SARA (Root)
Sara consists of dried roots of Saccharum bengalense Retz. Syn. S. sara Roxb.; S. munja Roxb. (Fam. Poacem); an erect grass attaining a height of 5.5 m, found mainly in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Bhadra, Munja
Assam. : —
Beng. : Sara
Eng. : —
Guj. : Sarkat
Hindi. : Sarkand, Moonja
Kan. : Munji Hullu, Hodake Hullu
Kash. : —
Mal. : Ama, Amaveru, Sara, Munjappullu
Mar. : Munja, Trikande
Ori. : Sara
Punj. : Moonja, Sarkanda
Tam. : Munjipul, Munjappullu
Tel. : Munja
Urdu. : Munja, Sarkanda
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Roots numerous, arising from a common root stock, cylindrical, 5-30 cm long, 0.1-0.5 cm in dia., pale straw coloured with attached rootlets, bark papery; fracture splintery.
b) Microscopic
Root shows single layered epidermis consisting of cubicular to rectangular, thinwalled cells; hypodermis single layered composed of parenchymatous cells; beneath hypodermis continuous ring of 2-5 layered, thick-walled, lignified, sclerenchymatous cells found scattered; cortex consisting of oval to round, thinwalled parenchymatous cells, those of inner layers becoming smaller in size and rectangular in shape; endoderm is single layered forming a ring around stele, consisting of tangentially elongated cells; pericycle single layered composed of thinwalled cells; xylem and phloem form equal number of bundles, arranged alternately in rings consisting of usual elements; metaxylem elements much bigger than protoxylem; pith distinct consisting of thinwalled, polygonal, parenchymatous cells having intercellular spaces.
Powder – Light greyish-brown; shows lignified, thick-walled, sclerenchymatous cells, and vessels with reticulate thickenings.
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 4 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 3.5 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.7
T.L.C. –
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using n-Butanol : Acetic Acid: Water (4:1:5) shows in visible light two spots at Rf. 0.69 and 0.97 (both grey). Under UV (366 nm) five blue fluorescent zones appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.19, 0.35, 0.69 and 0.97. On exposure to Iodine vapour eight spots appear at Rf. 0.05, 0.10, 0.19, 0.35, 0.44, 0.69, 0.80 and 0.97 (all yellowish brown). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 110°C for ten minutes eight spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.19,0.35,0.61 (all grey), 0.80 (violet), 0.92 (grey), 0.95 and 0.97 (both violet).
CONSTITUENTS – Sugars.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Anusna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Balya, Caksusya, Dahahara, Kaphahara, Vrsya, Trtdosahara, Trsnahara
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Trnapancamula Kvatha Curna, Brahma Rasayana, Sukumara Ghrta
THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Aksiroga, Trsna, Visarpa, Mutrakrcchra, Bastisula, Murcha, Bhrama.
DOSE – 20 -50 g. of Kvatha Curna for decoction.
6 -10 g. (Powder).
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