LANGALI (Tuberous Root) in Ayurveda Botanical Name Gloriosa superba Linn.

LANGALI (Tuberous Root)

Langali consists of dried tuberous root of Gloriosa superba Linn. (Fam. Liliacem) a climber with leaf tendril and large, solitary or corymbose, showy flowers with perianth segments having wavy margins, greenish at first, later becoming yellow and finally scarlet or crimson coloured, and found wild throughout the tropical regions upto 2,000 m.

SYNONYMS

Sansk. : Kalihari, Garbhanut, Halini, Agnisikha
Assam. : —
Beng. : Bisalanguli
Eng. : Glory Lily
Guj. : Khadiyanag
Hindi. : Kalihari
Kan. : Kolikutumana Gade
Kash. : —
Mal. : Mathonni
Mar. : Karianag
Ori. : —
Punj. : Kariyari
Tam. : Kalappoi Kizhangu
Tel. : Potthidumpa
Urdu. : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Tuberous roots thick, almost cylindrical or slightly laterally flattened, occurring in pieces of 15-30 cm long and 2.5 – 3.8 cm thick, often bifurcated with tapering ends, resembling a plough-share, one arm generally more than double the length of the other; brownish externally and yellowish internally; fracture, short; taste, acrid and bitter.

b) Microscopic

Tuberous root shows single layered epidermis, externally cuticularised, consisting of rectangular cells, followed by ground parenchyma, with scattered small vascular bundles; parenchyma cells large, thin-walled, polygonal to circular, having conspicuous intercellular spaces, most of the cells specially of the outer layers filled with starch grains, simple, round to oblong, or polyhedral, measuring 8-33 μ in dia., showing clear hilum and concentric striations, occasionally compound with 2-3 components, measuring 24-36 μ in dia.; vascular bundles collateral, numerous, scattered throughout ground tissue, consisting of xylem and phloem; each vascular bundle enclosed by sclerenchymatous sheath, xylem composed of vessels, tracheids and parenchyma; vessels having mostly reticulate thickening, smaller ones having spiral thickening, tracheids with reticulate thickening; xylem parenchyma cells usually rectangular; phloem consisting of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma; phloem parenchyma cells very small and thin-walled.

Powder – Brown; shows fragments of parenchyma cells, simple starch grains, round to oblong or polyhedral measuring 8-33 μ dia. showing clear hilum and concentric striations, occasionally compound with 2-3 components, measuring 24-36 μ in dia., sclerenchymatous cells, a few xylem vessels and tracheids.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 6 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 5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 15 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7

T.L.C. –

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Chloroform :
Methanol (9 : 1) shows under UV (366 nm) three fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.24 (blue), 0.88 and 0.94 (both black). On exposure to Iodine vapour eight spots appear at Rf. 0.09, 0.16, 0.24, 0.38, 0.59, 0.75, 0.88 and 0.94 (all yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent followed by 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid two spots appear at Rf. 0.88 and 0.94 (both orange).

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids and Resins.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Sara, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vatahara, Garbhapatana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nirgundi Taila, Kasisadi Taila, Mahavisagarbha Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Kustha, Sopha, Arsa, Vrana, Sula, Krmi, Bastisula, Garbha, Salya, Vatavyadhi

DOSE – 125-250 mg. of purified drug.

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