KOKILAKSA (Seed)
Kokilaksa consists of dried seed of Asteracantha longifolia Nees. Syn. Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders. (Fam. Acanthacem); a spiny, stout, annual herb, common in water logged places throughout the country.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Iksura, Iksuraka, Kokilaksi
Assamese : —
Bengali : Daruharidra
English : Indian Berberry
Gujrati : Daruharidra, Daruhuladur
Hindi : Darhald, Daruhaldi
Kannada : Daruhaladi, Maradarishana, Maradarishina
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Maramannal, Maramanjnal
Marathi : Daruhalad
Oriya : Daruhalidi, Daruharidra
Punjabi : Sumalu
Tamil : Gangeti, Varatiu manjal
Telugu : Manupasupu
Urdu : Darhald
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Ovate, flat or compressed, truncate at the base, 2-3 mm long and 1-2 mm wide, white, hairy but appearing smooth, when soaked in water immediately get coated with mucilage, light yellowish-brown; taste, slightly bitter and odour not distinct.
b) Microscopic
Seed – Shows hairy testa composed of thin-walled, tangentially elongated cells covered externally with pigmented cuticle layer; embryo composed of oval to polygonal, thinwalled, parenchymatous cells; oil globules present in this region.
Powder – Greyish-brown; shows hairs and oil globules. Swelling Index – 8 -10. Introduce the accurately weighed seeds into a 25 ml glass-stoppered measuring cylinder. The length of the graduated portion of the cylinder should be 125 mm; the internal diameter 16 mm subdivided in 0.2 ml and marked from 0 to 25 ml in upwards direction. Add 25 ml of water, and shake the mixture thoroughly at intervals of every 10 minutes for 1 hour. Allow to stand for 3 hours at room temperature. Measure the volume in ml occupied by the seeds, including any sticky mucilage. Carry out simultaneously not less than 3 determination and calculate the mean value of the individual determinations, related to 1 g of seeds.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract of the drug on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene:
Ethylacetate (95 : 5) shows under U.V. (366 nm) five fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.24 (red), 0.41 (light blue), 0.55 (light blue), 0.76 (sky blue) and 0.93 (sky blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour seven spots appear at Rf. 0.03, 0.17, 0.24, 0.31, 0.38, 0.52 and 0.72 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Ethanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and on heating the plate for fifteen minutes at 105° C eight spots appear at Rf. 0.03 (light brown), 0.10 (light brown), 0.17 (light brown), 0.24 (dark brown), 0.31 (dark brown), 0.38 (light brown), 0.52 (dark brown) and 0.72 (dark brown).
CONSTITUENTS – An yellow semi-drying oil, enzymes like Diastase, Lipase, Protease and an Alkaloid.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Kaphahara, Santarpana, Vrsya, Ruchya
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Vastyamayantaka Ghrta., Yakrt Sulavinasini Vatika
THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Vatarakta, Pittasmari.
DOSE – 3 -6 g. of the drug in powder form.
Latest Govt Job & Exam Updates: