GUNJA
Gunja consists of seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. (Fam. Leguminosm): a climber met with all along Himalayas ascending to 900 m, spreading throughout plains, flowering
in August-September, and fruits ripen during winter.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Raktika, Kakananti
Assamese : Rati
Bengali : Kunch, Shonkainch
English : Jequirity
Gujrati : Rati, Chanothee
Hindi : Ratti, Ghungchi
Kannada : Galuganji, Gulagunjee
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Kunni, Cuvanna Kunni
Marathi : Gunja
Oriya : Kainch
Punjabi : Ratti
Tamil : Kuntri, Kunrimani, Kundamani
Telugu : Guriginja, Gurivinda
Urdu : Ghongcha, Ratti
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Characterised by smooth, glossy surface and bright scarlet colour with black patch hilum, ovoid or sub-globular, 5-8 mm long, 4-5 mm broad.
b) Microscopic
Transverse section of seed shows testa about 75 μ thick, greater parts being formed by epidermis, composed of radially, much elongated cells, arranged irregularly and measure 45-50 μ in length, Inner region of thin testa consists of collapsed cells forming a hyaline layer about 25 μ thick, endodermis composed of thick-walled cellulosic parenchyma, isodiametric cells larger towards inside, walls mainly of hemicellulose and swell considerably in water, outer one or two layers of cells of endodermis (pseudoepidermis) formed of rather smaller cells, walls of which swell to less extent in water.
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 0.5 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 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
CONSTITUENTS – An albuminous substance (abrine and abralin).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kesya, Vranapaha, Vatapittajvarapaha, Kandughna, Garbhanirodhaka
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Mrtasanjivani Gutika, Guμjabhadra Rasa
THERAPEUTIC USES – Kustha, Vrana, Vatavyadhi, Indralupta
DOSE – 60-180 mg of the drug in powder form*.
Note: Sodhana of this drug is to be done before use as described in the Appendix.
* The dose should not exceed the higher limits.
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