AMRA (Seed)
Amra consists of dried seed of Mangifera indica Linn. (Fam. Anacardiaceae), a tree found wild or cultivated throughout the country.
SYNONYMS –
Sansk. : Amrabijamajja
Assam. : —
Beng. : Am
Eng. : Mango
Guj. : Aambaro, Ambanoo, Aambo, Keri
Hindi. : Aam
Kan. : Amavina
Kash. : —
Mal. : Manga
Mar. : Aamba
Ori. : Amkoili, Ambakoiti
Punj. : Amb
Tam. : Mangottai Paruppu, Maangottai
Tel. : Mamidi-Jeedi
Urdu. : Aam
DESCRIPTION –
a) Macroscopic:
Seed 3-4.5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, ovoid, oblong covered with wrinkled integument, both outer and inner integument closely united, outer integument buff coloured, inner integument reddish-brown; taste, bitter and astringent.
b) Microscopic:
Seed shows outer integument consisting of tangentially elongated, irregular, thinwalled, parenchymatous cells, with poorly developed conducting tissues of vessels showing spiral thickenings towards inner integument, inner integument consisting of slightly rectangular, wavy and large thin-walled parenchymatous cells; cotyledons 2, composed of isodiametric, parenchymatous cells fully packed with simple and compound starch grains; compound starch grains consisting of 2-6 components, each starch grain round to oval, measuring 2-28 μ in dia., a few conducting tissues with spiral vessels also found scattered in parenchymatous cells of cotyledons.
Powder – Greyish-buff; shows reddish-orange coloured cells of integument, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, simple and compound starch grains, consisting of 2-6 components, measuring 2-28 μ in diameter.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH –
Foreign matter Not more than 1 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 3 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 10 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 alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using n-Butanol : Acetic acid: Water (4:1:5) shows under U.V. (366 nm) two fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.62 (yellowish) and 0.92 (blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour five spots appear at Rf. 0.07, 0.29, 0.62, 0.77 and 0.93 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for about ten minutes at 110°C five spots appear at Rf. 0.07 (grey), 0.29 (grey), 0.62 (grey), 0.77 (brown) and 0.93 (brown).
CONSTITUENTS – Tannins – Pyrogallotannins.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION –
Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya
Guna : Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Vatakara, Sangrahi, Krmighna
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pusyanuga Curna, Brhat Gangadhara Curna, Asokarista
THERAPEUTIC USES – Atisara, Pravahika,Chrdi, Daha, Tvagroga.
DOSE – 1-2 g. of the drug in powder form.
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