VANDA (Leaf)
Vanda consists of the dried leaf of Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. syn. Loranthus falcatus Linn. f. (Fam. Loranthacem), an epiphyte, mostly on fruit trees, and distributed throughout India.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Vrksadani, Bandaka, Vrksaruha, Samharsa
Assamese : —
Bengali : Maandaa
English : Mistletoe
Gujrati : Baando
Hindi : Bandaa
Kannada : Bandanike, Bandhulu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Ittikkanni, Itil
Marathi : Baandagul, Banda
Oriya : Vrudhongo
Punjabi : Pulluri
Tamil : Baadanikaa, Jiddu
Telugu : Jeevakamu
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Leaves petiolate, exstipulate, opposite, decussate, simple, ovate to oblanceolate, glabrous, soft and leathery when young, brittle when dry; margin entire; base decurrent; apex acute; slightly astringent; odour resembling those of tealeaves.
b) Microscopic
Transverse section of the leaf shows a thick cuticle, upper and lower epidermis composed of squarish cells with convex periclinal outer walls; surface views of upper and lower nearly similar; stomata paracytic, present on both surfaces; mesophyll of lamina consisting of 2 to 4 layers inner to upper and lower epidermis made up of compactly arranged short rectangular cells and irregularly arranged parenchyma cells of middle layers but possesing a few intercellular spaces; occassional vascular strands passing through this middle portion; isolated sclereids about 50 n thick containing prismatic crystals of about 12 n present in parenchyma; midrib buldging prominently on both the surfaces and containing a group of 3 to 5 vascular bundles; xylem of vascular bundles oriented towards upper epidermis and consisting of tracheids, vessels and parenchyma; phloem present towards lower epidermis and consisting of thin walled cells; bundle sheath absent; each vascular bundle associated with patch of collenchymatous cells outside the phloem; tannin (ranging from yellow to brown in colour) abundant in parenchyma cells of midrib and lamina region, especially in the 2 or 3 subepidermal layers; stomatal index 9 to 13 on upper surface and 10 to 14 on lower surface.
Powder – The powder shows angular epidermal cells and groups of thin walled, rectangular, closely packed parenchyma cells many of which contain tannins.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 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 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of the alcohol soluble extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethyl formate : formic acid (5:4:1) as mobile phase shows under U.V. (366 nm) spots at Rf. 0.06 (Brown); 0.39(Blue); 0.46 (Blue); 0.55 (Red); 0.81 (Pink). On spraying with anisaldehyde: sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110o C two spots appear at Rf 0.35(Light Green), 0.45 (Orange).
CONSTITUENTS – Leaves contain flavonoids such as Quercetin, quercetrin;Tannins comprising of gallic and chebulinic acid.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sukrajanana, Grahi, Kaphahara, Mutravirecaniya, Pittahara, Raksoghna, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana, Sramahara, Netrya, Grahanasana, Mangalakara, Garbhasthapana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)
THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagandara, Hikka, Mutraroga, Raktapitta, Visamajvara, Visaroga, Vrana, Vandhyatva, Vata-Smari
DOSE – 10 – 20 ml juice.
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