PILUH (Leaf)
Piluh consists of leaf of Salvadora persica Linn. var. wightiana (Planch. ex Thw.) Verdc, syn. S. persica Linn. (Fam. Salvadoracem), a perennial, woody, glabrous shrub, distributed in the arid tracts of Punjab and north western parts of India.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Gudaphalah, Sransi, Pilukah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Peelugaach, Jhaal
English : Salt bush, Tooth brush Tree
Gujrati : Peelu, Khaaree jaal
Hindi : Jhak, Peelu, Pilu, Kharjaal
Kannada : Genumar, Gonimara, Kankhina
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Uka
Marathi : Khakhan, Pilu
Oriya : Kotungo, Toboto
Punjabi : Peelu
Tamil : Chittuva, Kotumaavali, Perungoli, Uthaiputtai
Telugu : Gogu, Gunia, Varagogu
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Leaves are 3 to 10 cm in length and 1 to 4 cm in breadth, green, simple, stipulate, petiolate, oblong, ovate, margin entire, broad at base and acute at apex; veins prominent and raised on lower surface; both surfaces glabrous; taste and odour characteristic.
b) Microscopic
Petiole – Petiole somewhat circular in outline with a large crescent-shaped vascular bundle and two small vascular bundles fused together to form a central core of vascular tissue; the presence of interxylary phloem indicates anomalous growth; epidermis single layered, covered externally with thick cuticle; cortex a wide zone consisting of circular to oval parenchyma cells; pericycle represented by small patches of thick walled and lignified fibres; phloem consists of usual elements traversed by uni or biseriate medullary rays; xylem consists of vessels, tracheids, fibres and parenchyma; vessels show scalariform thickening and border pitted walls, tracheids are bordered as well as simple pitted, parenchyma cells and fibres are simple pitted; interxylary phloem present in the central xlyem region; pith composed of thin walled parenchyma cells; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals and starch grains present in the parenchyma cells of the cortex and pericyclic region
Midrib – Midrib shows single layered epidermis covered externally with thin cuticle on both the surfaces, except at a few places where a periclinal division is seen; cortex is a wide zone of thin walled parenchyma cells, the centre of midrib is occupied by a vascular cylinder consisting of a large crescent-shaped vascular bundle, the pericycle is represented by small patches of fibres, the phloem consists of usual elements, the xylem is represented by vessels, tracheids, parenchyma and fibres; interxylary phloem is present in the xylem region; the xylem is traversed by uniseriate medullary rays which become bi or tri seriate in the phloem region; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals and a few starch grains are present in the parenchymatous cells of cortex and pericyclic region.
Lamina – Lamina shows isobilateral structure; cuticle present, both epidermises are single layered, except for occasional periclinal division; in surface view both the surfaces shows anisocytic and paracytic stomata; 2 or 3 layers of palisade cells are present below the upper and above the lower epidermis, remaining area being occupied by thin walled cells of pongy parenchyma; a number of small vascular bundle and vascular strand are distributed in the mesophyll of the lamina; idioblasts containing large rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals are present beneath both the epidermises; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals are also present in spongy parenchyma and palisade cells; stomatal index 9 to 11 (upper surface) and 8 to 10 (lower surface); palisade ratio 5 to 6 (upper surface) and 4 to 5 (lower surface); vein islet number 4 to 6 (upper surface) and 5 to 7 (lower surface).
Powder – Pale green, shows presence of thin walled parenchyma cells several containing rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals and a few simple starch grains; fragments of epidermal cells showing anisocytic and paracytic stomata; fragment of scalariform and bordered pitted vessels, border and simple pitted tracheid, simple pitted parenchyma cells and thick walled fibres.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 27 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 40 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate (Merck), using Toluene; Methanol (86:14), shows in visible light nine spots at Rf. 0.21, 0.25, 0.28(all green), 0.45 (bright yellow), 0.60 (faint green), 0.72(dark green), 0.79, 0.85 and 0.94 (all green); under UV (254nm) twelve spots appear at Rf. 0.14 (faint orange), 0.21, 0.25, 0.28 (all orange), 0.36, 0.45 (both light orange), 0.53 (faint orange), 0.60, 0.72, 0.79 (all light orange), 0.85 and 0.94 (both orange); on exposure to Iodine vapours ten spots appear at Rf. 0.14 (yellow), 0.21, 0.25, 0.28 (all green), 0.53, 0.60, 0.72, 0.79 (all faint yellow), 0.85, 0.94 (both bluish green), on spraying with sulphuric acid and heatin’G’ plate at 110oC for 30 minutes, twelve pots appear at Rf. 0.14 (yellow), 0.21, 0.25, 0.28 (all dark green), 0.36 (faint brown), 0.45 (brown), 0.53 (faint brown), 0.60 (violet), 0.72, 0.79 (both faint brown), 0.85 (dark green) and 0.94 (blackish green).
CONSTITUENTS – β-sitosterol, glucotropmolin, terpenes and flavonoids.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Tiksna, Laghu, Sara, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sirovirecaka, Sothahara, Bhedana, Dipana, Kaphahara, Rasayana, Vedanasthapana, Vidahi, Virecana, Vatahara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pilu Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Apaci, Arsa, Bastivikara, Bhagandara, Anaha, Gulma, Jvara, Krmi, Mutrakrcchra, Nadivrana, Udavarta, Udararoga, Vatarakta, Vrana, Sarpavisa, Yonivyapat, Dustavrana, Vransotha, Mukhapaka, Madyaja Trsna, Pliharoga, Sarva Kustha
DOSE – 3-6 g.
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