SALMALI (Stem Bark)
Salmali consists of the mature stem bark of Bombax ceiba Linn. Syn. B. malabaricum DC., Salmalia malabarica Schott. & Endl. (Fam. Bombacacem), a deciduous tree attaining a height upto 40 m and a girth upto 6 m or more and distributed throughout the hotter parts of the country upto 1500 m or more.
SYNONYMS
Sansk: Moca, Picchila, Raktapuspa, Kantakadhya, Tulini
Assam. : Semul
Beng. : Shimul, Simul
Eng. : Silk-Cotton Tree
Guj. : Shemalo
Hindi. : Semal, Semar
Kan. : Kempuburunga
Kash. : —
Mal. : Mullilavu
Mar. : Sanvar, Katesavar
Ori. : —
Punj. : Simble
Tam. : Elavam
Tel. : Buruga
Urdu. : Sembhal
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Bark 0.5-1 cm thick, pale-ashy to silvery-grey externally, brownish internally, external surface rough with vertical and transverse cracks, mucilaginous on chewing; fracture, fibrous.
b) Microscopic
Stem bark shows 10-15 layered, transversely elongated, radially arranged, thinwalled, cork cells with a few outer layers having brown coloured contents; rhytidoma present at certain places interrupting the cork; secondary cortex con- sists of moderately thick-walled, parenchymatous cells containing orange brown contents; stone cells in singles or in groups, thick-walled, oval to irregular, and tangential bands of stone cells having striations with narrow lumen, measuring 13-33 n in dia., occur throughout the secondary cortex; secondary phloem consists of usual elements traversed by phloem rays, elements in the outer region form tangential bands of ceratenchyma; a number of concentric bands of fibres alternating with groups of sieve elements also present; fibres lignified having narrow lumen and pointed tips; phloem rays numerous and wavy, 1-6 seriate, cells being radially elongated and moderately thick-walled; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate scattered throughout the secondary cortex, phloem parenchyma and ray cells; mucilage canals and tannin cells present in the parenchymatous cells of cortex.
Powder – Reddish-brown; shows fragments of cork cells, parenchymatous cells, single or groups of thick-walled, oval to irregular, stone cells having striations with narrow lumen, measuring 13-33 n in dia., rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, phloem fibres and numerous reddish-brown coloured masses and tannin cells.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 1 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 13 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.3
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.4
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 7 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Ethylacetate (9:1) shows under U.V. (366 nm) one fluorescent zone at Rf. 0.59 (blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour four spots appear at Rf. 0.11, 0.44, 0.59 and 0.92 (all yellow). On spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110°C three spots appear at Rf. 0.44, 0.59 and 0.92 (all violet).
CONSTITUENTS – Saponins, Tannins and Gums.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Sothahara, Kaphavardhaka, Pittahara, Vatahara, Dahaprasamana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS –
THERAPEUTIC USES – Raktapitta, Vrana, Daha, Yuvanapidika
DOSE – 5-10 g. (Powder).
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