telugu : Nelagummudu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Dried cut pieces of tuber, 3 to 5 cm large, 2 to 4 cm broad and fibrous; outer surface where present, light brown in colour; outer surface, where epidermis is present, is light brown with transverse warts and ridges; cut surface creamy; fleshy, transverse small warts and ridges are found on the surface, texture smooth; sweet in taste, no particular smell (cut pieces of the tubers of Ipomoea digitata, substitute of P. tuberosa, are cubical, smooth, light cream in colour and can easily be distinguished).

b) Microscopic

T.S. of whole root tuber is slightly wavy in outline, epidermis not discernible; 3 to 4 layers of cork cells, followed by 5 to7 layers of parenchymatous cells present; cork cambium-brown in colour and 2 or 3 cells thick, endodermis well developed; pericycle fibrous followed by 2 layers of stone cells filled with sandy crystals; phloem consist of sieve tubes, companion cells, patches of bast fibres and phloem parenchyma; xylem pentarch in young root, consist of vessels with scalariform cross perforation, tracheids, xylem fibres and parenchyma; medullary rays broad and parenchymatous. The medullary rays and phloem cells are filled with starch grains which are polygonal, 2 to 5 nm in diameter, simple or two to many-compound, hilum usually indistinct, occasionally a central cleft, lamellm indistinct. In macerated preparation crystal fibres are multicellular, articulated, each cell carrying a crystal of calcium oxalate, some of the articulated fibres are swollen in the middle like a bulb pipette.

Powder – Greyish-brown, no characteristic odour, bitter in taste; shows parenchyma filled with starch, septate fibres in the form of crystals fibres as well as shaped bulb like pipette; vessels with simple and scalariform cross perforation plates, stone cells, and starch as described under microscopy; powder treated with 1N NaOH in methanol and nitro-cellulose in amylacetate gives light green fluorescence under UV 254 nm.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Moisture content Not more than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.9.
Total ash Not more than 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid insoluble ash Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 22 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Starch Not less than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.13

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanolic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethyl acetate : methanol (80 : 20 : 0.5) shows under UV (366 nm) blue fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.19, 0.25, 0.34, 0.38. On spraying with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent and heating for ten minutes at 120oC, spots appear at Rf. 0.19 (green), 0.34 (Magenta), 0.45 (green), 0.48 (blue), 0.62 (blue), 0.67 (red) and 0.92 (dark pink).

CONSTITUENTS – Pterocarpan-tuberosin, pterocarpanone-hydroxytuberosone, two pterocarpenes-anhydrotuberosin and 3-O-methylanhydrotuberosin, and a coumestan tuberostan. An isoflavone-puerarone and a coumestan-puerarostan.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Hrdya, Jivaniya, Mutral, Pittahara, Svarya, Vajikarana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Varnya, Brhana, Stanyadu, Rasayani

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Satavaryadi Ghrta, Mahavisagarbha Taila, Marmagutika, Nityananda Rasa, Sarasvatarista, Asvagandhadyarista

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Daha, Kasa, Ksaya, Mutrakrcchra, Raktadosa, Raktapitta, Visamajvara, Visarpa, Sukraksaya

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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RUMIMASTAGI (Resin)

Rumimastagi is a resin obtained from Pistacia lentiscus Linn. (Fam. Anacardiacem), a shrub or small tree indigenous to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : —
Assamese : —
Bengali : Rumi-Mastungi
English : Mastic
Gujrati : Rumi Mastagee
Hindi : Rumi Mastagee, Rumi Mastiki, Mastagee
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Rumaa Mastakee
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : —
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : Rumee Mastagee

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The resin occurs in small, hard, pear shaped, ovoid or nearly globular, sometimes elongated tears, about 2 to 8 mm in diameter; pale yellow in colour; brittle, breaking into clear glossy fracture, interior transparent, crushing to a sandy powder, taste, slightly agreeable; odour, aromatic.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 2.6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.34 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 94 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 0.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY

The drug on steam distillation yields colourless oil (1.5-2.0% v/w), which is heavier than water. (Method in Appendix 2.2.10.).

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ precoated plates (Merck), using Toluene : Methanol (95:5); under UV (254nm) shows one spot at Rf. 0.17 (blue fluorescence): on spraying with Vanillin-sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 30 minutes, twelve spots appear at Rf. 0.12, 0.17, 0.23 (all violet), 0.40 (blue), 0.41 (purple), 0.44, 0.46, 0.49, 0.56, 0.69, 0.80 and 0.86 (all blue).

CONSTITUENTS – Resin, volatile oil, a bicyclic terpenoid and fatty acids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Vrsya, Varnya, Vajikarana, Rakta Sangrahika, Mukhadurgandhanasaka, Dasansthiratakara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Eladi, Kameda, Sukrama Vati

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Sotha, Svasa, Adhmana, Grahani, Kasa, Mutrakrcchra, Raktasrava, Vatapittaja Vikara

DOSE – 1-2 g.

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VIRALA (Stem Bark)

Virala consists of dried stem bark of Diospyros exsculpta Buch. – Ham. syn. D. tomentosa Roxb. (Fam. Ebenacem), a small or occasionally large tree found distributed in sub-Himalyan tract, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Tindukah, Tinduki
Assamese : —
Bengali : Kend, Gaab
English : Gaub Persimon, Indian Persimon
Gujrati : Timbaru
Hindi : Gaabh, Tendu, Kendu
Kannada : Holitupare, Kushaarta
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Panchchi, Pananchi, Panachcha
Marathi : Temburani
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Tendu
Tamil : Panichchai, Tumbika
Telugu : Tinduki, Tumikechettu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Bark available in pieces of variable lengths, usually 1 to 1.5cm thick, light brown in colour, surface uneven with exfoliating rectangular scales, slightly curved, outer surface ash coloured, inner surface brownish, striate but smooth; fracture, granular; odour, characteristic, taste, sweet and astringent.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows a thick portion of rhytidome; cork consists of 5 or 6 layers of tangentially elongated rectangular, dorsoventrally compressed thin walled cells, a few strongly liginified and filled with reddish brown masses; cortex consists of 4 to 6 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells, many containing prismatic calcium oxalate crystals, measuring 20 to 70 n and starch grains about 6 to 10 n; tanniniferous cells present; phloem traversed by uniseriate medullary rays; sieve tube associated with companion cells; phloem parenchyma consists of cells with thin, dark reddish brown walls many of the cells contain calcium oxalate crystals mostly prismatic type but a few clusters also observed; patches of fibres present with a fairly large lumen; sclereids occur in groups of 8 to 10, oval to elongate in shape, measuring 45 to 175 n in length with thick striated walls, the lumen is very small often reduced to a line; pit canals present.

Powder -Ash colour, coarse; fragments of thick-walled cork cells with dense brown content; sclereids elongated and oval shaped showing pit canals with narrow lumen; calcium oxalate crystal in the form of prisms and clusters; a few yellowish tannin cells.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 1.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ (E . Merck grade) plate using Chloroform : Acetone (98 : 2) shows under UV (366 nm) two fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.88 (blue) and 0.93 (green). On spraying with Anisaldehyde – Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for five minutes at 105oC six spots appear at Rf. 0.32 (pink), 0.49 (pink), 0.56 (grey), 0.71(dark pink), 0.88 (pink) and 0.93 (pink).

CONSTITUENTS – Triterpenoids (Lupeol, Betulin, Betulinic acid, Oleanolic acid) and Sterol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Grahi, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vranaropana, Jihvajadyakara, Savarnakara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nayagrodhadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Atisara, Bhagna, Medoroga, Prameha, Raktapitta, Udarda, Vibandha, Vrana, Yoniroga, Pittaroga, Karnasrava, Agnidagdha Vrana, Atidagdha Vrana, Trsa, Daha

DOSE – 5 – 10 g.

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SARALA (Exudate)

Sarala is an exudate obtained by tapping the wood of Pinus roxburghii Sargent syn. P. longifolia Roxb. (Fam. Pinacem), a monoecious conifer found in north-western Himalayas at an altitude between 460 and 1500 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Srih, Srivestaka, Srivasah, Sriniketah, Sryahvhah, Vrksadhupakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Sarala gaachh
English : Oleo-resine of Pine
Gujrati : Teliyo devdaar, Pilo berajo
Hindi : Cheed-Ka-Gond, Gandhabirojaa
Kannada : Saral, Sriveshtaka
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Charalam, Saralam
Marathi : Sarala deeka
Oriya : Sidhaa, Saral
Punjabi : Cheed
Tamil : Pinaimaaru
Telugu : Saral
Urdu : Cheed

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Blackish brown in colour, semi solid, mostly associated with debris from needles, wood chips and bark of the source tree; odour, terebinthene.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 0.6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 74 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 0.15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 18 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

ASSAY

G.L.C. –
G.L.C. of Turpentine oil on the Gas Chromatograph Model NUCON – 5765, Column & Stationary phase : 30m fused silica capillary column walls coated with FFAP, Carrier Gas : Helium, 1.5 ml. min-1, Column Temperature : 90o C for 2 min. then programmed at the rate of 7o C min-1 to 220o C, Injection port Temperature : 220o C, Detector Temperature : 240o C, Recorder : 2mV, signal attenuation 1:100, Chart speed : 1 cm.min-1, Sample size : 0.10 ml (For GC analyses, pure (0.1ml) is injected with a 1.0 ml syringe).
The identification of compounds is done by comparing the retention time of peaks and by peak enrichment technique with standard samples run under similar operating conditions such as l-α- pinene (Rt = 6.31 min.); l-β-pinene (Rt = 7.18 min.); car-3-ene (Rt = 7.76 min.); longifolene (Rt = 15.46 min.).

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of rosin (Material left after separation of essential oil) on a precoated silica gel G plate, using methanol : hexane (5:95). One spot at Rf. 0.80 on spraying with 2% vanillin in sulfuric acid (dark pink to purple flourescent) and on spray with 0.04 per cent bromocresol green solution shows yellow spot.

CONSTITUENTS – l-α-pinene, l-β-pinene, car-3-ene, longifolene and other mono & sesquiterpenes.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Raksoghna, Vatahara, Visaghna, Durgandhahara, Dustavranasodhaka, Varnaprasadana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Amrtaprasa Curna, Kustadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Adhmana, Grahabadha, Krmiroga, Kantharoga, Kandu, Kotha, Kustha, Murccha, Sotha, Tvakroga, Urustambha, Vatavyadhi, Yonidosa, Jatrurdhavaroga, Sveda-Daurgandhya, Karnasula, Nadivrana, Pidaka, Yukaroga

DOSE – 1-3 g.

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VISALA (Root)

Visala consists of dried root of Trichosanthes bracteata (Lam.) Voigt (Fam. Cucurbitacem), a large perennial, upto 9 m in height, dioecious, branched, woody tendril climber, commonly growing in moist thickets from the Himalayas to the south, ascending upto an altitude of 2,500 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Mahakala, Gavadani
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maakaal
English : —
Gujrati : Raataan Indraayan
Hindi : Maakaal, Mahar Kaundala, Lal Indraayan, Mahakaal
Kannada : Avagudehannu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Kaakkattonti
Marathi : Kaundal, Kavandal
Oriya : Mahaakaal
Punjabi : Kmhree, Aankorattai
Tamil : Korattai
Telugu : Erraa Chedupucca
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Well developed fibrous roots, pale yellow to creamish-brown, available in pieces, 4 to 15 cm long, 0.3 to 2 cm thick; cylindrical and slightly curved; deeply grooved longitudinally; external surface, dusty, shrivelled, rough due to exfoliating cork, longitudinal fissures and root scars; fracture, fibrous; taste, bitter and astringent.

b) Microscopic

Root- Root shows multi-layered cork, outer layers exfoliating, inner of rectangular cells, cortex narrow with a row of sclereids externally and shows presence of patches of fibres; phloem, narrow of small polygonal cells; bulk of root composed of large rounded vessels arranged in radiating rows interspersed by dominant strands of multiseriate medullary rays filled completely with starch grains; pith absent.

Powder– Deep creamish-brown; abundant sclereids of various shapes, mostly in groups, isodiametric sclereids 20 to 30 n, thick-walled with round lumen, strongly striated; fibres, singly and in groups; cork cells; well developed reticulately thickened and border-pitted vessels; starch grains, mostly simple.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol (9:1) shows spots at Rf 0.16, 0.42, 0.63, 0.69, 0.77 and 0.83 (all purple) on spraying with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Saponins, trichosanthin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vamaka, Visaghna, Prasutikrta

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Paniya Kalyanaka Ghrta, Visaladi Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Granthi, Gulma, Jvara, Kamala, Kasa, Kustha, Prameha, Slipada, Svasa, Vrddhi, Vrana, Amadosa, Antarvrddhi, Stanapida, Plihodara, Gandamaya, Mudhagarbha

DOSE – 1 -3 g.

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SARPAGANDHA (Root)

Sarpagandha consists of air dried root of Rauwolfia serpentina (Linn.) Benth. ex Kurz (Fam. Apocynacem); a perennial undershrub widely distributed in India in the sub-Himalayan tracts upto 1,000 m as well as, in the lower ranges of the Eastern and Western Ghats and in the Andamans.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Nakuli, Candrika, Chandramarah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Chaandar
English : Rauvolfia Root, Serpentina Root
Gujrati : Amelpodee
Hindi : Chhotaa Chaand, Dhavalbaruaa
Kannada : Sutranaabhu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Amalpori
Marathi : Adkai, Chandra
Oriya : Dhanbarua, Sanochado
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Sarppaganti
Telugu : Sarpagandhi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Pieces of roots mostly about 8 to 15 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm in thickness, subcylindrical, curved, stout, thick and rarely branched; outer surface greyish-yellow to brown with irregular longitudinal fissures; rootlets 0.1mm in dia; fracture, short, slight odour and bitter taste.

b) Microscopic

Root– Root comprises of stratified cork of about 18 layers, of which the cells of 8 to 12 layers are smaller, suberized and unlignified; cells of remaining layers large, suberized and lignified; phelloderm parenchymatous, some cells packed with starch grains and prismatic and clusters crystals of calcium oxalate; secondary phloem tissue consists of sieve cells, companion cells and parenchymatous cell containing starch grains and crystals of calcium oxalate; phloem fibres absent; phloem parenchyma occasionally filled with granular substances; starch grains mostly simple but compound granules also occur with 2 to 4 components; individual granules spherical, about 5 to 15 nm in diameter, with well marked hilum simple or split in a radiate form; stone cells are absent (distinction from many other species such as R. canescens, R. micrantha, R. densiflora, R. perakensis and R. vomitoria); secondary xylem is traversed by well developed lignified medullary rays of about 1 to 5 cell wide but uniseriate rays are more prominent; vessels singly or in pairs; xylem parenchyma cells lignified; fibres present; cells of medullary rays thick walled also filled with starch grains and calcium oxalate prisms.

Powder – Coarse to fine, yellowish-brown, free flowing, odour slight, bitter in taste; characterized by spherical, simple to compound starch grains, calcium oxalate prisms and clusters; vessels with simple perforation, occasionally tailed; tracheids lignified; xylem fibres irregular in shape, occurs singly or in small groups, walls lignified, tips occasionally forked or truncated; wood parenchyma cells are filled with calcium oxalate crystals and starch grains; stone cells phloem fibres absent.

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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanol and Ammonia extract of root powder on silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene : Ethyl acetate : Diethylamine (70 : 20: 10) shows eight spot on spraying with Dragendorff reagent at Rf. 0.11, 0.13, 0.25, 0.37, 0.47, 0.51, 0.61 and 0.82 (all reddish brown). The spot at Rf. 0.82 is of reserpine.

CONSTITUENTS – Rauwolfia contains indole alkaloids, such as reserpinine, serpentinine and ajmalicine.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipani, Kaphahara, Mutral, Pacani, Rucya, Vatahara, Visaghna, Nidraprada, Kamavasadaka, Hrdavasadaka.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sarpagandhadi Curna, Sarpagandhayoga, Sarpagandha Vati, Sarpagandha Ghana Vati

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Anidra, Apasmara, Bhutabadha, Bhrama, Jvara, Krmiroga, Madaroga, Unmada, Yonisula, Raktavita, Manasaroga, Visucika, Vrana.

DOSE – 1-2 g.

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VYAGHRANAKHA (Fruit)

Vyaghranakha consists of mature fruit of Capparis sepiaria Linn. syn. C. zeylanica Linn. f. (Fam. Capparidacem), a perennial climbing shrub with hooked stipular spines, distributed throughout India, in the plains.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ahimsra, Vyaghrayudha
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Baghanai, Kanthari, Kareruaa
Kannada : Kathiramullu, Mulhukallari
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Ardanti, Vyaghranakh, Wag, Wagati
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Atandai, Kattukathiri, Marandan, Thoratti
Telugu : Nalla uppi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Subglobose, many seeded berry; green when young, red brown when ripe, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, on a greatly thickened stalk; seeds are trigonal, 4 to 5 mm long, 3 to 4 mm wide, 2 to 3 mm thick with white thin covering; seed coat hard.

b) Microscopic

Fruit – Epicarp shows thick cuticle covering the single layered epidermal cells followed by thick walled parenchyma, filled with yellow contents, mesocarp composed of thick walled parenchyma, having groups of pitted sclereids at places along with some vascular strands, endocarp contains collapsed cells, abundant oil globules present.

Seed – T.S. shows testa having thick cuticle; with a single layered, laterally elongated, loosely packed, pigmented, epidermal cells, followed by 8 to 10 layers of compactly arranged circular pitted stone cells with very thick wall and narrow lumen; tegmen consists of collapsed cells; endosperm parenchyma filled with oil and aleurone grains, oil cells with yellowish oil at some places.

Powder – Reddish brown, sticky, shows sclereids, parenchymatous cells filled with oil and cells filled with aleurone grains.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 26 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel ‘G’ (0.2 mm thick ness) plate using toluene : methanol (6:3) shows nine bands at Rf. 0.12, 0.23, 0.32, 0.53, 0.56, 0.61, 0.64, 0.71, 0.86 (all brown), on spraying with 5% Ethanolic-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 105oC.

CONSTITUENTS – Thioglucoside glucocapparin, n-triacontane, S-amyrin and fixed oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Vatahara, Varnya, Visaghna, Kandughna

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Bala Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhrama, Jvara, Kandu, Kotha, Kustha, Pravahika, Raktapradara, Sarpavisa, Vatavikara, Vrana, Visvikara, Pidaka, Graharoga, Mukhadurgandha

DOSE – 2-6 g.

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