IKSU (Root Stock)
Iksu consists of root stock of Saccharum officinarum Linn. (Fam. Poacem), a plant generally cultivated in all hotter parts of the country for extraction of sugar.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Asipatra, Bhurirasa, Dirghacchada, Gudamula, Trnarasa
Assamese : Kuhiyare
Bengali : Akh, Ganna
English : Sugar-cane
Gujrati : Sheradi
Hindi : Ganna, Ikh
Kannada : Ikshu, Kabbu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Karimpu
Marathi : Us
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Ganna
Tamil : Karumbu Ver
Telugu : Cheraku, Cheruku
Urdu : Ganna, Naishkar
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug occurs in form of root stock with attached yellowish-brown stem portion, having 10 to 15 cm long, numerous grey to blackish-brown fibrous roots; solid, jointed, more or less cylindrical, 2 to 2.5 cm thick and varying in length, rough; fracture, splintery; odour and taste, not distinct.
b) Microscopic
Root Stock – Shows single layered epidermis followed by 3 to 4 layers of oval to elliptical, lignified, thick-walled more or less radially elongated, sclerenchymatous cells; cortex consists of upper 12 to 15 layers oval to polygonal, thin-walled and lower 5 layers, elliptical, parenchymatous cells; endodermis single layered; pericycle 3 or 4 layers, sclerenchymatous; fibro-vascular bundle, covered with sclerenchymatous sheath, scattered throughout the ground mass of parenchymatous cells.
Root – Shows single layered epidermis of thin-walled, rectangular cells, followed by a layer of hypodermis of thin-walled, rectangular cells, outer cortex composed of 2 or 3 layers of thick-walled, polygonal to circular, sclerenchymatous cells filled with dark brown or blackish pigment, inner cortex composed of large mrenchymatous cells; endodermis composed of barrel-shaped, thin-walled cells, enclosing a layer of pericycle consisting of rectangular cells having inner wall thickened, and vascular tissue; xylem and phloem form an equal number of separate bundles. arranged in a ring; centre occupied by a large pith, composed of circular to oval, parenchymatous, thin-walled cells.
Powder – Blackish in colour; shows sclerenchymatous cells of cortex, xylem vessels and fibres, groups of spindle-shaped, elongated, epidermal cells in surface view.
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 5 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 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica Gel ‘G’ using n-Butanol : Acetic acid : Water (4:1:5) shows under visible light two spots at Rf. 0.80 and 0.96 (both grey). Under U.V.(366 nm) four fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.67 (light blue). 0.80 (dark blue). 0.86 (light blue) and 0.96 (dark blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour several spots appear out of which three spots are conspicuous at Rf. 0.30. 0.80 and 0.96 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic- Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110oC several spots appear out of which three are conspicuous at Rf. 0.10. 0.86 and 0.96 (all grey).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Sara, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Pittahara, Brmhana, Vrsya, Vatasamaka, Kaphakara, Mutrala
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Trnapancamula Kvatha, Sukumara Ghrta, Brahma Rasayana
THERAPEUTIC USES – Raktapitta, Visarpa, Mutrakrccra, Ojoksya, Nasa Rakta srava, Grahani, Pandu, Ksataja Kasa
DOSE – 15-30 gm in decoction form.
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