ATIVISA
Ativisa consists of dried, tuberous roots of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex. Royle (Fam, Ranunculaceae), a perennial herb, native of western Himalayas and found in Garhwal, Kumaon and Kashmir at altitude between 2,500-4,000 m.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Aruna, Ghunapriya, Visa.
Assamese : Aatich
Bengali : Ataicha
English : Atis Root
Gujrati : Ativishni Kali, Ativikhani Kali
Hindi : Atis
Kannada : Ativisha, Athihage
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Atividayam, Ativitayam
Marathi : Ativisha
Oriya : Atushi
Punjabi : Atisa, Atees
Tamil : Atividayam
Telugu : Ativasa
Urdu : Atees
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Roots, ovoid-conical, tapering downwards to a print, 2.0-7.5 cm long, 0.4-1.6 cm or more thick at its upper extremity, gradually decreasing in thickness towards tapering end, externally light ash-grey, white or grey-brown, while internally starch white, external surface wrinkled marked with scars of fallen rootlet and with a rosette of scaly rudimentary leaves on top: fracture, short, starchy, showing uniform white surface, marked towards centre by 4-7 concentrically arranged yellowish-brown dots, corresponding to end of fibrovascular bundles traversing root longitudinally taste, bitter with no tingling sensation.
b) Microscopic
Transverse section of mature root shows, single layered epidermis consisting of light brown tabular cells rupturing on formation of cork, cork consists of 5-10 rows of tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, cork cambium single layered consisting of tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, cortex much wider consisting of tangentially elongated or rounded, thin-walled parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces, cells fully packed with both simple as well as compound starch grains, compound starch gains composed of 2-4 components of spherical body, endodermis distinct composed of barrelshaped cells, elements of vascular bundles poorly developed, vascular bundles, arranged in a ring, inter-fascicular cambium present in form of a ring composed of few layered thin-walled cells, central core consisting of thin-walled parenchymatous cells, possessing starch grains similar to those found in cortical cells. Powder- Ash coloured to light brown, under microscope shows abundant simple and compound starch grains and parenchymatous cells.
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 1 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 24 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (atisine, dihydroatisine, hetisined and heteratisine).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Pacana, Sangrahika, Kaphapittahara.
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Mahavisagarbha Taila, Rodhrasava, Siva Guika, Lakasminarayana Rasa, Rasnairandadi Kvatha Curna, Sudarsana Curna, Paμcatikta Guggulu Ghrta, Bala Chaturbhadrika Curna
THERAPEUTIC USES – Krmiroga, Jvara, Kasa, Chardi, Amatisara
DOSE – 0.6-2.0 g of the drug in powder form.
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