ATMAGUPTA (Seed)
Atmagupta consists of dried mature seed of Mucuna prurita Hook., Syn. M pruriens Baker. (Fam. Fabaceae); a slender extensive climbing plant found almost all over the country.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Kapikacchu, Markati, Kandura
Assam. : Banar Kakua
Beng. : —
Eng. : Cowhage
Guj. : Kavach, Kaucha
Hindi. : Kewanch, Kaunch
Kan. : Nasugunne, Nasugunnee
Kash. : —
Mal. : Naikuruna
Mar. : Khajkuhilee, Kavach
Ori. : Baikhujnee
Punj. : Tatgajuli, Kawach
Tam. : Poonaikkali
Tel. : Doolagondi, Duradagondi
Urdu. : Kanwach, Konch
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Seed ovoid, slightly laterally compressed, with a persistent oblong, funicular hilum, dark brown with spots; usually 1.2-1.8 cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide, hard, smooth to touch, not easily breakable; odour, not distinct; taste, sweetish-bitter.
b) Microscopic
Mature seed shows a thin seed-coat and two hard cotyledons; outer testa consists of single layered palisade-like cells; inner testa composed of 2 or 3 layers, outer layer of tangentially elongated, ovoid, thin-walled cells, inner 1 or 2 layers of dumb-bell or beaker-shaped, thick-walled cells; tegmen composed of a wide zone of oval to elliptical, somewhat compressed, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells; some cells contain starch grains; cotyledons composed of polygonal, angular, thin-walled, compactly arranged, parenchymatous cells, containing aleurone and starch grains; starch grains small, simple, rounded to oval measuring 6-41 μ in dia., but not over 45 μ in dia.; a few vascular bundles with vessels showing reticulate thickening or pitted present,
Powder – Pale cream coloured; shows fragments of testa with palisade-like cells thinwalled parenchyma, reticulate and pitted vessels, aleurone and starch grains small, simple, rounded to oval measuring 6-41 μ in dia., but not over 45 μ. in dia.
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 23 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
Fixed oil Not less than 3 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.8
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate, using n-Butanol : Acetic acid:
Water (4:1:5), shows in visible light four spots at Rf. 0.51, 0.59, 0.69 (all grey) and 0.92 (light yellow). Under UV (366 nm) six fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.45 (blue), 0.51, 0.59, 0.69 (all grey), 0.79 (light blue) and 0.92 (blue). On spraying with Ninhydrin reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110°C seven spots appear at Rf. 0.17, 0.28, 0.34 (all pink) 0.51 (orange), 0.59 (pink), 0.69 (grey) and 0.92 (pink).
CONSTITUENTS – Fixed Oil, Alkaloid and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Kaphanasaka, Vatasamana, Vrsya, Pittanasaka, Raktadosanasaka, Brhmana, Balya
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Brhat Masa Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Vatavyadhi, Kampavata, Klaivya, Raktapitta, Dustavrana,Daurbalya.
DOSE – 3-6 g.
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