Medicinal Plants Herbs Flowers

UPAKUNCIKA

Upakuncika consists of seeds of Nigella sativa Linn. (Fam. Ranunculacem), a small herb, 45 -60 cm high, mostly cultivated in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Assam.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Sthulajiraka, Upakunci, Susavi
Assamese : —
Bengali : Mota Kalajira, Kalajira
English : Small Fennel, Nigella Seed
Gujrati : Kalonji jeeru, Kalounji
Hindi : Kalaunji, Mangaraila
Kannada : Karijirige
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Karinjirakam
Marathi : Kalaunji jire, Kalejire
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Kalvanji
Tamil : Karunjeerakam, Karunjiragam
Telugu : Peddajila karra
Urdu : Kalongi

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds, flattened, oblong, angular, rugulose tubercular, small, funnel shaped, 0.2 cm. long and 0.1 cm. wide, black, odour, slightly aromatic, taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of seed shows single layer of epidermis consisting of elliptical, thick-walled cells covered externally by a papillose cuticle, filled with reddish-brown content, epidermis followed by 2-4 layers of thick-walled, tangentially elongated, parenchymatous cells, followed by a pigmented layer composed of tangentially elongated, cylindrical thick-walled cells filled with reddish-brown pigment, below pigmented layer, parenchyma composed of thick-walled rectangular, radially elongated cells, present in a layer, endosperm consists of moderately thick-walled, rectangular to polygonal cells, a few filled with oil globules, embryo embedded in endosperm.

Powder-Black, oily to touch, under microscope show, groups of parenchyma, endosperm cells and oil globules.

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 0.2 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 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, fixed oil, resin, saponin and tannin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Caksusya, Dipana, Hrdya, Krmighna, Medhya, Pacana, Pittala, Rucya, Sangrahi, Vatakaphapaha, Garbhasayavisodhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Narayana Curna, Kankayana Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Atisara, Adhmana, Gulma, Krmiroga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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VARUNA

Varuna consists of dried stem bark of Cratmva nurvala Buch-Ham (Fam. Capparidacem), a small wild or cultivated tree found throughout the year in India, often found along streams, also in dry, deep boulder formation in Sub-Himalayan tracts.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Varana
Assamese : —
Bengali : Varuna
English : Three leaved caper
Gujrati : Vayvarno, Varano
Hindi : Baruna, Barna
Kannada : Bipatri, Mattamavu, Neervalamara
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Neermatalam
Marathi : Vayavarna, Haravarna, Varon
Oriya : Baryno
Punjabi : Barna, Barnahi
Tamil : Maralingam
Telugu : Bilvarani
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Thickness or bark varies, usually 1-1.5 cm according to the age and portion of the plant from where the bark is removed, outer surface, greyish to greyish-brown with ashgrey patches, at places, surface rough due to a number of lenticels, shallow fissures and a few vertical or longitudinal ridges, inner most surface smooth and cream white in colour, fracture tough and short, odour, indistinct, taste, slightly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature stem bark shows, an outer cork composed of thinwalled, rectangular and tangentially elongated cells, phellogen single layered, thinwalled, tangentially elongated cells followed by a wide secondary cortex, consisting of thin-walled, polygonal to tangentially elongated cells with a number of starch grains, starch grains mostly simple, occasionally compound with 2-3 components also present’, large number of stone cells in groups of two or more, found scattered in secondary cortex, single stone cells not very common, stone cells vary in size and shape, being circular to rectangular or elongated with pits and striations on their walls, stone cells distributed somewhat in concentric bands in phloem region except in inner region of phloem which is devoid of stone cells, secondary phloem comparatively a wide zone, consisting of sieve tubes, companion cells, parenchyma and groups of stone cells, alternating with medullary rays, sieve elements found compressed forming ceratenchyma in outer phloem region, whereas in inner region of phloem, intact, medullary rays mostly multiseriate composed of thin-walled, radially elongated cells, tangentially elongated towards outer periphery, a number of starch grains similar to secondary cortex also present in phloem and ray cells, few rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate also found in this region, inner most layer is cambium.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 13 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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Saponin and tannin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedi, Dipana, Vataslesmahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Varunadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Gulma, Mutrakrcchra, Vidradhi

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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VASA

Vasa consists of fresh, dried, mature leaves of Adhatoda vasica Nees (Fam. Acanthacem), a sub-herbaceous bush, found throughout the year in plains and sub- Himalayan tracts in India, ascending upto 1200m, flowers during February-March and also at the end of rainy season, leaves stripped off from older stems and dried in drying sheds.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vrsa, Atarusa, Vasaka
Assamese : Titabahak, Bahak, Vachaka
Bengali : Baksa, Vasaka
English : Vasaka
Gujrati : Aduso, Ardusi, Adulso
Hindi : Aduss, Arusa
Kannada : Adsale, Adusoge, Atarusha, Adsole, Adasale
Kashmiri : Vasa
Malayalam : Attalataka m, Atalotakam
Marathi : Vasa, Adulsa
Oriya : Basanga
Punjabi : Bhekar, Vansa, Arusa
Tamil : Vasambu, Adathodai
Telugu : Addasaramu
Urdu : Adusa, Basa

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Leaves, 10-30 cm long and 3-10 cm broad, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, slightly acuminate, base tapering, petiolate, petioles 2-8 cm long, exstipulite, glabrescent, 8-10 pairs of lateral vein bearing few hairs, dried leaves dull brown above, light greyish brown below, odour, characteristic, taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of leaf shows, dorsiventral surface with 2 layers of palisade cells, in surface view, epidermal cells sinuous with anomocytic stomata on both surfaces, more numerous on the lower, clothing trichomes few, 1-3, rarely upto 5 celled, thinwalled, uniseriate, upto 500 n and glandular trichomes with nicellular stalk and 4 celled head measuring, 25-36 n in diameter in surface view, cystoliths in mesophyll layers, elongated and cigar shaped, acicular and prismatic forms of calcium oxalate crystals present in mesophyll , palisade ratio, 5-6, 5-8.5, stomatal index, 10.8-14.2-18.1 for lower surface.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 21 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 22 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids and essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Hrdya., Kaphapittahara, Raktasangrahika, Kasaghna

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Vasakasava, Vasavaleha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Svasa, Kamala, Kasa, Ksaya, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta

DOSE – 10-20 ml of the juice of fresh leaves.
10-20 g of the dried drug for decoction.

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VIDANGA

Vidanga consists of dried mature fruits of Embelia ribes Burm. f. (Fam. Myrsinacem), large scandent shrub with long slender, flexible branches, distributed throughout hilly parts of India upto 1600 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Jantughna, Krmighna, Vella, Krmihara, Krmiripu
Assamese : Vidang
Bengali : Vidang
English : —
Gujrati : Vavding, Vavading, Vayavadang
Hindi : Vayavidanga, Bhabhiranga, Baberang
Kannada : Vayuvilanga, Vayuvidanga
Kashmiri : Babading
Malayalam : Vizhalari, Vizalari
Marathi : Vavading, Vavding
Oriya : Bidanga, Vidanga
Punjabi : Babrung, Vavaring
Tamil : Vayuvilangam, Vayuvidangam
Telugu : Vayuvidangalu
Urdu : Baobarang, Babrang

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit brownish-black, globular 2-4 mm in diameter, warty surface with a beak like projection at apex, often short, thin pedicel and persistant calyx with usual1y 3 or 5 sepals present, pericarp brittle enclosing a single seed covered by a thin membrane, entire seed, reddish and covered with yellowish spots (chitra tandula), odour slightly aromatic, taste, astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows epicarp consisting of single row of tabular cells of epidermis, usually obliterated, in surface view cells rounded with wrinkled cuticle, mesocarp consists of a number of layers of reddish-brown coloured cells and numerous fibrovascular bundles and rarely a few prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, inner part of mesocarp and endodennis composed of stone cells, endodermis consisting of single layered, thick-walled, large, palisade-like stone cells, seed coat composed of 2-3 layered reddish-brown coloured cells, endosperm cells irregular in shape, thick-walled, containing fixed oil and proteinous masses, embryo small when present otherwise most of the seeds sterile.

Powder-Reddish, under microscope shows reddish parenchyma and stone cells.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Identification:-

(I) Shake 1 g of the powdered seeds with 20ml of Solvent Ether for five minutes and filter. To a portion of the filtrate add 5 per cent vlv solution of Sodium Hydroxide, a deep violet colour is developed in the aqueous layer. To the other portion add 2 drops of Dilute Ammonia solution, a bluish violet precipitate is obtained.
(II) Boil 5 g of the powdered seeds :with 25 ml alcohol and filter. Divide the deep red coloured filtrate into two portions. To one portion, add solution of lead Acetate, a dirty green precipitate is produced. To the other portion add solution of ferric chloride a reddish-brown precipitate is produced.

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 1.5 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 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY

Contains not less than 2 per cent w/w of embelin (limits 1.85 to 2.15) when assayed as follows:-
Weigh accurately about 10 g of powder (40 mesh) and transfer to a 500 ml glass stoppered flask Shake occasionally for thirty minutes with 150 ml of Solvent Ether. Pack the whole mass in a percolator, allow to macerate for thirty minutes and extract with Solvent Ether till the ethereal solution ceases to give a pink colour with a drop of Dilute Ammonia Solution. Distil off the Ether, treat the residue with small quantity of light Petroleum (b.p. 40o C to 60o C) cool in ice, filter through a Buchner funnel under suction and reject the filtrate. Wash the residue with further small quantities of cooled Ether (b. p. 40o C to 60o C). Transfer the residue to a tared beaker with sufficient quantity of Solvent Ether, remove the Light Petroleum and dry the residue of embelin to constant weight at 80o. The melting range of the residue is 142o C to 144o C .

CONSTITUENTS – Benzoquinones, alkaloid (Christembine), tannin and essential oil

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Anulomana, Dipana, Krminasana, Vatakaphapaha

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Vidangarista, Vidanga Lauha, Vidangadi Lauha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Krmiroga, Udararoga, Adhmina

DOSE – 5-10 g of the drug in powder form.

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SATI

Sati consists of sliced, dried rhizomes of Hedychium spicatum Ham.ex Smith (Fam. Zingiberacem), a perennial rhizomatous herb, measuring upto 1 m occurs in parts of western and central regions of sub-tropical Himalayas at an altitude of 1500-2000 m, grows abundantly in Kumaon and Punjab.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Sathi, Gandhamulika
Assamese : Katuri, Sati
Bengali : Shati, Kachri
English : Spiked ginger lily
Gujrati : Kapurkachri, Kapurkachali
Hindi : Kapurkachri
Kannada : Goul Kachora, Seenakachora, Kachora
Kashmiri : Kapoorkachara
Malayalam : Katcholam, Katchooram
Marathi : Kapurakachari, Gablakachari
Oriya : Gandhasunthi
Punjabi : Kachur, Kachoor
Tamil : Poolankizangu Kichili Kizongu
Telugu : Gandha Kachuralu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizomes 15-20 cm long, 20-25 mm in diameter, externally yellowish-brown hut changed to dark brown on storage, drug available in pieces of 2.5 cm diameter, edge of each piece is covered by a rough reddish-brown layer marked with numerous scars and circular rings, rudiments of root-lets visible, odour, camphoraceous, taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of rhizome shows an outermost thick layer of suberised, dark brown cells of outer cork consisting of 10-15 or more layers of irregular parenchymatous cells, inner cork consisting of a few layered light brown, rectangular, radially arranged cells followed by a wide zone of cortex, 30-40 cells thick, some cortical cells filled with flattened and oval-oblong starch grains, numerous oleo-resin cells also found in this region which have suberised walls containing green-yellow oil, a thin endodermal layer present beneath cortex, central cylinder distinguished by presence of peripheral plexus of irregular congested vascular bundles with poorly developed mechanical tissues, vascular bundles scattered irregularly throughout ground tissue, bundles closed and collateral possessing group of two or more xylem elements, ground tissue composed of large parenchymatous cells with abundant starch grains and oil.

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 2 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 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sulahara, Grahi, Kaphavataghna, Mukhasodhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Agastyharitaki Rasayana, Satyadi Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Svasa, Chardi, Kasa, Kandu, Mukharoga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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VIJAYA

Vijaya consists of dried leaves of cultivated or wild plants of Cannabis sativa Linn. (Fam. Cannabinacem) , an annual, erect, dioecious herb, one to two m high, found almost throughout the year, practically naturalised in the Sub-Himalayan tracts in India and abundantly found in waste lands from Punjab eastwards to Bengal and extending Southwards.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bhanga, Madani
Assamese : Bhan, Bhang
Bengali : Bhang, Sidhi
English : Indian Hemp,
Gujrati : Bhang
Hindi : Bhaang, Bhanga
Kannada : Bhangigida, Ganjagida
Kashmiri : Pang, Bangi
Malayalam : Kanchavu
Marathi : Bhang, Ganja
Oriya : Bhanga, Ganjei
Punjabi : Bhang
Tamil : Ganja
Telugu : Ganjayi
Urdu : Qinaab, Bhang

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Leaves palmately compound, leaflets linear, lanceolate with serrate margins, 5-20 cm long, pointed, narrow at base, upper surface dark green and rough, lower pale, downy, leaves of female plants longer than the male, odour, strong and characteristic, taste, slightly acrid.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of leaves and bracts, shows dorsiventral surface, upper epidermis with unicellular, pointed, curved, conical trichomes with enlarged bases containing cystoliths of calcium carbonate, mesophyll contains cluster crystals of calcium oxalate in many cells consisting of usually one layer of palisade cell and spongy tissue, trichomes on lower epidermis conical, longer, 340-500n but without cystoliths, numerous glandular trichomes, sessile or with a multicellular stalk and a head of about eight radiating, club-shaped cells secreting oleo-resin, present in the lower epidermis especially on mid-rib, bracteoles with undifferentiated mesophyll and on lower surface bear numerous glandular trichomes.

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 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Resin (Cannabinols, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Grahi, Kaphahara, Nidrajanana, Pacana, Vajikara, Vakvrdhana, Vyavayi

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Jatiphaladi Curna, Madanananda Modaka

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Anidra, Atisara, Klaibya, Grahaniroga

DOSE – 125-250 mg of the drug in powder form.

Note:-Sodhana of this drug to be done before use as described in the appendix

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SNUHI

Snuhi consists of stem of Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. (Fam. Euphorbiacem), a large branched, erect, glabrous, succulent, xerophytic shrub occurring wild on rocky ground throughout central India and extensively grown as a hedge plant.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Sudha, Vajradruma, Snuk
Assamese : —
Bengali : Manasasij
English : Milkhedge
Gujrati : Thor, Kantalo
Hindi : Thuhar, Sehunda
Kannada : Muru Kanina Kalli
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Kalli, Kaikalli
Marathi : Nivadung
Oriya : Thor, Kantalothor
Punjabi : Thohar
Tamil : Elaikalli, Perumbu Kalli
Telugu : Kadajemudu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Stem, green, cylindrical, showing, spiral ridge portion only, dried stem, tough with pairs of sharp stipular thorns, with hollow space in centre containing white reticulate mass, taste, acrid.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section shows a single layered epidermis composed of squarish, thinwalled, parenchymatous cells, followed by a thick zone of cortex, differentiated into two parts, outer of thin walled, rectangular, oval and oblong parenchymatous cells of about 20 layers depth, inner wider zone, consisting of about 30-40 layers of thin-walled, oblong or ovoid, elongated parenchymatous cells having a number of rounded and oval latex cells, some contain dark yellowish latex, the number of latex cells gradually reduce towards outer side, below cortex, about 10 layers of phloem present, containing group of fibres towards cortex, xylem consists of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma, pith consists of thin-walled, rounded or oval, parenchymatous cells, starch and calcium oxalate crystals absent.

Powder– Cream yellow, under microscope shows, vessels, fibres and cortical cells, starch and calcium oxalate crystals 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 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Resin, gum and triterpenes.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedana, Tiksnavirecana, Amakaphavatahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Abhaya Lavana, Citrakadi Taila, Avittoladi Bhasma, Vajraksara

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Gulma, Kustha, Meha, Udararoga.

DOSE – 125 -250 mg of the drug in powder form.

Note– Sodhana of this drug is to be done before use as described in appendix.

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YASTI

Yasti consists of dried, unpeeled, stolon and root of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn, (Fam. Leguminosm) , a tall perennial herb, upto 2 m high found cultivated in Europe. Persia, Afghanistan and to little extent in some parts of India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Yastimadhuka, Yastika, Madhuka, Madhuyasti, Yastyahva
Assamese : Jesthimadhu, Yeshtmadhu
Bengali : Yashtimadhu
English : Liquorice root
Gujrati : Jethimadha, Jethimard, Jethimadh
Hindi : Mulethi, Mulathi, Muleti, Jethimadhu, Jethimadh
Kannada : Jestamadu, Madhuka, Jyeshtamadhu, Atimadhura
Kashmiri : Multhi
Malayalam : Irattimadhuram
Marathi : Jesthamadh
Oriya : Jatimadhu, Jastimadhu
Punjabi : Jethimadh, Mulathi
Tamil : Athimadhuram
Telugu : Atimadhuramu
Urdu : Mulethi, Asl-us-sus

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Stolon consists of yellowish brown or dark brown outer layer, externally longitudinally wrinkled, with occasional small buds and encircling scale leaves, smoothed transversely, cut surface shows a cambium ring about one-third of radius from outer surface and a small central pith, root similar without a pith, fracture, coarsely fibrous in bark and splintery in wood, odour, faint and characteristic, taste, sweetish.

b) Microscopic

Stolon– transverse section of stolon shows cork of 10-20 or more layers of tabular cells, outer layers with reddish-brown amorphous contents, inner 3 or 4 rows having thicker, colourless walls, secondary cortex usually of 1-3 layers of radially arranged parenchymatous cells containing isolated prisms of calcium oxalate, secondary phloem a broad band, cells of inner part cellulosic and outer lignified, radially arranged groups of about 10-50 fibres, surrounded by a sheath of parenchyma cells, each usually containing a prism of calcium oxalate about 10-35 n long, cambium form tissue of 3 or more layers of cells, secondary xylem distinctly radiate with medullary rays, 3-5 cells wide, vessels about 80-200 n in diameter with thick, yellow, pitted, reticulately thickend walls, groups of lignified fibres with crystal sheaths similar to those of phloem, xylem parenchyma of two kinds, those between the vessels having thick pitted walls without inter-cellular spaces, the remaining with thin walls, pith of parenchymatous cells in longitudinal rows, with inter-cellular spaces.

Root-transverse section of root shows structure closely resembling that of stolon except that no medulla is present, xylem tetrarch , usually four principal medullary rays at right angles to each other, in peeled drug cork shows phelloderm and sometimes without secondary phloem all parenchyrnatous tissues containing abundant, simple, oval or rounded starch grains, 2-20 n in length.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Total Ash Not more than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 2.5 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 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, asparagine, sugars, resin and starch

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Caksusya, Vrsya, Varnya, Vatapittajit, Raktaprasadana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Eladi Guika, Yastimadhuka Taila, Madhuyastyadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Kasa, Ksaya, Svarabheda, Vatarakta, Vrana

DOSE – 2-4 g of the drug in powder form.

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SUKSMAILA

Suksmaila consists seeds of dried fruits of Elettaria cardamomum (Linn.) Maton and its varieties (Fam. Zingiberacem), a stout large perennial herb, growing naturally in moist forests of western ghats up to 1500 m, also cultivated in many other parts of south India at an elevation from 750-1500m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Truti, Ela
Assamese : Sarooplaachi
Bengali : Chota elaich
English : Cardamom
Gujrati : Elchi, Elachi, Elayachi
Hindi : Choti Ilayachi
Kannada : Elakki, Sanna Yalakki
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Elam, Chittelam
Marathi : Velloda, Lahanveldoda, Velchi
Oriya : Gujurati, Chotaa leicha, Alaicha
Punjabi : Illachi, Chhoti Lachi
Tamil : Siruelam
Telugu : Chinne Elakulu, Sanna Elakulu
Urdu : Heel Khurd

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit – 1-2 cm long ovoid or oblong and more or less three sided with rounded, angles, greenish to pale-buff or yellowish in colour, base rounded or with the remains of pedicle, apex shortly beaked, surface almost smooth or with slight longitudinal striations, small trilocular fruit, each containing about 15-20 seeds in a row of doubles, adhering together to form compact mass.

Seed-dark brown to black, about 4 mm long and 3 mm broad, irregularly angular, transverscIy wrinkled but not pitted, with a longitudinal channel containing raphe, enclosed in a colourless, membranous aril, odour, strongly aromatic, taste, characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of seed shows flattened, aril, thin-walled parenchymatous cells, testa with outer epidermis of thick-walled, narrow, elongated cells, followed by a layer of collapsed parenchyma, becoming 2 or 3 layered in the region of raphe, composed of large, thin-walled rectangular cells containing volatile oil, a band of 2 or 3 layers of parenchyma and an inner epidermis of thin-walled, flattened cells, inner integument 2 layered, an outer palisade sclerenchyma with yellow to reddish-brown beaker shaped cells, 20 n long in radial direction and 12 n wide, thickened on inner and anticlinal walls, each cell with a small bowl shaped lumen containing a warty nodule of silica and an inner epidermis of flattened cells, peri sperm cells thin-walled, packed with minute rounded polyhedral starch grains, about 1-2 to 4-6 n in diameter and containing 1-7 small prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, about 10-20 n long, endosperm of thinwalled parenchyma containing protein as a granular hyaline mass in each cell, embryo, of small thin-walled cells containing aleurone grains, starch absent in endosperm land embryo, fibres sclerenchymatous, large vessels present in pericarp.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than Nil per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6 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 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Anulomana, Dipana, Hrdya, Mutrala, Rocana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Eladi Modaka, Eladi Curna, Sitopaladi Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Svasa, Chardi, Kasa, Mutrakrcchra

DOSE – 250-500 mg of the drug in powder form.

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YAVANI

Yavani consists of dried fruit of Trachyspermum ammi (Linn.) Sprague ex Turril Syn. Carum copticum Benth & Hook. f. Ptychotis ajwan DC. (Fam. Umbelliferm), an annual, erect herb, upto 90 cm tall, cultivated almost throughout India, uprooted and thrashed for collecting the fruits

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Dipyaka, Yamani, Yamanika, Yavanika
Assamese : Jain
Bengali : Yamani, Yauvan, Yavan, Javan, Yavani, Yoyana
English : Bishop’s weed
Gujrati : Ajma, Ajmo, Yavan, Javain
Hindi : Ajwain, Jevain
Kannada : Oma, Yom, Omu
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Omam, Ayanodakan
Marathi : Onva
Oriya : Juani
Punjabi : Lodhar
Tamil : Omam
Telugu : Vamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit, consists of two mericaprs, greyish brown, ovoid, compressed, about 2 mm long and 1 mm wide with pale coloured protuberances, 5 ridges and 6 vittm in each mericarp, usually separate, 5 primary ridges pale in colour, odour, characteristic, thymolic, taste, pungent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows two hexagonal structures attached with each other by a carpophore, epicap consists of a single layer of tangenitially elongated tabular cells, externally covered with cuticle at some places having thick-walled, unicellular trichomes as protuberances with serrate wall, mesocarp consists of moderately thickwalled, rectangular to polygonal tangentially elongated cells having some vascular bundles and vittm, carpophore present as groups of thick-walled radially elongated cells, integument, barrel shaped of tangentially elongated cells, endosperm consists of thinwalled cells filled with oil globules, embryo, small and circular, composed of polygonal thin walled cells.

Powder-Oily, greyish-brown, under microscope, presence of Oil globules and groups of endosperm cells, characterised.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile Oil Not less than 2.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil and fixed oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sulahara, Anulomana, Dipana, Krmighna, Pacana, Rucya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Yavani Sadava

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Adhmana, Anaha, Gulma, Krmiroga, Udararoga

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in power form.

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SUNTHI

Sunhti consists of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roxb. (Fam. Zinglberacem), widely cultivated in India, rhizomes dug in January-February, buds and roots removed, soaked overnight-in water, decorticated, and some times treated with lime and dried.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ausadha, Muhausadha, Nagara, Visva, Visvabhesaja, Srngavera, Visva, Visvauasadha
Assamese : Adasuth, Aadar Shuth
Bengali : Suntha, Sunthi
English : Ginger root, Ginger
Gujrati : Sunth, Sundh, Suntha
Hindi : Sonth
Kannada : Shunthi
Kashmiri : Shonth
Malayalam : Chukku
Marathi : Sunth
Oriya : Sunthi
Punjabi : Sund
Tamil : Sukku, Chukku
Telugu : Sonthi, Sunti
Urdu : Sonth, Zanjabeel

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizome, laterally compressed bearing short, flattish, ovate, oblique, branches on upper side each having at its apex a depressed scar, pieces about 5-15 cm long, 1.5-6.5 cm wide (usually 3-4 cm) and 1-1.5 cm thick, externally buff coloured showing longitudinal striations and occasional loose fibres, fracture short, smooth, transverse surface exhibiting narrow cortex (about one-third of radius), a well-marked endodermis and a wide stele showing numerous scattered fibro-vascular bundles and yellow secreting cells, odour agreeable and aromatic, taste, agreeable and pungent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of rhizome shows cortex. of isodiametric thin-walled parenchyma with scattered vascular strands and numerous isodiametric idioblasts, about 40-80 n In diameter containing a yellowish to reddish-brown oleo-resin, endodermis slightly thick walled, free from starch immediately inside endodermis a row of nearly continuous collateral bundles usually without fibres stele of thin-walled, parenchyma cells, arranged radially around numerous scattered, collateral vascular bundles, each consisting of a few unlignified, reticulate or spiral vessels upto about 70 n in diameter, a group of phloem cells, unlignified, thin-walled, septate fibres upto about 30 n wide and 600 n long with small oblique slit, like pits, present, numerous scattered idioblasts, similar those of cortex, and associated with vascular bundles, also present, idioblasts about 8-20 n wide and up to 130 n long with dark reddish-brown contents: in single or in axial rows, adjacent to vessels, present, parenchyma of cortex and stele packed with flattened, rectangular, ovate, starch grains, mostly 5-15 n – 30-60 n long about 25 n wide and 7 n thick, marked by five transverse striations.

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 1.5 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 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, pungent constituents (gingerol and shogaol), resinous matter and starch.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Anulomana, Dipana, Hrdya, Pacana, Vatakaphapaha, Asmadosahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Saubhagyasunhti, Trikau, Saubhagya Vati, Vaisvanara Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Svasa, Adhmana, Amavata, Pandu, Udararoga

DOSE – 1-2 g of the drug in powder form.

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SVARNAPATRI

Svarnapatri consists of dried leaves of Cassia angustifolia Vahl (Fam. Leguminosm), a small shrub, 60-75 cm high, found throughout the year, cultivated largely in Southern India, especially in districts of Tinnevelly, Madurai and Tiruchirapally and has also been introduced in Mysore, fully grown, thick bluish colour leaves stripped off by hand, collected and dried in shade for 7-10 days, till assume a yellowish-green colour, graded and then packed into large bales.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Madani
Assamese : Sonamukhi
Bengali : Svamamukhi, Sonapata
English : Indian Senna. Tinnevelly Senna
Gujrati : Mindhiaval, Sonamukhi
Hindi : Sanaya, Hindisana
Kannada : Nelavarika, Sonamukhi, Nelaavare, Nelavarike, Nela Aanriake
Kashmiri : Sna
Malayalam : Sunnamukhi, Nilavaka, Chinnukki, Adapatiyan
Marathi : Sonamukhi
Oriya : Sunamukhi
Punjabi : Sannamakhi, Sanapati, Sarnapatta
Tamil : Nilapponnai, Avarai
Telugu : Sunamukhi
Urdu : Sena, Barg-e-Sana

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Leaflets, 2.5-6 cm long and 7-15 mm wide at centre, pale yellowish-green, elongated lanceolate, slightly asymmetric at base, margins entire, fiat apex acute with a sharp spine, both surfaces smooth with sparse trichomes, odour, faint but distinctive, taste mucilagenous and disagreeable but not distinctly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of leaflet through midrib shows an isobilateral structure, epidermal cells, straight walled containing mucilage, both surfaces bear scattered, unicellular hair, often conical, curved near base, thick-walled, non-lignified, warty cuticle, stomata, paracytic, numerous on both surfaces, mesophyll consists of upper and lower palisade layers with spongy layer in between, palisade cells of upper surface longer than those of lower surface the latter having wavy anticlinal walls, prismaatic crystals of calcium oxalate present on larger veins and clusters of calcium oxalate crystals distributed throughout the palisade and spongy tissues, midrib biconvex, bundles of midrib and larger veins, incompletely surrounded by a zone pericyclic fibres and a crystal sheath of parenchymatous cells containing prismatic 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 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 2 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 25 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Anthraquinone, glucoside, flavonoids, steroids and resin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Recana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pancasakara Curna, Sarivadyasava

THERAPEUTIC USES – Udararoga, Vibandha

DOSE – 0.5-2 g of the drug in powder form.

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SVETAJIRAKA

Svetajiraka consists of ripe fruits of Cuminum cyminum, Linn. (Fam. Umbelliferm), a glabrous, annual herb, 30-90 cm hight, flowers very small, white, about 38 mm long stalk in compound umbels, mostly cultivated in plains, plants pulled out, dried thrashed for collecting mature fruits.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ajaji, Jiraka, Ajajika
Assamese : Jira
Bengali : Jira, Sadajira
English : Cumin seed. Cumin
Gujrati : Jirautmi, Jirn, Jiraugi, Jeeru, Jirun
Hindi : Jira, Safed jira
Kannada : Jirage, Bilejirege
Kashmiri : Safed Zoor
Malayalam : Jeerakam
Marathi : Pandhare jire
Oriya : Dhalajeera, Dalajira, Jira
Punjabi : Safed Jira, Chitta Jira
Tamil : Sheeragam, Chirakam, Jeerakam
Telugu : Jilakarra, Tella Jilakarra
Urdu : Zirah, Zirasafed

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit, a cremocarp, often separated into mericarps, brown with light coloured ridges ellipsoidal, elongated, about 4-6 mm long, 2 mm wide, tapering at ends and slightly compressed laterally, mericarps with 5 longitudinal hairy primary ridges from base to apex, alternating with 4 secondary ridges which are flatter and bear conspicuous emergences, seeds orthospermous, odour umbelliferous characteristic, taste, richly spicy.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows epidermis consisting of short polygonal, tabular cells densely covered with short, bristle hairs on ridges, mesocarp with few layers of parenchyma and five vascular bundles under five primary ridges, six vittm under secondary ridges, four on dorsal and two on commissural surface, endocarp consists of polygonal cells containing fixed oil and aleurone grains carpophore consists of slender fibres.

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 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Grahi, Krmighna, Kaphavatahara, Pacana, Rucya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Hingvadi Curna, Jirakadyarista, Jirakadimodaka, Hi nguvacadi Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Atisara, Krmiroga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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SVETA SARIVA

Sveta Sariva consists of root of Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R. Br. (Fam. Asclepiadacem), a prostrate or semi-erect shrub found throughout India from upper Gangetic plains east-wards to Assam, throughout Central, Western and Southern India upto an elevation of 600 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ananta, Gopasuta, Sariva
Assamese : Vaga Sariva
Bengali : Anantamul, Shvetashariva
English : Indian Sarasa Parilla
Gujrati : Upalsari, Kabri
Hindi : Anantamul
Kannada : Namada veru, Bili Namadaberu, Anantamool, Sogadeberu,
Namadaberu
Kashmiri : Anant mool
Malayalam : Nannari, Nannar, Naruneendi
Marathi : Upalsari, Anantamula
Oriya : Dralashvan Lai Anantamool
Punjabi : Anantmool, Ushbah
Tamil : Ven Nannar
Telugu : Sugandhi Pala, Tella Sugandhi
Urdu : Ushba Hindi

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Roots occur in pieces, about 30 cm long and 3-8 mm in diameter, cylindrical, thick, hard, somewhat tortuous, sparcely branched, provided with few thick rootlets and secondary roots, external appearance dark brown, sometimes with violet grey tinge, centre yellow, woody, surrounded by a mealy white cortical layer, bark brownish, corky, marked with transverse cracks and longitudinal fissures and easily detachable from the hard central core, odour, characteristic, taste, sweetish, slightly acrid and aromatic.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of root shows periderm consisting of three layers of tissues, cork, cork cambium and secondary cortex, cork cells radially flattened and rectangular in appearance filled with dark brown contents giving reactions of tannins, cork cambium, 2 or 3 layered, compressed, and filled with deep brown contents, secondary cortex, 3-4 layers of cells, similar to cork cells, with very little or no dark brown contents, secondary phloem consists of sieve elements, parenchyma, phloem ray cells along with several laticiferous ducts, parenchyma cells filled with starch grains, diameter 7-10 n, occasional prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, laticiferous ducts scattered in parenchymatous tissue, cambium very narrow: xylem traversed by narrow medullary rays, vessels and tracheids characterised by the presence of pitted markings, pith absent and central region occupied by woody tissues.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 4 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 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Easential oil, saponin, resin, tannins, sterols and glucosides.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Raktasodhaka, Visaghna, Tridosanasana, Dipana, Amanasana, Jvarahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sarivadyasava

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Aruci, Atisara, Svasa, Jvara, Kasa, Kandu, Kustha, Raktavikara

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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TAGARA

Tagara consists of predominantly dried rhizome, stolon and small portion of root of Valeriana wallichii DC, (Fam.Valerianacem): a hairy perennial herb, growing in temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan and Khasia hiils upto an altitude of 3,000 m, rhizomes dug in autumn, well washed with water and dried.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kalanusari, Kalanusarika, Nata
Assamese : Tagar
Bengali : Tagar Paduka
English : Indian Valerian
Gujrati : Tagar Ganthoda, Tagar Gantho, Ghodawaj
Hindi : Mushkbala, Sugandhabala
Kannada : Mandibattal, Mandyavanthu, Mandibattalu, Tagar
Kashmiri : Bala, Mushkbala
Malayalam : Thakaram
Marathi : Tagar, Ganthode
Oriya : Tagarapaduka, Jalashiuli
Punjabi : Mushkobala, Sugandhbala
Tamil : Tagarai
Telugu : Grandhi Tagaramu
Urdu : Tagar

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizome, of about 4-8 cm long and 4-10 mm thick pieces, dull yellowish-brow. sub-cylindrica1 and dorsiventrally somewhat flattened, rough, slightly curved and unbranched, upper surface marked with raised encircling leaf scars, under surface bearing numerous, small, circular prominent, root scars and a few stout rootlets, crown bearing remains of mrial stems with scale leaves, fracture short and horny, stolon connecting rhizomes stout, 1-5 mm long and 2-4 mm thick, yellowish-grey in colour, longitudinally wrinkled, usually with nodes and internodes and bearing adventitious roots, occasionally thin stolons 1-2 mm thick, root, yellowish-brown, 3-5 cm long and 1 mm thick, odour, strong and reminiscent of isovaleric acid, taste, bitter and somewhat camphoraceous.

b) Microscopic

Rhizome – transverse section of rhizome shows cork, consisting of 4-14 layers of lignified, cells occasionally containing oil globules, cortex parenchymatous containing numerous starch grain oil globules and yellowish-brown substance, outer 2 or 3 layers of cortex, collenchymatous occasional root traces appear as paler strands, endodermis single layered, pericycle, pareachymatous .and within it 12-18 collateral vascular bundles, separated by dark medullary ray present, pith large, parenchymatous, lacunar, containing starch grams, starch occurs as single or occasional compound grains of two components, individual grains being 7-30 n mostly, 10-25 n in diameter calcium oxalate crystals absent.

Stolon–transverse section of stolon shows cork, consisting of 2-5 layers, cortex upto 25 layers, pareachymatous, followed by 20 collateral vascular bundles, which in young stolons separated by cellulosic parenchymatous medullary rays and in older stolons become lignified, pith wide and lacunar, root traces absent.

Root– transverse section of root shows small, central parenchymatous pith, surroundod by tetrach to polyarch xylem and a wide parenchymatous bark.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 10 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 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Visaghna, Tridosahara, Raktadosahara, Manasadoshara.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Dhanvantara Taila, Mahanarayana Taila, Devadarvadyarisa, Jatiphaladi Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Netraroga, Apasmara, Unmada, Siroroga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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TAMALAKI

Tamalaki consists of root, stem and leaf of Phyllanthus fraternus Webst. Syn. Phyllanthus niruri Hook. f. non Linn. (Fam. Euphorbiacem), an annual herb, 20-60 cm high, found in Central and Southern India extending to Ceylon.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Mahidhatrika, Bhumyamalaki, Bahuphala
Assamese : Bhuin Amla
Bengali : Bhumamla, Bhumi amalaki
English : —
Gujrati : Bhoi Amali, Bhony amari, Bhonyamali
Hindi : Bhui Amala
Kannada : Nelanelli
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Kizanelli, Keezhanelli, Ajjhada
Marathi : Bhuiawali
Oriya : Bhuin Amla
Punjabi : Lodhar
Tamil : Kizhukai nelli, Kizanelli
Telugu : Nela usirika
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root-small, 2.5-11 .0 cm long. nearly straight, gradually tapering, with a number of fibrous secondary and tertiary roots, external surface light brown, fracture, short.

Stem-Slender, gabrous, light brown, cylindrical, 20-75 cm long, branching profuse towards upper region bearing 5-10 pairs of leaves, internode, 1-3.5 cm long, odour, indistinct, taste, slightly bitter.

Leaf-compound and leaf-let arranged in two rows with a rachis, alternate, opposite and decussate almost sessile, stipulate, oblong, entire, upto 1.5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, greenish-brown in colour, odour, indistinct, taste, slightly bitter

b) Microscopic

Root-transverse section shows, 4-6 layers of cork consisting of thin-walled, rectangular, tangentially elongated and radially arranged cells, filled With reddish-brown content, secondary cortex consists of 8-10 layers of thin-walled, tangentially elongated parenchymatous cells, secondary phloem narrow consisting of sieve elements, phloem parenchyma and traversed by narrow phloem rays, secondary xylem represented by a broad zone of tissues, composed of vessels, tracheids, fibres and parenchyma, all elements being thick-walled and lignified having simple pits, xylem rays uniseriate.

Stem-transverse section shows, a single layered epidermis composed of thick-walled, flattened, tangentially elongated cells, older stem shows 4-5 layers of cork, composed of thin-walled, tabular, tangentially elongated and radially arranged cells, filled With reddish-brown content, cortex composed of 4-6 layers of oval, tangentially elongated, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, some cortical cells filled with yellowish-brown content, endodermis quite distinct, pericycle represented by a discontinuous ring, composed of several tangentially elongated strands of lignified fibres with thick walls and narrow lumen, secondary phloem narrow, composed of sieve elements, dispersed in mass of phloem parenchyma, secondary xylem composed of vessels, fibres, parenchyma and traversed by numerous uniseriate rays, vessels mostly simple pitted, a few show spiral thickenings, fibres narrow elongated, with narrow or sometimes blunt ends with simple pits, centre, occupied by a pith composed of thin-walled, circular to oval parenchymatous cells, occasionally cluster crystals of calcium oxalate present in parenchymatous cells of ground tissue.

Leaf-transverse section of leaf shows, a biconvex outline, epidermis on either side, single layered covered externally by a thick cuticle, a palisade layer present beneath upper epidermis, intercepted by a few parenchymatous cells in the middle, meristele composed of small strands of xylem towards upper surface and phloem towards lower surface, rest of tissue of leaf composed of thin-walled, parenchymatous cells some having cluster crystals of calcium oxalate, lamina shows a dorsiventral structure, mesophyll differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma, epidermis on either side composed of thin-wa1led, tangentially elongated cells, covered externally by a thick cuticle, anisocytic type stomata present on both epidermises, palisade single layered, mesophyll composed of 3-5 layers of loosely arranged cells having a number of veins traversed in this region, a few cluster crystals of calcium oxalate present in spongy parenchyma.

Powder-Powder of the drug, brown coloured, under microscope shows, fragments of cork cells, vessels and fibres.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 16 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 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Phyllanthin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Mutrala, Rocana, Dahanasani, Pittasamaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Cyavanaprasa, Citraka Haritaki, Madhuyastyddi Taila, Pippalyddi Ghrta, Satavariguda

THERAPEUTIC USES – Amlapitta, Kasa, Ksaya, Kustha, Pandu, Prameha, Trsa, Ksata, Mutraroga

DOSE – 10-20 ml of the drug in juice form.
3-6 of the drug in powder form.

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TVAK

Tvak is the dried inner bark (devoid of cork and cortex) of the coppiced shoots of stem of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. (Fam. Lauracem), a moderate sized evergreen tree usually attaining a height of 6-7 .5 m, cultivated on the Western Ghats and adjoining hills, bark collected during April-July and October-December.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Darusita
Assamese : Dalcheni
Bengali : Daruchini, Darchini
English : Cinnamon bark
Gujrati : Dalchini
Hindi : Dalchini
Kannada : Dalchini Chakke
Kashmiri : Dalchini, Dalchin
Malayalam : Karuvapatta, Ilavarngathely
Marathi : Dalchini
Oriya : Dalechini, Guda twak
Punjabi : Dalchini, Darchini
Tamil : Lavangapattai, Karuvapattai
Telugu : Lavangapatta, Dalchini chekka
Urdu : Darchini

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Bark pieces about 0.5 mm thick, brittle, occurs as single or double, closely packed compound quills, upto a metre or more in length and upto about 1 cm in diameter, outer surface, dull yellowish-brown, marked with pale wavy longitudinal lines with occasional small scars or holes, inner surface darker in colour, striated with longitudinally elongated reticulation, fracture, splintery, free from all but traces of cork, odour, fragrant, taste, sweet, aromatic with sensation of warmth.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of bark (devoid of cork and c.ortex) shows except at certain places pericyclic sclerenchyma, 3 or 4 rows of isodiametric cells, sometimes tangentially elongated, inner and radial walls often being thicker than the outer, some containing starch grains, small groups of pericylic fibres embedded at intervals in the sclerenchyma, phloem of tangential bands of sieve tissue alternating with parenchyma, and containing axially elongated secreting cells containing volatile oil or mucilage, phloem fibres with very thick walls, upto 30 n in diameter, isolated or in short tangential rows, sieve tubes narrow with transverse sieve plates, collapsed in outer periphery, medullary rays of isodiametric cells, mostly 2 cells wide, cortical parenchyma and medullary rays containing small starch grains mostly below 10 n in diameter, minute acicular crystals of calcium oxalate present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, tannin and mucilage.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphavatahara, Rucya, Visaghna, Kanthasuddhikara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sitopaladi Curna, Caturjata Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Arsa, Hrdroga, Krmiroga, Trsa, Mukhasosa, Kanthamukharoga, Pinasa, Vastiroga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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NYAGRODHA

Nyagrodha consists of dried mature stem bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn. (Fam. Moracem) , a large branching tree with numerous mrial roots occurring all over India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vata
Assamese : Vat, Ahat, Vatgach
Bengali : Bot
English : Banyan tree
Gujrati : Vad, Vadalo
Hindi : Badra, Bargad, Bada
Kannada : Aala, Aladamara, Vata
Kashmiri : Bad
Malayalam : Peraal
Marathi : Vml
Oriya : Bata, Bara
Punjabi : Bhaur
Tamil : Aalamaram, Aalam
Telugu : Marri
Urdu : Bargad, Bad

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Mature stern bark grey with thin, closely adhered ashy white, light bluish-green or grey patches, bark fiat or slightly curve, thickness varies with age of tree : externally rough due to presence of horizontal furrows and lenticels, mostly circular and prominent, fracture short in outer two thirds of bark while inner portion shows a fibrous fracture taste, astringent

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature bark shows compressed cork tissue and dead elements of secondary cortex consisting of mostly stone cells and thin-walled, compressed elements of cortex cork cells rectangular, thick-walled and containing brownish content, secondary cortex wide, forming more than half of thickness of bark, composed of large groups of stone cells and parenchymatous cells, stone cells vary in shape, parenchymatous cells thin-walled and somewhat cubical to oval few in number and occur between groups of stone cells, some of cells contain prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, starch grains and tannin, secondary phloem composed of a few sieve elements parenchyma, fibres, stone cells and latex tube alternating with medullary rays, sieve elements compressed in .outer region of bark while intact m inner region, few thick-walled phloem parenchyma occurring in between patches of phloem fibres and stone cells, stone cells similar to those present in secondary cortex, some phloem cells contain prismatic calcium oxalate crystals also, present in fibres forming crystal fibres, medullary rays 2-5 seriate, composed of thick-walled, circular to oval cells few cells also converted into stone cells and some have pitted walls, also containing plenty of starch grains, mostly rounded, rarely oval or semi-lunar in shape, simple as well as compound type, compound starch grains consist of 2-3 components, cambium composed of a few layers of small, rectangular, thin-walled cells.

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 3 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 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Tannins, glycosides and flavonoids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Guru, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dahaghna, Mutrasangrahaniya, Stambhana, Varnya, Vranapaha, Kaphapittajita, Yonidosahrt

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nyagrodhadi Curna, Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Trsna, Visarpa, Vrana, Yonidosa

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.

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PASANABHEDA

Pasanabheda consists of rhizomes of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb., Syn. Bergenia ligulata (Wall.) Engl. (Fam. Saxifragacem), a small perennial herb found throughout temperate Himalayas from Bhutan to Kashmir at an altitude between 2000-3000 m and in Khasia hills upto 1200 m altitude.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Asmabhedaka, Silabheda
Assamese : Patharkuchi
Bengali : Patharkuchi, Himasagara, Patrankur
English : —
Gujrati : Pashanbheda, Pakhanbheda
Hindi : Pakhanabheda, Silphara, Patharcua, Pakhanabhed, Silpbheda
Kannada : Alepgaya, Pahanbhedi, Hittaga, Pasanaberu, Hittulaka
Kashmiri : Pashanbhed
Malayalam : Kallurvanchi, Kallurvanni, Kallorvanchi
Marathi : Pashanbheda
Oriya : Pasanbhedi, Pashanabheda
Punjabi : Kachalu, Pashanbhed
Tamil : Sirupilai
Telugu : Kondapindi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizome, solid, barrel shaped, cylindrical, 1.5-3 cm long and 1-2 cm in diameter with small roots, ridges, furrows and root scars distinct, tranversely cut surface shows outer ring of brown coloured cork, short middle cortex, vascular bundles and large central pith, odour, aromatic, taste, astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of rhizome shows cork divided into two zones, outer a few layers of slightly compressed and brown coloured cells, inner zone multilayered consisting of thin-walled tangentially elongatd and colourless cells, followed by a single layered cork cambium and 2-3 layers of secondary cortex composed of thick-walled, tangentially elongated, rectangular cells with intercellular spaces, some cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate and simple starch grains cortex a narrow-zone of parenchymatous cells containing a number of simple starch grains, most of cortical cells also contain large rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, endoderm is and pericycle absent. vascular bundles, arranged in a ring, collateral, conjoint and open, phloem tissues cornposed of sieve elements and parenchyma, in outer region found as compressed masses while in inner region intact. a number of rosette crystals of calcium oxalate also found as crystal fibres, cambium present as continuous ring composed of 2-3 layers of thinwalled, tangentially elongated cells, xylem consist of fibres, tracheids, vessels and parenchyma, with centre occupied by large pith composed of circular to oval, parenchymatous cells, varying in size and containing starch grains with crystals of calcium oxalate similar to those found in cortical region.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 13 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 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Tannic acid, gallic acid and glucose

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedana, Vastisodhana, Asmarighna, Mutravirecaniya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asmarihara Kasaya Curna, Mutravirecaniya Kasaya Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Meha, Mutrakicchra

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.
20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KARKATASHRINGI

Karkatashringi consists of gall-like excrescences formed by insects on the leaves, petioles and branches of the plant Pistacia chinensia Burgo, Pistacia integerrima Stew. ex Brandis, Rhus succedanea Linn. (Fam. Anacardiacem) during autumn season, growing on the steps of Western Himalayas from Indus to Kumaon at an altitude of 350-2400 m, often cultivated in Punjab plains.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Srngi, Visani, Karkata
Assamese : Kakiasrngi
Bengali : Kankda Shringi
English : Crab’s claw
Gujrati : Kakada shing, Kakada singi
Hindi : Kakadasingi, Kakarasingi, Gheekadava
Kannada : Kakadasingi, Karkatakasringi
Kashmiri : Kakkar, Kamaladina
Malayalam : Karkatasringi
Marathi : Kakadshingi
Oriya : Kakadashrungi, Kakadashringi
Punjabi : Kakar, Kakarsingi
Tamil : Karkata singi
Telugu : Kakarsingi, Karkatakashrungi
Urdu : Kakrasinghi

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Dried galls hard, hollow, horn-like, thin-walled, generally cylindrical, tapering at both the ends, greyish brown externally and reddish brown internally, size varies from 2.5-30.0 cm or more, each gall contains numerous dead insects, odour, terebinthine, taste of powdered galls, strongly astringent and slightly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of gall shows the collapsed epidermis on both the sides, epidermal cells thin-walled, tangentially elongated, ground tissues thin-walled and oval or circular, the outer two layers tangentially elongated while between vascular bundles radially elongated, outer few layers and some of cells of ground tissue filled with yellowish brown contents, vascular bundle scattered throughout the ground tissues in two rows, consist of phloem accompanied by a large tannin sac in each vascular bundle.

Powder-Powder greyish brown, under microscope, shows orange yellow colour isolated or associated fragments of xylem vessels and ground tissues.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.2 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 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, tannins and resinous matters.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Guru
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kasahara, Kaphavatahara, Urdhvavatajit, Hikkanigrahana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Balacaturbhadrika Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Svasa, Chardi, Hikka, Jvara, Kasa, Ksaya

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.

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