ISVARI (Root)
Isvari consists of dried root of Aristolochia indica Linn, (Fam. Aristolochiacem); a perennial shrubby, twiner, found throughout the low hills and plains of India,
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Gandhnakuli, Nagadamani
Assam. : Jarvande
Beng. : Isheri
Eng. : Indian Birthwort, Serpent Root
Guj. : Ruhimool, Iswarimool
Hindi. : Ishwari
Kan. : Ishwari Beru, Toppalu
Kash. : —
Mal. : Karaleyan
Mar. : Sapsan
Ori. : Gopikaron
Punj. : —
Tam. : Perumarundu, Ichchuramule
Tel. : Iswari, Nallaiswari
Urdu. : Zarawand Hindi
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Root considerably long, cylindrical, a few irregularly bent; 2-10 mm in dia; surface almost smooth with fine longitudinal wrinkles and transverse cracks; external surface, light greyish-brown; inner whitish; fracture, short and splintery; odour, camphoraceous; taste, strongly bitter.
b) Microscopic
Cork 8-10 layers, composed of tabular, thin-walled cells excepting the outer most layer, having thick-walled cells externally and filled with brownish content; cork cambium single layered; secondary cortex 15 to 17 layers of thin-walled, somewhat rounded and isodiametric cells in the outer region but tangentially elongated in the inner region; plenty of simple, round to oval starch grains measuring 5-18 μ in dia. and compound starch grains having 2-4 components measuring 10-15 μ in dia. and oil globules present in a few cells; in the middle region stone cells round, rectangular, oval or elongated present in small irregular patches having simple pits and radiating canals; centre occupied by xylem, split into strips of radiating arms by wedgeshaped masses of parenchyma; each xylem arm is capped by thin patches of phloem consisting of sieve elements and phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres, and occasionally stone cells also found in this region; a ring of cambium present between phloem and xylem; xylem consists of large vessels, tracheids, fibres tracheids and parenchyma, all being lignified; in older roots, tyloses formation takes place in vessels; medullary rays 8 to l0 in number, multiseriate and dilating towards periphery and alternating with radiating arms of wood; scattered group of stone cells present in a few wider rays; micro-crystals with a few appearing as elongated small prisms and unaffected by acids, are present in a few cortical and ray cells.
Powder – Brownish-yellow; fragments of cork cells, very few, oval to rectangular, lignified, thick-walled stone cells having distinct striations with narrow lumen, vessels with spiral thickenings, non-lignified, thick-walled tracheids, numerous simple, round to oval, starch grains measuring 5-18 μ in dia., and compound grains having 2 to 4 components, measuring 10 – 15 μ in dia., a few crystals and oil globules
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 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 3 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene. Ethylacetate (85 : 15) shows under UV (366 nm) four fluorescent zones at Rf 0.21, 0.60 (both blue), 0.89 (red), 0.96 (blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour six spots appear at Rf 0.11, 0.21, 0.50, 0.63, 0.96 and 0.98 (all yellow) On spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110°C three spots appear at Rf 0.14, 0.63 (both violet) and 0.96 (brown)
CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids, Essential Oils, Bitter Principles and Fixed Oil.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphavatasamaka, Sothahara, Raksoghna, Grahabadhaghna
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Mahavisagarbha Taila, Gorocanadi Gutika
THERAPEUTIC USES – Sarpavisa, Luta Visa, Jalagardabha, Vrscikavisa, Jvara, Krmi, Vrana
DOSE – 1-2 g. (For external use also).
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