KHAKHASA (Seed)
Khakhasa consists of seed of Papaver somniferum Linn. (Fam. Papaveracem), a glaucous erect annual herb cultivated under State control in certain areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Khasatilah, Aphukam, Khakhastilah, Khakhasah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Aaphim, Postadaanaa, Postabeej
English : Opium, Poppy Seeds
Gujrati : Khaskhas
Hindi : Apheem, Postadaanaa, Khaskhas, Khasabija
Kannada : Gasgase, Aapheen, Aphini
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Avin, Karappu, Kashkash, Aalan
Marathi : Khaskhas
Oriya : Aapu
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Kasakash, Posttakkaai, Avinee
Telugu : Gasgashaalu, Nallamandu
Urdu : Apheem
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Seeds are small, about 1.0 to 1.15 mm long, round to reniform or kidney shaped, generally dirty white, occasionally found mingled with a few brownish or greyish coloured seeds; surface coarsely reticulated, larger network enclosing within, numerous irregular smaller reticulations; hilum and micropyle are situated in the notch on the lateral side near the smaller end; seeds are inodorous and oily in taste.
b) Microscopic
Testa is composed of 5 distinct cell layers, outermost layer of epidermal cells corresponding to the surface reticulations; the next layer consists of polygonal or elongated cells containing minute microsphenoidal crystals of calcium oxalate and below there is a single layer of thick walled unlignified elongated cells; this layer is followed by a single layer of thin walled cells; testa is limited internally by a single layer or elongated palisade like cells with reticulately thickened walls; central portion of the seed is occupied by polygonal parenchymatous cells of endosperm containing abundant oil drops and aleurone grains; embryo is slightly curved, radicle rod like, bearing 2, or rarely 3, cotyledonary leaves, embedded in the oily endosperm; contents of the cotyledon are similar to those of endosperm.
Powder – Light brown, coarse, not free flowing, clot or ball forming, under microscope exhibits large fatty oil droplets, characteristic penta to hexagonal testa cells, endosperm and reticulate layer cells; cells containing characteristic crystal and fibres also present.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.5 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 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Fixed oil Not less than 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.8
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of hexane extract on silica gel 60 F 254 plate using Toluene : Acetone (93:07) shows five spots at Rf 0.25, 0.39, 0.50, 0.76 and 0.83 on spraying with Vanillin- Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 15 minutes at 110oC.
CONSTITUENTS – Fixed oil containing esters of linoleic, palmitic, oleic acids.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Stambhana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vedanasthapana, Rucya, Varnya
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Abhyadi Gutika, Abhrakadi Vati, Asvani Kumar Rasa
THERAPEUTIC USES – Atisara, Kasa
DOSE – 5-10 g
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