INDRAVARUNI (Leaf)
Indravaruni consists of dried leaves of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Fam. Cucurbitacem); an annual or perennial, wild herb with prostrate or climbing stem, occurring throughout the country.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Satakratulata, Eandri, Gavaksi, Indravarunika, Indravalli
Assamese : Nantiyah
Bengali : Rahhalasa, Makhal
English : Colocynth, Bitter Apple
Gujrati : Indrayana, Indrayanoa, Insbak
Hindi : Indrayana
Kannada : Havumekke Kayi, Havamikke
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Kattu vellari, Kadu Indrayan, Peykommuti
Marathi : Indrayana, Kodu indrayan
Oriya : Gothkakudi, Mahakal
Punjabi : Tumma, Jamtumma
Tamil : Peyakkumutti, Peytumatti, Peyththumatti, Peykhumutti, Verittumatti
Telugu : Chedupuchcha
Urdu : Hanzal, Indrayan
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Leaves very variable, 3.6-6.3 cm long, 2.5-5.0 cm wide, pinnately lobed in outline, generally 3 lobed, sometimes 3-7 lobed, middle lobe largest, each lobe deeply pinnatifid; petiole 1.3-2.5 cm long, entire leaf densely hirsute; taste, very bitter.
b) Microscopic
Leaf– Petiole – shows ridged outline; epidermis single layered consisting of oval to rounded cells, covered with thick cuticle; hairs uniseriate, 2-4 celled, present on both surfaces; cortex consisting of 3-7 layers, round collenchymatous cells, followed by a single layered endodermis; pith consisting of thin-walled, isodiametric, parenchymatous cells; vascular bundles generally eight, arranged in discontinuous ring, bicollateral, each bundle surrounded by semilunar patches of sclerenchymatous cells towards endodermis.
Midrib – shows single layered epidermis, covered with cuticle on both surface; hair present on both surfaces, uniseriate, consisting of 2-3 cells, apical cells being pointed or blunt; cortex consisting of 2-3 layers of collenchymatous cells on dorsal side, followed by thin-walled, parenchymatous cells; vascular bundles present, two well developed, one smaller and other larger, conjoint, bicollateral, composed of xylem and phloem.
Lamina -shows single layered epidermis covered with cuticle, hairs similar to those of midrib and present on both surfaces, but more abundant on lower surface; palisade single layered, spongy parenchyma generally 5-8 layered, composed of thin walled, almost isodiametric cells, filled with chlorophyll contents and traversed by a number of veins, vein islet number 29-38 per sq. mm; palisade ratio 2.75-3.75; stomata anomocytic present on both surfaces, stomatal index on upper surface 12.5-28.5 and on lower surface 25.0 -31.2.
Powder – Coarse, olive green; shows entire or broken pieces of hairs; epidermal cells polygonal, moderately thick-walled, 27.5-49.5n long and 19-27 n wide; spongy parenchyma cells, anomocytic type of stomata and xylem vessels.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 18 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 18 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract of the drug on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using n-Butanol :Acetic acid: Water (4:1:5) shows under U.V. (366 nm) five fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.46, 0.61, 0.75, 0.94 (all green) and 0.97 (red). On spraying with 5% Methanolic- Sulphuric acid reagent and on heating the plate for ten minutes at 105°C four spots appear at Rf. 0.61 (green), 0.75 (green), 0.83 (grey) and 0.94 (grey).
CONSTITUENTS – Colocynthin, traces of an Alkaloid and Flavonoids.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Sara
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Pittahara, Recana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nili Bhrngadi Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Kesapata, Palita, Kustharoga.
DOSE – For external use only
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