MAHABALA (Root)
Mahabala consists of dried roots of Sida rhombifolia Linn. (Fam. Malvacem), an erect annual or perennial undershrub, 1.5 m high, distributed throughout the country especially in moist regions, ascending to an altitude of 1800 m in the Himalayas.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Atibala, Pitapuspi
Assam. : —
Beng. : Pitabedala, Kheriti
Eng. : Country Mallow
Guj. : Mahabala
Hindi. : Pitabala, Pitabariyar
Kan. : Kisangihettutti-gida
Kash. : —
Mal. : Anakkuruntotti
Mar. : Mahbala
Ori. : —
Punj. : Khurunti
Tam. : Kurunthotti
Tel. : Gubatada, Pedda Mutheera Pulagum
Urdu. : —
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug occurs as entire root or cut pieces of varying lengths, 7-8 mm in thickness, with wavy lateral roots comparatively thinner than main roots having numerous rootlets, brownish-yellow, surface, rough due to scars of small rootlets and lenticels; fracture, hard and splintery.
b) Microscopic
Mature root shows cork consisting of 3-10 rows of narrow, rectangular, tangentially elongated, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, a few containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; secondary phloem composed of phloem fibres in wedgeshaped patches with thin-walled parenchyma in between; phloem rays thin-walled, tangentially elongated towards secondary cortex; a few rosette crystals of calcium oxalate found scattered in phloem parenchyma; secondary xylem composed of vessels, fibre, parenchyma and rays; vessels arranged in radial rows, fibres moderately long, thick-walled, lignified with wide lumen and pointed apex; xylem rays 2-3 cells wide, a few containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; in Bala (S. cordifolia Linn.) 1-3 cells wide with rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; 1 or 2 cells wide with rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate in Atibala (Abutilon indicum Sw.), and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in secondary cortex and absent in xylem rays in Nagabala (S.veronicmfolia Lam.).
Powder – Creamish-grey; shows moderately large, thick-walled, lignified fibres, with wide lumen and pointed tips, fragments of cork cells simple, pitted vessels and a few rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 8 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 1 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 Chloroform :
Methanol (8 : 2) shows under U.V. (366 nm) five fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.08 (blue), 0.35 (blue), 0.46 (blue), 0.78 (blue) and 0.95 (pink). On exposure to Iodine vapour eight spots appear at Rf. 0.08, 0.15, 0.39, 0.50, 0.66, 0.81, 0.89 and 0.99 (all yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent followed by 5% Methanolic-Sulphurc acid reagent two spots appear at Rf. 0.04 and 0.74 (both orange).
CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (Vasicinone and Vasicine).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Grahi, Pittaghna, Vataghna, Sukravrddhikara, Ojovardhaka, Kantivardhaka, Balya.
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Mahavisagarbha Taila, Navratna Rajamrganka Rasa
THERAPEUTIC USES – Sukraksaya, Ksata, Ksaya, Visamajvara, Daurbalya, Vatavyadhi, Vatarakta, Raktapitta, Sopha
DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.
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