RAKTAPUNARNAVA (Root)
Raktapunarnava consists of dried root of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Fam. Nyctaginacem); a trailing herb with stout root stock and many diffused, slender, prostrate or ascending branches, occurring thought the plains of India.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : S othaghni, Rakta puspa
Assam. : Ronga Punarnabha
Beng. : Rakta Punarnava
Eng. : Hog Weed
Guj. : Saturdi
Hindi. : Gadapurna, Lalpunarnava
Kan. : Kommeberu
Kash. : —
Mal. : Chuvanna Tazhutama
Mar. : Rakta Punarnava
Ori. : Laalapuiruni
Punj. : Iteit (Lal), Khattan
Tam. : Mookarattai (Shihappu)
Tel. : Atikamamidi, Erragalijeru
Urdu. : Surkh Punarnava
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Root well developed, fairly long, somewhat tortuous, cylindrical, 0.2 – 1.5 cm in dia.; yellowish-brown to brown; surface, rough due to minute longitudinal striations and root scars; fracture, short; odour, not distinct; taste, slightly bitter.
b) Microscopic
Mature root shows anomalous growth; cork composed of thin-walled, tangentially elongated cells in the outer few layers; cork cambium 1-2 layers of thin-walled cells; secondary cortex consists of 2-3 layers of parenchymatous cells, followed by cortex composed of 5-12 layers of thin-walled, oval to polygonal cells; several concentric bands of xylem tissue, alternating with zone of parenchymatous tissue, present below cortical region; number of bands vary according to thickness of root and consist of vessels, tracheids and fibres; vessels mostly found in groups of 2-8 in radial rows, having simple pits and reticulate thickening; tracheids, thick-walled with simple pits; fibres aseptate, elongated, thick-walled with pointed ends; phloem occurs as hemispherical or crescent patches outside each group of xylem vessels and composed of sieve elements and parenchyma; a broad zone of parenchymatous tissue, in between two successive rings of xylem elements, composed of thin-walled, more or less rectangular cells arranged in radial rows; central region of root occupied by primary vascular bundles; numerous raphides in single or in group present in cortical region and in parenchymatous and xylem tissue; starch grains simple and compound, having 2-4 components, found in abundance in most of the cells of cortex and xylem elements; simple starch grains mostly round in shape, measuring 2.75-11 n in dia.
Powder – Light yellow; shows vessels with reticulate thickening or simple pits, fibres, fragments of cork cells, raphides of calcium oxalate and simple, rounded, starch grains, measuring 2.75 – 11 n in dia., and compound starch grains having 2-4 components.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 10 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.8 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 4 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 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 UV (366 nm) six fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.11, 0.38 (both blue), 0.70, 0.84 (both light blue), 0.90 (light pink) and 0.94 (light blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour seven spots appear at Rf. 0.05, 0.11, 0.28, 0.38, 0.43, 0.84 and 0.94 (all yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent followed by 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent two spots appear at Rf. 0.08 and 0.94 (both orange).
CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloid, Hentriacontane, β-Sitosterol, Ursolic Acid.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Sita, Laghu, Ruksa, Sara
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sophaharra, Dipana, Vatakara, Kaphaghna, Pittahara.
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kumaryasava, Dadhika Ghrta, Dhanvantara Ghrta, Punarnavadyarista
THERAPEUTIC USES – Sopha, Pandu, Hrdroga, Kasa, Arsa, Vrana, Urahksatasula, Sotha.
DOSE – 1-3 g. of powder.
10-20 ml. (Fresh Juice).
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