NILI (Root)
Nili (Root) consists of dried root of Indigofera tinctoria Linn. (Fam. Fabacem); a shrub, 1.2-1.8 m high, found throughout and widely cultivated in many parts of the country.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Nilika, Rangapatri, Nilini
Assamese : Nilbam
Bengali : Nil
English : Indigo, Indian Indigo
Gujrati : Gali, Nil, Gari
Hindi : Nili
Kannada : Kadunili, Karunili, Nili, Neeligida, Olleneeli
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Amari, Nila
Marathi : Nili, Nila
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Neel
Tamil : Avuri, Neeli
Telugu : Nili, Nili Chettu, Aviri
Urdu : Neel
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Root mostly available in pieces, hard, woody, cylindrical, 0.1 -1.5 cm thick, surface nearly smooth except for a few scattered lenticels; pale-yellow to light yellowish-brown; odour not distinct; taste, slightly bitter.
b) Microscopic
Root -Shows a narrow zone of cork consisting of 4- 10 layers of tangentially elongated, rectangular, thin-walled cells, with lenticels; secondary cortex a narrow zone, consisting of rectangular to polygonal, thin-walled cells, group of fibres, measuring 11-17 n in dia., thick-walled and lignified with wide lumen; secondary phloem composed of usual elements; wood occupies bulk parts of the root, consisting of usual elements; vessels solitary or 2-4 in groups having simple pits; fibres present in the form of alternating bands of parenchyma; parenchyma cells rectangular to polygonal in shape and attached on both the opposite sides of vessels; medullary rays 1 -4 cells wide; prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate present in secondary cortex, phloem and xylem parenchyma and rays; oil globules present in cortex and phloem parenchyma; starch grains simple, round to oval, measuring 3-11 n in dia., present in cortex, phloem, xylem parenchyma and rays.
Powder – Creamish-brown; shows aseptate fibres, pitted vessels, simple and compound starch grains, measuring 3-11 n in dia., rarely oil globules and prismatic 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 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.7 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 alcoholic extract of the drug on Silica gel ‘GF 254 + Silica gel ‘G’ (1:3 w/w) plate using Chloroform : Ethylacetate (6:4) show under U.V. (366 nm) ten fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.14 (blue), 0.30 (bluish green), 0.40 (blue), 0.47 (blue), 0.58 (blue), 0.63 (bluish green), 0.75 (blue), 0.81 (blue), 0.86 (green) and 0.91 (blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour thirteen spots appear at Rf. 0.06, 0.10, 0.14, 0.27, 0.33, 0.40, 0.50, 0.58, 0.63,0.75, 0.80,0.86 and 0.91 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 110°C for ten minutes fourteen spots appear at Rf. 0.06, 0.10, 0.14, 0.21, 0.27, 0.33, 0.40, 0.50, 0.58, 0.63, 0.75, 0.81, 0.86, and 0.91 (all grey).
CONSTITUENTS – Glycoside (Indican)
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Sara
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Kesya, Recani, Vatahara, Bhrama Mohahara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Arvindasava, Triphaladi Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Gulma, Kasa, Pliharoga, Udavarta, Udararoga, Vatarakta, Visavikara, Amavata, Krimiroga.
DOSE – 48 g. of drug for decoction.
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