KASA (Root Stock)
Kasa consists of dried root stock with attached stem portion of Saccharum spontaneum Linn. (Fam. Poacem), a perennial grass with slender culms, found throughout the country in warmer parts ascending upto 1,800 m in the Himalayas.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Kasa, Svetacamara
Assam. : —
Beng. : Chhote-Kase, Kash, Keshe
Eng. : Thatch-Grass
Guj. : Kansado, Kansa, Kansado, Ghans
Hindi. : Kans, Kasa
Kan. : Kirayikagachchha, Kasalu
Kash. : —
Mal. : Nannana, Kusa, Kuruvikarimpu
Mar. : Kasai
Ori. : —
Punj. : Kani
Tam. : Nanal, Nanalu, Karumbu, Kasa, Amaver
Tel. : Kakicheraku, Relu
Urdu. : Kansa, Kasa
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug occurs in the form of root stock with attached stem portions having numerous dark brown roots; cylindrical, yellowish-brown to brown, 2-25 cm or more in length and 0.2-1 cm thick; fracture, splintery.
b) Microscopic
Root stock shows single layered epidermis, consisting of slightly oval, thinwalled cells, a few elongated, pointed, aseptate, long unicellular hairs arise from epidermis; cortex composed of 2-3 layered, elongated, thick- walled, palisade-like cells and 3-4 layers of thin-walled, oval to polygonal parenchymatous cells; endoderm is consisting of thin- walled, single layered cells, followed by 6-9 layered, thick-walled, lignified, polygonal, continuous ring of sclerenchymatous cells; pericycle single layered, composed of very small, thin-walled cells beneath endoderm is; ground tissues wide, composed of thin-walled, oval to polygonal, elongated parenchymatous cells having numerous, round to oval starch grains measuring 8-24 μ in dia., scattered ‘U’ shaped vascular bundle with sheath, also seen in this region.
Powder – Dark brown; shows fragments of thin-walled, tabular, somewhat rectangular, epidermal cells in surface view, oval to polygonal: thin-walled parenchymatous and thick-walled polygonal sclerenchymatous cells, pointed unicellular hairs, vessels with reticulate thickening, small round to oval starch grains, measuring 8-24 μ in dia.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 7 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 4 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 4 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using n-Butanol : Acetic acid: Water (4:1:5) shows under U.V. (366 nm) one fluorescent zone at Rf. 0.83 (green). On exposure to Iodine vapour three spots appear at Rf. 0.30, 0.83 and 0.90 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 105°C six spots appear at Rf. 0.13, 0.23, 0.30 (all dull yellow), 0.69, 0.83 and 0.90 ( all grey).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Sara
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Pittahara, Vrsya, Balakrt, Srmahara, Rucikrt
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Karpuradyarka, Brahma Rasayana, Sukumara Gh rta, Traikantaka Ghrta, Trnapancamula Kvatha Curna, Mutravirecaniya Kasaya Curna, Stanyajanana Kasaya Curna, Asmarihara Kasaya Curna
THERAPEUTIC USES – Raktapitta, Mutarakrcchra, Asmari, Daha, Raktadosa, Sosa, Ksaya
DOSE – 3-6 g. of the drug in powder form.
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