Ayurvedic Flowers

PALASAH (Seed)

Palasah consists of seed of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze, syn. B. frondosa Roxb. (Fam. Fabacem), a moderate sized deciduous tree, commonly called ”Flame of the Forest”, found throughout India upto a height of 1250 m, except in the arid zones.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Palasah, Kimsukah, Raktapuspakah, Vatapotha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Palaash
English : Butea seed, Flame of the Forest, Bastard teak
Gujrati : Khakharo
Hindi : Dhak, Palash, Tesoo
Kannada : Muttagamara, Muttug
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Plashu
Marathi : Palas, Palash paapada
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Purasu
Telugu : Moduga
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds reddish-brown, thin, flat, reniform, longer axis from 3 to 4 cm and shorter from 2 to 2.5 cm, raphe equal to antiraphe, micropyle inconspicuous; seed coat reddish brown, waxy; faint odour; taste, slightly acrid bitter; weight of 100 seeds 80 to115 g.

b) Microscopic

Single layered epidermis of testa interrupted by balloon shaped cells; malphighian cells palisade like, thick-walled, red, unlignified, lumen large but not uniform; discontinuous transparent Linea lucida in upper half of Malphighian layer; osteosclereids irregular, nonlignified, highly thick walled, columnar, compressed and superposed; mesophyll occupies major portion of testa, upper and lower mesophyll cells small, isodiametric to elliptic, middle layers large, angular, condensed with small intercellular spaces; inner epidermis reddish brown, distinct with small thick walled elongated cells externally covered by thin culticle. The transection of cotyledon shows single layered, thick-walled epidermis having angular cells, followed by beaded parenchymatous cells containing starch and protein in form of spiral, as revealed by freshly prepared Millons Reagent; starch grains, rod shaped or ovoid, simple, 20 to 40 nm, hilum indistinct, lamellm distinct. Embryo is straight having a radicle with well-marked hypocotyl, epicotyl with a plumule and a pair of thick cotyledons.

Powder – Powder yellowish-brown; acrid and bitter with oily flavour and pleasant smell; small fragments of testa, broken and intact malphighian cells, osteosclereids, mesophyll cells isolated or in groups, cotyledonary parenchyma containing a few starch grains, abundant spiral protein bodies, mucilage and oil globules; when treated with 50% H2SO4, emits yellow fluorescence under UV-254 nm.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 25 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Protein Not less than 18 per cent, Appendix 2.2.17
Fatty oil Not less than 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.15

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanolic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethylacetate : methanol (85 : 15 : 0.5) as solvent system shows after spraying with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid and heating the plate for ten minutes at 120oC, at Rf. 0.26 (magenta), 0.38 (greying green) and 0.56 (greyish green).

CONSTITUENTS – Fatty oil; amino acids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Sara, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Rasayana, Tridosahara, Vrsya, Bhedana, Bhagnasandhanakara, Garbhanirodhaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Ayaskrti, Krmimudgara Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Sula, Arsa, Atisara, Daha, Dadru, Gulma, Kasa, Krmi, Kandu, Kustha, Mutrakrcchra, Medoroga, Pama, Prameha, Raktavikara, Tvakroga, Udararoga, Vatarakta, Vrana, Yonidosa, Gudajaroga, Sukradosa, Pliharoga, Netrasukra, Pandu, Vrscikavisa

DOSE – 0.5 to 1 g.

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PALASAH (Dried Flower)

Palasah consists of dried flower of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze syn. B. frondosa Roxb. (Fam. Fabacem), a moderate sized deciduous tree, commonly called Flame of the Forest”, flowering in March – May found throughout India upto a height of 1250 m, except in the arid zones.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kimsuka, Raktapuspaka, Ksarsrestha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Palash
English : Bastard teak, Flame of the Forest, Butea Seed
Gujrati : Khaakharo
Hindi : Dhaak, Tesu, Palaash
Kannada : Muttug, Muttulu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Plashu
Marathi : Palas, Palash paapda
Oriya : Porasu, Kijuko
Punjabi : Tesh
Tamil : Purasu
Telugu : Moduga
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Inflorescence raceme; flowers large, 4 to 6 cm long, alternate, with pubescent long, velvety, olive green peduncle; bright yellowish-red to orange red pedicels, 1.5 cm long, twisted, bracteate, bracts and bracteoles small, linear, velvety, orange green, deciduous; calyx campanulate, 5-partite, oblique, about 1 cm long, dark olive green, densely velvety outside, clothed with silky hairs within, two upper teeth connate, large, three lower ones unequal, the lowest being much shorter than the lateral ones; corolla 4 to 6 cm. long, orange red, covered outside with silky white hairs, papilionaceous; stamen diadelphous; anthers linear, yellow; ovary stipitate, silky, pubescent, style incurved, longer than the stamens.

b) Microscopic

Pedicel: T.S. of pedicel circular in outline, bearing numerous 2 to 4 celled uniseriate hairs; cortex collenchymatous, differentiated in two zones- outer formed of smaller cells with some contents and inner zone of larger cells; cortex and stele separated by endodermis of barrel shaped cells containing starch grains; phloem parenchyma containing tannin; pith parenchymatous; vascular bundles separated by broad medullary rays and arranged in a ring; rhomboidal crystals of calcium oxalate present in cortex. Sepals: Sepals on upper surface have one type of trichome 3 to 5 celled, with prominent basal cell; on lower surface two types of trichomes, (i) multicellular, uniseriate, long, thick walled with circular basal cell; (ii) a few multicellular, club-shaped, trichomes glandular in nature; stomata anomocytic type. Petals: Upper surface of wing petal with profuse 2 to 6 celled hairs on its basal part and multicellular trichomes at the tip; lower surface of wing petal covered with multicellular uniseriate trichomes; papillate epidermal cells in the middle region of wing petal, in surface view shows striations radiating from the base of papilla; cells in apical region of wing petal without papillate, but narrow with random striation; upper surface of standard
petal glabrous but margins hairy; multicellular, club shaped appendages and uniseriate 2 to 5 celled trichomes present at the apex. In the middle portion cells longer than broad, drawn out into papillm with striations radiating out from this; upper surface of keel petal cells polygonal, with irregular striations, trichomes profuse except at apical region. Stamens diadelphous; pollen grain 3 pored, oblate, spheroidal; about 28 n long and 30 n m broad, pore circular to elongate, 8 to 12.5 n m, exine wall surface foveolate. Ovary with two types of trichomes, (i) thin walled having dense contents (ii) 2 to 3 celled trichome, placentation marginal; epidermal cells of style long, narrow in surface view, trichomes uniseriate multicellular and thick walled in stylar region.

Powder – Brownish-yellow, slightly bitter in taste, no characteristic odour; shows pieces of various types of trichomes, vascular tissue, epidermal cells with characteristic papillm, polygonal cells with linear striations, pollen grains, and styloid crystals of calcium oxalate; powder treated with 1N HCl followed by one drop of nitrocellulose in amylacetate becomes orange yellow under UV 365 nm and with 1N NaOH in methanol becomes, yellowish-black under UV 254 nm.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 10 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 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 32 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanolic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using ethyl acetate : methanol : water (100 : 15 : 5) shows under UV (366 nm) fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.17 (yellow), 0.26 (yellow), 0.53 (light brown), 0.58 (greenish yellow) and 0.63 (greenish yellow). On spraying with 5% KOH reagent spots at Rf. 0.17 (yellow), 0.26 (yellow), 0.58 (green) and 0.63 (green).

CONSTITUENTS – Coumarins and glycosides, cumaranone glycosides, butrin, isobutrin, monospermoside, isomonospermoside, carbomethoxy-3, 6-dioxo-5-hydro-1, 2, 4-triazine, coreopsin, isocoreopsin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Sara
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Kusthaghna, Mutrala, Pittahara, Rakta Stambhana, Sandhaniya, Trsnasamaka, Dahaprasamana, Grahi

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kunkumadi Taila, Vana Bhasma (Jarana (b))

THERAPEUTIC USES – Arsa, Daha, Grahani, Gulma, Kandu, Kustha, Mutrakrcchra, Netrasukra, Pliharoga, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Vatarakta, Trsna, Krmi, Pittabhisyanda

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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PARASIKAYAVANI (Seed)

Parasikayavani consists of the seed of Hyoscyamus niger Linn. (Fam. Solanacem), an annual or biennial herb, native to the Mediterranean region and temperate Asia, occurring in Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon at an altitude of 1600 to 4000 m, imported into India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Khurasani Yavani, Yavani, Turusaka, Madakarini
Assamese : —
Bengali : Khorasani ajwan
English : Henbane
Gujrati : Khurasanee ajma, Khurasanee ajmo
Hindi : Khurasanee ajvayan,
Kannada : Khurasanee, Ajawaana
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Khurasaanee, Paarasika, Yavaani
Marathi : Khurasanee ova
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Khurasanee ajvain, Bangidewana
Tamil : Kuraasanee Yomam
Telugu : Kurasanee vamu, Khurasanee omam
Urdu : Ajvayanee Khursanee

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds irregularly reniform or sub-quadrate, slightly over a mm in size, dark grey, surface concave, odour pleasantly aromatic, taste bitter, mucilaginous and pungent, aromatic.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of seed shows the presence of thick cuticle, testa with two layers, outer one with a row of osteosclereids size ranging from 50 to 80 n, inner one with crushed parenchyma, endosperm cells thin walled, containing oil globules, embryo coiled; starch absent.

Powder – Dark brown aromatic smell, bitter mucilagenous taste and an oily texture; a number of flask-shaped or dumb-bell shaped osteosclereids seen; fragments of testa in surface view, showing cells with sinuous walls; powder when treated with Sudan IV and mounted in glycerine shows the presence of oil globules which turn orange red; powder cleared with dilute nitric acid shows surface view of sculpturing on testa.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 4 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 16 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 methanolic extract on silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethyl acetate : diethyl amine (70:20:10) shows under UV (366 nm) one fluorescent spot at Rf. 0.49 (blue). After spraying with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for ten minutes spots appear at Rf. 0.09 (Brown), 0.49 (brown), 0.69 (greenish brown). After spraying with modified Dragendorff’s reagent spots appear at Rf. 0.90, 0.77, 0.61, 0.23 and 0.10.

CONSTITUENTS – Tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine, (its racemic mixture and atropine) and hyoscine.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Pittakara, Dipana, Grahi, Kaphahara, Vatahara, Vedanasthapana, Madaka, Pacaka, Nidrakara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sarpagandhaghna Vati

THERAPEUTIC USES – Anaha, Asmari, Sula, Svasa, Gulma, Kasa, Krmi, Unmada, Rajahkrcchra, Sighrapatana, Svpanadosa, Udarasula, Anidra, Sandhisula

DOSE – 125 – 500 mg.

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PATTURA (Whole Plant)

Pattura consists of whole plant of mrva lanata (Linn.) Juss. (Fam. Amaranthacem), an erect or prostrate branched herb, 30 to 60 cm in height, found throughout India in waste lands.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Goraksaganja, Bhadra
Assamese : —
Bengali : Chaya
English : —
Gujrati : Gorakhganjo
Hindi : Gorakhaganja
Kannada : Bilihindisoppu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Cherula
Marathi : Kapurphutee, Kumrapindee
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Bhuikallan
Tamil : Cherupoolai
Telugu : Pindichettu, Kanda pindi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root – Tap-root, laterally branched, cylindrical, up to 0.8 cm in thickness and about 25 cm long pieces, externally light brown and rough but cut surface white and smooth; fracture, fibrous and hard.

Stem – Nearly cylindrical, branching alternate, external surface shows slight ridges and furrows, hairy and light brown in colour; cut surface white; fracture, granular.

Leaf – Simple, opposite, alternate, shortly petiolate, lamina 2.0 to 2.5 cm long and 1.0 to 1.6 cm broad, elliptic-orbicular or ovate, acute, reticulate veined, margin entire, densely pubescent on both surfaces.

Flower – Minute cluster as axillary spike; greenish-white; perianth 5, bracteolate; actinomorphic, bisexual; stamen 5, opposite to perianth, anthers 2 lobed; stigma bifid, superior ovary, unilocular with campylotropous ovule.

Fruit – A greenish, roundish, compressed membranous, utricle or circumscissile capsule with a coriaceous upper part or lid and containg a single seed.

Seed – Seed minute, 0.5 to 0.7 cm in dia., black, polished and kindney shaped; taste, pungent.

b) Microscopic

Root – Shows 5 to 7 layers of cork cells, upper 2 or 3 layers filled with brownish content; secondary cortex a wide zone consisting of circular to oval, elongated, thin walled parenchymatous cells, most of the cells containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; endodermis not distinct; pericycle present in the form of interrupted ring of pericyclic fibres; anamolous secondary growth present; secondary xylem and phloem tissues in form of 3 or 4 alternating rings; medullary bundles present; phloem consisting of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma; xylem consists of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma; vessels circular to oval having simple pits; pith cells circular in shape containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

Stem – Shows slightly wavy outline, corresponding to ridges and furrows; epidermis single layered covered with thick cuticle; trichomes multicellular, end cells pointed or vesicular, warty and thick walled; cortex 6 or 7 layers with 3 or 4 layers below ridges being collenchymatous and 3 or 4 layers below furrows chlorenchymatous; rest of the cells oval to elongated, elliptical, thin walled and parenchymatous, with a few cells containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; endodermis single layered; pericycle present in the form of a ring, single or groups of 2 to 4 fibres; anamolous secondary growth present; vascular bundles arranged in 2 or 3 rings showing included phloem alternating with parenchymatous tissue; phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma; xylem composed of vessels, tracheids, wood fibres and xylem parenchyma; vessels round to oval having simple pits; pith wide consisting of circular to polygonal having intercellular spaces, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in this region.

Leaf –
Petiole – Shows single layered epidermis covered with cuticle; trichomes multicellular present on both surfaces; cortex consisting of 2 or 3 layers, upper collenchymatous and lower parenchymatous; vascular bundle collateral and 3 in number; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in cortical cells.

Midrib – Epidermis, cuticle and trichomes, similar to those in petiole; cortex 5 to 7 layers, upper 3 collenchymatous and lower 3 or 4 circular, thin walled and parenchymatous; vascular bundles 3 in number, 2 accessory and one middle; xylem towards the upper and phloem towards lower epidermis; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in cortical region.

Lamina – Epidermis, cuticle and trichomes similar as in petiole and midrib; palisade 1 or 2 layers; spongy parenchyma 3 to 5 layers composed of thin walled parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces, a few rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in spongy parenchyma; anomocytic stomata present on both surfaces; palisade ratio 2 or 3; stomatal index on upper surface 12 to 15 and on lower surface 16 to 18; vein islet number 4 or 5 per square mm.

Powder – Yellowish-green; under microscope shows straight walled epidermal cells, multicellular trichomes and anomocytic stomata in surface view; simple pitted vessels, cork cells, tracheids, fibres and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 17 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 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Ethylacetate : Methanol (50: 50: 20) as mobile phase shows under UV (366 nm) ten fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.11 (sky blue), 0.27 (red), 0.47 (red), 0.51 (sky blue), 0.73 (sky blue), 0.82 (pink), 0.87 (sky blue), 0.91 (red), 0.94 (red) and 0.97 (dark red). On spraying with Anisaldehyde-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for about ten minutes at 105oC ten spots appear at Rf. 0.11, 0.23, 0.37, 0.51, 0.61,0.73, 0.85, 0.92 and 0.94 (all violet) and 0.97 (dark violet).

CONSTITUENTS – α- Amyrin and β – sitosterol, β – sitosterol palmitate, compesterol, chrysin, flavonoid glycosides and tannins.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Krmighna, Kaphahara, Vatahara, Mutravirecana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Satavaryadi Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Mutrakrcchra

DOSE – 50-100 ml in the form of decoction.

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PILUH (Fruit)

Piluh consists of fruit 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 : Gudaphala, Sransi, Pilu
Assamese : Arak, Irak
Bengali : Peelugachh, Jhal
English : Salt bush, Toothbrush Tree
Gujrati : Peelu, Khareejal
Hindi : Pilu, Jhak, Peelu, Kharjal
Kannada : Gonimara, Kankhina, Genumar
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Uka
Marathi : Pilu, Khakhan
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Peelu
Tamil : Kotumaavali, Chittuva, Perungoli, Udhaiputtai
Telugu : Gogu, Varagogu, Gunia
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruits are 3 to 5 mm in diameter, ellipsoid-ovoid, occasionally with a small pedicel attached; surface greenish or greenish-brown to dark brown in colour, with irregular wrinkles, sometimes shrunken; pericarp thin, easily separable, exhibiting creamish to dull brown seed, odour characteristic and taste bitter.

b) Microscopic

The epidermis is single layered consisting of thick walled, radially elongated cells covered externally with cuticle, the mesocarp differentiated into three zones, the outer and inner zone exhibiting thin walled parenchyma cells while a continuous zone of sclerenchymatous tissue with vascular bundles embedded in it is present in the middle region; testa shows single layered epidermis of thin walled cells followed by parenchymatous cells of the embryo containing aleurone grains and occasional oil globules.

Powder – Powder shows fragments of parenchymatous cells with aleurone grains and oil globules; scalariform, reticulate as well as border-pitted vascular elements; thick walled epidermal cells in surface view and sclereids.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 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 12 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 precoated Silica gel ‘G’ plate (Merck), using n- Butanol; Acetic acid; water (4:1:5), in visible light shows three spots at Rf.0.23, 0.80 (both light green) and 0.46 (light yellow); under UV (366 nm) two white spots appear at Rf.0.37 and 0.46; under UV (254nm) three spots appear at Rf.0.37 (white), 0.46 and 0.80 (both pink), on exposure to Iodine vapours four yellow spots appear at Rf.0.10, 0.37, 0.46 and 0.80, on spraying with vanillin sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 minutes, six spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.23 (both violet), 0.37, 0.40, 0.46 and 0.80 (all orange).

CONSTITUENTS – β- sitosterol, sterol glycoside, benzyle isothioagnate, traces of alkaloid, fixed oil, sugar and fat, non-saponifiable portion of oil consists of dibenzylurea and dibenzlethiourea.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sothahara, Bhedana, Dipana, Kaphahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Virecana, Vednasthapana, Sirovirccaka, Vidahi

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Misrakasneha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Arsa, Anaha, Gulma, Jvara, Mutrakrcchra, Sarpavisa, Udararoga, Visavikara, Bastivikara

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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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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PILUH (Root)

Piluh consists of root bark 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, Pilukah, Sransi
Assamese : —
Bengali : Jhaal, Peelugaach
English : Tooth brush Tree, Saltbush
Gujrati : Khaaree jaal, Peelu
Hindi : Jhak, Kharjaal, Peelu, Pilu
Kannada : Genumar, Gonimara, Kankhina
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Uka
Marathi : Khakhan, Pilu
Oriya : Kotungo, Toboto
Punjabi : Peelu
Tamil : Chittuva, Kotumaavali, Perungoli, Uthaiputtai
Telugu : Gogu, Gunia, Varagogu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The root bark is 2 to 3 mm thick, woody, channeled; pale brown with longitudinal wrinkles, exhibiting scars of roots and rootlets; inner surface creamish to yellowishbrown; fracture, short and smooth; odour, foetid and taste characteristic.

b) Microscopic

The bark shows a wide zone of cork occupying half of the transection; cork cells differentiated into two zones, outer zone consisting of small rectangular cells whereas the lower cells are larger, rectangular and tangentially elongated; phellogen single layered; the phelloderm consist of 10 to 20 layers of thin walled tangentially elongated parenchyma cells with small intercellular spaces; it is followed by a wide phloem being traversed by 2 to 5 seriate medullary rays; the phloem consists of usual element, a few fibres and isolated stone cells; several parenchyma cells are thick walled and arranged in somewhat radial rows in which stone cells and fibres are scattered; prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are present in the parenchyma cells of outer phloem and phelloderm regions.

Powder – Powder shows fragments of cork cells, thin walled parenchyma cells, thick walled and pitted parenchyma cells, prisms of calcium oxalate, fragment of thin walled fibres and stone cells, with thick walled and narrow central lumen.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 6 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 25 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel 60 plate (Merck), using Chloroform: Toluene; Methanol (10:75:15), shows under UV (254nm) one yellow fluorescence spot at Rf.0.46; on exposure to Iodine vapours four yellow spots appear at Rf. 0.17, 0.30, 0.46 and 0.67; on spraying with vanillin sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 minutes, seven spots appear at Rf. 0.11 (blue), 0.17, 0.23 (both violet), 0.30 (yellow), 0.35, 0.46 and 0.67 (all blue).

CONSTITUENTS – β-sitosterol and elementral γ- monoclinic sulphur (S-8) and glucotropmolin isolated from root.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Sara, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sirovirecaka, Sothahara, Bhedana, Dipana, Kaphahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Vedanasthapana, Vidahi, Virecana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Arsakuthara Rasa, Vaidurya Rasayana, Chitrakhadiya Taila, Triphaladi Gutika, Naracaka Curna, Vilvakhadhi Lepa, Pippalyadi Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Arsa, Bastivikara, Bhagandara, Dustavrana, Anaha, Gulma, Jvara, Krmi, Mutrakrcchra, Madyaja Trsna, Mukhapaka, Pliharoga, Sarpavisa, Udavarta, Udararoga, Vatarakta, Vrana, Yonivyapat, Nadivrana, Vranasotha, Sarvakustha, Apaci

DOSE – 10-20 g for decoction.

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POTAGALA (Root)

Potagala consists of dried root of Typha elephantina Roxb. (Fam.Typhacem), a perennial grass-like shrub, about 1.5-3.0 m in height and found throughout plains of India, in stagnant water and the sides of streams and marshes.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Eraka
Assamese : —
Bengali : Hogalaa
English : Elephant grass
Gujrati : Ghaabaajariyu
Hindi : Pateraa, Erakaa
Kannada : Apu, Jambuhullu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Raamabaan
Oriya : Hogala
Punjabi : Boj, Bori, Patiraa
Tamil : Anaikkoria, Anaippul
Telugu : Enugajammu, Jammuguddi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The roots are upto 15 cm long and about 4 mm thick, arising in groups from the base of the stem; pale brown to light brown in colour, irregularly flattened with longitudinal fissures giving rise to several secondary and tertiary rootlets from its lower end, transversely cut surface shows creamish to pale yellow central core; taste and odour indistinct.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows single layered epidermis, followed by wide cortex which can be differentiated into three zones; the outer cortical cells, below the epidermis consist of 5 to 7 layers of parenchyma cells arranged compactly followed by second zone consisting of circular to oval and tangentially elongated parenchyma cells; the central cortical region exhibits large air cavities lined by 1 or 2 layers of thin walled, compressed, narrow and radially elongated parenchyma cells – the trabiculm; the centre of the root exhibits a typical monocotyledonous structure consisting of alternating bands of xylem and phloem surrounded externally by endodermis and pericycle; the cells of endodermis show thickening on radial and lower tangential walls; except phloem cells all the cells below the pericycle are thick walled and lignified; the vascular cylinder exhibits presence of numerous very long fibres with narrow to negligible lumen; the vessels show scalariform thickening whereas the tracheids have scalariform thickening or border pits; the parenchyma cells are radially elongated and simple pitted.

Powder – The powdered drug exhibits fragments of thin walled circular to oval and also radially elongated parenchyma cells; fragments of trabeculm; fragments of fibres showing negligible to narrow lumen; scalariform vessels; scalariform and border-pitted tracheids and simple pitted thick walled parenchyma cells.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 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 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extracts on precoated Silica Gel 60 plate (Merck), using Chloroform: Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid (6:4:0.5), shows in visible light two spots at Rf. 0.89(light green) and 0.64(pale green); under U.V. (254nm) four spots appear at Rf.0.28(pinkish orange), 0.64(light orange), 0.78 and 0.81(both whitish); on exposures to iodine vapours 8 spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.19, 0.28, 0.45, 0.57, 0.64, 0.78 and 0.93 (all yellow); on spraying with 5% ethanolic sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 30 minutes 10 spots appear at Rf. 0.10(light violet), 0.19(violet), 0.28, 0.45(both faint brown), 0.57(violet), 0.64(dark brown), 0.78(blue), 0.81, 0.89 and 0.93(all faint brown).

CONSTITUENTS – β-sitosterol, cholestrol, quercetin and lanosterol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Caksusya, Grahi, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Pittahara, Vrsya, Vranaropana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sukumara Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Sopha, Daha, Mutrakrcchra, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Vatarakta, Visarpa, Vrana, Bastisotha, Sukradaurbalya

DOSE – 10-20 g for decoction.

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PUDINAH (mrial Part)

Pudinah consists of the mrial part of Mentha viridis Linn. syn. M. spicata var. viridis Linn. (Fam. Lamiacem) a perennial, creeping aromatic herb of 30 to 90 cm high, widely cultivated throughout the plains of India for culinary and medicinal purposes.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Putiha, Rocani, Podinakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Pudinaa
English : Spear-Mint, Garden Mint
Gujrati : Phudino
Hindi : Pudeenaa
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Pudinaa
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Parari pudina
Tamil : Pudeenaa
Telugu : Pudeenaa
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug consists of small chopped twigs; leaves opposite, decussate, shortly petiolate, petioles 2-mm long; mature leaves 2.5 to 3.5 cm long and 1.5 to 2.0 cm broad, very minutely hairy, ovate, apex acute, coarsely dentate, comparatively smoother and darker upper surface; stem square, minutely hairy, light brown to brown; flowers in loose cylindrical, slender spikes; awl like, throat of calyx naked, corolla smooth; seeds small, mucilaginous; aromatic odour and slightly pungent taste.

b) Microscopic

Stem – T.S. shows quadrangular outline with corner ridges and thin cuticle; epidermal cells tabular, multicellular uniserate trichomes present, cortex 8 to 9 cells deep below ridges, while 2 to 3 cells deep elsewhere, variable in size; endodermis single layer; pericycle broken, consisting of sclerenchymatous cells; phloem 2 to 4 cells deep and made up of irregular shaped cells; xylem vessels 26 to 46 n in dia; pith present.

Leaf –
Midrib: T.S. shows protruded mid rib towards the lower surface; compact parenchymatous cells enclose a crescent-shaped vascular bundle; collenchymatous cells are absent.

Lamina: Dorsiventral, epidermal cell walls of both the surfaces in the surface view are wavy, stomata diacytic; covering trichomes present on the lower surface, uniseriate, 1 to 4 cells long, 42 to 350 n in size with pointed apex; glandular trichomes 64 to 80 n in diam. with a single basal cell and a head of 8 cells, found in depression of the epidermis; a single row of palisade cells towards the upper side followed by spongy parenchyma 3 to 4 cells deep; palisade ratio 6 to 8; vein islet number 18 to 20; stomatal index for upper epidermis 10 to 20, lower epidermis 15 to 30.

Powder – Blackish-brown, fibrous, free flowing, characterized by the presence of uniseriate non-glandular hairs (112 to 350 n), glandular trichomes 64 to 80 n in diam, diacytic stomata, epidermal cell walls wavy.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 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 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Essential oil Not less than 0.2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of essential oil on silica gel ‘G’ plate using hexane : ethyl acetate (90:10) shows eight spots at Rf 0.28, 0.33, 0.38, 0.49, 0.55, 0.66, 0.80 and 0.88 on spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 15 minutes at 110oC.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil (0.2 to 0.8 percent) containing terpene such as carvone (60%) and limonene (10%) as major constituents.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Balya, Dipana, Kaphahara, Mutrala, Vatahara, Rocana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pudinarka

THERAPEUTIC USES – Jirna Jvara, Sula, Agnimandya, Ajirna, Aruci, Atisara, Svasa, Chardi, Adhmana, Hikka, Kasa, Krmi, Mutrakrcchra, Kasthartava, Prasutijvara, Mada, Visucika, Grahani, Vaktrajadya, Jvara

DOSE – 5-10 ml patra svarasa.
20-40 ml phanta.
1-3 drops taila.

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PULLANI (Leaf)

Pullani consists of leaf of Calycopteris floribunda Lam. (Fam. Combretacem), a scandent shrub, distributed in the deciduous forests of western Peninsula.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Pullani, Toyavalli, Karavelli
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Kokkarai
Kannada : Marsadabaguli, Enjarige Kubsa
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Pullaani, Varavalli
Marathi : Ukshi, Bogull
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Minnaarukoti, Pillani, Therulankodl
Telugu : Bandimurududu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The leaves are 7 to 12 cm by 4 to 6 cm ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, acute or acuminate, petiole 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm long; upper surface dull green, lower pale brown with prominent veins, both surfaces hairy; taste, astringent and odour characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Leaf –
Petiole – The transverse section exhibits a single layered epidermis with numerous unicellular covering as well as short stalked or sessile glandular trichomes with 12 to 16 celled head; wide cortex consisting of thin walled parenchymatous cells; a crescent shaped vascular bundle consisting of usual elements, surrounded dorsally as well as laterally by a sheath of fibres is present in the centre of petiole; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals are seen in some of the cortical cells.

Midrib – The transverse section shows single layered epidermis covered externally with cuticle; long, unicellular covering as well as short stalked or sessile glandular hairs with 12 to 16 heads present on both the surfaces; cortex consisting of thin walled parenchyma cells; a crescent shaped vascular bundle consisting of usual elements surrounded by a continuous ring of fibres present in the center of the cortex, rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals found in some of the cortical parenchyma cells.

Lamina – The epidermal cells have wavy outline in surface view; anamocytic stomata present on lower surface only; unicellular, long covering trichomes as well as glandular hair similar to those described under petiole, present on both surfaces but more pronounced on lower side. The transverse section shows dorsiventral structure with two layers of palisade cells below the upper epidermis; mesophyll represented by cells of spongy parenchyma and small vascular bundles and vascular strands; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals
seen in some of the cells of spongy parenchyma; stomatal index 23 to 29; palisade ratio 4 to 7 and vein islet number 5 or 6.

Powder – Pale green; shows fragments of upper epidermal cells with covering as well as glandular trichomes; lower epidermal cells with stomata, covering and glandular trichomes, fragments of fibres, reticulate and scalariform vascular elements; scattered covering and glandular trichomes and parenchyma cells with rosettes of calcium oxalate.

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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on precoated Silica gel ‘G’ plate (Merck), using Ethyl acetate: Methanol: Water (8:11:8) shows in visible light six spots at Rf. 0.13 (light brown), 0.49 (yellow), 0.61 (pale yellow), 0.71 (light yellow), 0.92 (dark yellow) and 0.96 (light orange); under U.V. (254 nm) four spots appear at Rf. 0.61, 0.71 (both white), 0.92 (yellow) and 0.96 (orange); on exposure to Iodine vapours five spots appear at Rf. 0.44, 0.61, 0.71 (all yellow), 0.92 (brown) and 0.96 (dark yellow); on spraying with vanillin sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 minutes, six spots appear at Rf.0.13, 0.44 (both faint brown), 0.61 (violet), 0.71 (faint brown), 0.92 (black) and 0.96 (dark green).

CONSTITUENTS – Octacesanol, sitosterol, calycopterin, 3’0-Methylcalycopterin, 4-0 methylcalycopterin, ellagic acid quercetin and proanthocyanidin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Pittahara, Bhedini, Vibandhahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Marma Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Jvara, Krmi, Kustha, Pandu

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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PULLANI (Root)

Pullani consists of root of Calycopteris floribunda Lam (Fam. Combretacem), a scandent shrub, distributed in the deciduous forests of western peninsula.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Karavelli, Pullani, Toyavalli
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Kokkarai
Kannada : Enjarige Kubsa, Marsadabaguli
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Pullaani, Varavalli
Marathi : Bogull, Ukshi
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Minnaarukoti, Pillani, Therulankodl
Telugu : Bandimurududu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The roots are upto 3 cm. in diameter occasionally with attached rootlets, surface with fine longitudinal wrinkles, buff brown to greyish-brown, bark very thin; fracture, tough and fibrous; taste and odour indistinct.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows narrow cork consisting of tangentially elongated cells, phelloderm is a narrow zone represented by thin walled and tangentially elongated parenchyma cells; phloem is composed of soft tissues; xylem is a solid cylinder consisting of vessels and tracheids showing bordered pits and reticulate thickening, simple pitted parenchyma cells and fibres; patches of interxylary phloem of soft tissues are seen in xylem region, the medullary rays are uniseriate; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals are present in some of the parenchyma cells of phloem and interxylary phloem.

Powder – Powder shows fragments of cork cells, parenchyma cells containing rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals, scattered rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals and fragments of vessels and tracheids showing bordered pits and reticulate thickening.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 2.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5 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 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ precoated plates (Merck), using Ethyl acetate:Methanol;Water (8:11:8) shows under UV (254nm) two spots at Rf.0.39 and 0.71(both faint blue); on spraying with 5% ethanolic sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 30 minutes, three spots appear at Rf. 0.39, 0.71 (both faint brown) and 0.88 (violet).

CONSTITUENTS – Octacesanol, sitosterol, calycopterin, 3’0-methylcalycopterin, 4-0 methylcalycopterin, ellagic acid, gossoypol and quercetin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedini, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vibandhahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Marma Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Jvara, Krmi, Kustha, Pandu

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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NANDI (Root)

Nandi consists of dried root of Ficus arnottiana Miq. (Fam. Moracem), a glabrous tree or shrub without mrial roots, found throughout India in rocky hills up to 1350 m altitude.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Parsvapippala, Prarohi, Gardhabhanda, Gajapadapa, Sthalidruma,
Nandivrksa
Assamese : —
Bengali : Kamru
English : —
Gujrati : Naandrukheevad
Hindi : Beliya Peepal
Kannada : Kadarasu, Kallarase
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Kallarayal
Marathi : Nandee vruksh, Naandruk
Oriya : Plokhyo
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Kagoli, Kodiarasu, Kallarasu
Telugu : Kallaravi, Kondaravi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug available in cut pieces with or without bark of varying size, 0.5 to 2.0 cm in thickness; external surface brownish in colour and slightly rough due to exfoliation of cork, cut surface, yellowish-brown in colour; fracture, fibrous; odour and taste not characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of root shows thick cuticle, single layered epidermis, cells rectangular followed by 3 or 4 layers of cork cells; cork cambium 2 to 4 layered; secondary cortex wide consisting of rectangular to polygonal thin walled pitted cells, some filled with reddish-brown substance; circular to elongated, lignified, elliptical stone cells, a few showing concentric striations present in this region; a few prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and abundant round to oval starch grains upto about 12 n in dia. present in cortical cells; endodermis and pericycle not distinct; secondary phloem shows a wide zone consisting of sieve tubes, companion cells, fibres and ray cells; phloem parenchyma contains prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and round to oval starch grains, laticiferous cells also present in this region; fibres non-lignified, thick walled with narrow lumen; secondary xylem elements thick walled and lignified; vessels and tracheids show bordered pits; medullary rays uni to multiseriate, wide towards peripheral region.

Powder : Light brown; under microscope shows groups of parenchyma; simple, round to oval starch grains, measuring upto 12 n in dia. and crystals, fragments of fibres, circular to elongated, elliptical stone cells, a few laticiferous cells and border pitted vessels and tracheids.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5 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 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract of the drug on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene : Chloroform (8:12 v/v) as mobile phase shows on exposure to Iodine vapour four spots at Rf. 0.25, 0.37, 0.75 and 0.89 (all yellow). On spraying with Anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 105o C. The same four spots appear violet at Rf. 0.25, 0.37, 0.75 and 0.89.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Grahi, Kaphahara, Medohara, Pittahara, Bhagnasandhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Bhagna, Daha, Kaphavikara, Raktapitta, Raktavikara, Visavikara, Vrana, Yonidosa

DOSE – 10 – 20 g powder.
30 – 50 g decoction.

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PULLANI (Stem)

Pullani consists of stem of Calycopteris floribunda Lam. (Fam. Combretacem), a scandent shrub, distributed in the deciduous forests of western peninsula.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Karavelli, Pullani, Toyavalli
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Kokkarai
Kannada : Enjarige Kubsa, Marsadabaguli
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Pullaani, Varavalli
Marathi : Bogull, Ukshi
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Minnaarukoti, Pillani, Therulankodl
Telugu : Bandimurududu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Pieces of stem cylindrical, about 8 to 10 mm thick, surface light brown, smooth; bark thin, easily separable; fracture hard and fibrous; taste and odour indistinct.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of stem shows narrow cork consisting of rectangular and tangentially elongated cells, phelloderm exhibits 5 to 8 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells; phloem is composed of soft tissues being traversed by uniseriate medullary rays; xylem is a wide zone consisting of scalariform and reticulate vessels with transverse or lateral wall perforations and tracheids, simple pitted fibres and parenchyma cells; medullary rays are uniseriate; patches of interxylary phloem made up of soft tissues are seen in this region; intraxylary phloem is present at the periphery of pith; the pith consists of thin walled parenchyma cells with isolated stone cells; rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals scattered in phloem and interxylary phloem.

Powder – Light brown; shows fragments of vascular elements, scalariform and reticulate vessels and tracheids, stone cells, pitted fibres and parenchyma, thin walled parenchyma cells, parenchyma cells with rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals and isolated rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 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 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 2.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ precoated plates (Merck), using Ethyl acetate:Methanol:Water (8:11:8) shows in visible light two spots at Rf. 0.89 (light yellow) and 0.94 (dark yellow); under UV (254nm) four spots appear at Rf. 0.30, 0.51, 0.58 (all light blue) and 0.89 (yellow); on exposure to Iodine vapours four spots appear at Rf. 0.34, 0.51, 0.58 and 0.89 (all yellow); on spraying with 5% ethanolic sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 30 minutes, five spots appear at Rf. 0.34, 0.51, 0.58, 0.89 (all faint brown) and 0.94 (black).

CONSTITUENTS – Octacesanol, sitosterol, calycopterin, 3’0-Methylcalycopterin, 4-0 methylcalycopterin, ellagic acid.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedini, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vibandhahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Marma Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Jvara, Krmi, Kustha, Pandu

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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NILAJHINTI (Root)

Nilajhinti consists of root of Barleria strigosa Willd. (Fam. Acanthacem), a tall herb which is distributed throughout the upper gangentic plain and southern parts of India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Dasi, Bana, Krsna, Saireyakah, Nilasaireyakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Jhaati, Kaaraajaati
English : —
Gujrati : Kaataseriyo
Hindi : Nili, Katsaraiya
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Nilakurnni
Marathi : Koraanti, Wahiti
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Shemmuli
Telugu : Mullugorant, Nilambaramu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Branched tap root, 2 to 10 mm in thickness; knotty and thicker at the transition zone with stem; dark brown; cut pieces of about 20 cm in length; cut or broken surface straw coloured and split; surface of fractured part smooth; bark sloughing off from broken areas; unpleasant odour; tasteless, texture rough.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of root reveals a circular outline; outer layers generally sloughed off; but strips of cork, cork cambium and cortex with occasional stone cells may be present; phloem composed mostly of parenchyma and fibres and separated from xylem by a flattened layer of cambium; xylem composed of thick walled cells and vessel elements and interrupted by 1 to 3 seriate rays made of squarish or rectangular cells radiating from 8 to 12 points of primary xylem elements present at the periphery of the pith; 1 or 2 growth rings visible in the wood region; pith made of large, angular, compactly arranged, thin walled cells. In dried market samples the pith region usually shows radial fractures; some cells of the pith show dark contents.

Powder – Powder shows vascular elements with simple pitted thickenings, and tracheidal cells having pointed end walls. Stone cells, 60 to 120 n present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6 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 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on slica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using ethylacetate : methanol : water (9:0.5:0.5) as the mobile phase shows under U.V. (366nm) spots at Rf 0.13 (Blue); 0.20 (Bluish green); 0.35 (Fluorescent blue); 0.44 (Blue); 0.62 (Purplish blue); 0.82 (Blue); 0.91 (Orange).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kesya, Mutrala, Vatakaphahara, Visaghna, Kesaranjana, Garbhavrddhi Kara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Manikya Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Kasa, Kandu, Kustha, Musikavisa, Mutrakrcchra, Raktavikara, Vatarakta, Vatajanyaksaya, Siragranthi, Dantaroga

DOSE – 10 – 20 ml swarasa.
50 – 100 ml kvatha.

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PUTIKARANJA (Stem Bark)

Putikaranja is the dried stem bark of Cmsalpinia crista Linn. (Fam. Cmsalpiniacem); a prickly, shruby climber found throughout India upto an altitude of 1200 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Cirabilvah, Putikah, Prakiryah
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : Indian elm
Gujrati : Charela, Kanajho
Hindi : Chilbil, Kanju, Banchillaa, Paapari
Kannada : Tapasigida
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Avil, Nettavil
Marathi : Baavalaa
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Chirbil
Tamil : Avali, Aapa
Telugu : Tapasi, Nemalinara
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Bark curved, 0.8 to 1.5 mm thick, dark reddish or nearly blackish in colour with a number of sharp prickles; inner surface light brown to dark brown and smooth; fracture, short; odourless; slightly astringent in taste.

b) Microscopic

Stem bark– T.S. of stem bark consists of layers of radially tiered cork, covered by degenerated dark layers of dead cells of cork, followed by 16 to 22 layers of phelloderm; phelloderm cells are thin walled, parenchymatous; some cells are filled with starch grains that are spherical, variable in size measuring from 1.5 to 5 nm, with a centric hilum; rosettes or prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate also present; stone cells are present in the form of a continuous ring; secondary phloem consists of companion cells, sieve cells; phloem parenchyma and thick walled phloem fibres in groups, traversed by medullary rays; simple, rarely compound starch grains and clusters crystals of calcium oxalate also found in secondary phloem region.

Powder– Light brown, easily flowable, taste-slightly astringent, odourless; shows the presence of simple to compound starch grains composed of 2 to 4 components; prismatic and rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals; cork in surface view, sclereids, phloem fibres, parenchymatous cells contains prismatic and clusters of calcium oxalate.

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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 7 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 alcoholic extract of stem bark powder on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Formic acid: Glacial acetic acid (82: 14.5: 4.5) under UV light (365 nm) shows one fluorescent zone at Rf. 0.70 (green). On exposure to iodine vapour, six spots appear at Rf. 0.06, 0.25, 0.68, 0.72, 0.86 and 0.95 (all yellow).

CONSTITUENTS – Flavonoid, Saponins and Alkaloids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sothahara, Bhedaniya, Dipana, Krmighna, Slesmasamsamana, Anulomana, Lekhaniya, Visghna, Aparapatana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Visnu Taila, Indukanta Ghrta, Pramehamihira Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Arsa, Svitra, Gulma, Kandu, Kustha, Prameha, Tvakroga, Udara, Vrana, Pakva-Sopha, Slipada, Vataja Sula, Sula, Masurika, Amlapitta, Sarira-Durgandha

DOSE – 50-100 ml. in the form of decoction.

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NIMBA (Root Bark)

Nimba consists of dried root bark of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. syn. Melia azadirachta Linn. (Fam. Meliacem), a medium to large evergreen tree attaining a height of 15 to 20 m or more under favourable conditions and found throughout the plains of India upto an altitude of 900 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Picumaradah, Aristah, Picumandah, Prabhadrah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Nim, Nimgaachh
English : Margosa Tree, Neem Tree, Indian Lilac
Gujrati : Leemado
Hindi : Neem
Kannada : Turakbevu, Huchchabevu, Chikkabevu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Veppu, Aryaveppu, Aaruveppu
Marathi : Kadunimba, Nimb
Oriya : Neemo, Nimba
Punjabi : Nimb, Nim
Tamil : Vempu, Veppu
Telugu : Vemu, Vepa
Urdu : Neem

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root bark available in quilled or curved pieces of varying sizes with a thickness of 0.25 to 0.50 cm; outer surface irregular, rough, scaly, fissured, reddish-brown or greyish- brown; inner surface, yellowish-brown with parallel striations; fracture, splintery and fibrous; odour like that of saw dust; taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Root bark shows cork, cortex and phloem; cork generally 6 or 7 layers of polygonal and thin walled cells with reddish-brown contents; outer cortex of tangentially elongated large rectangular cells with tangentially elongated sclereids, singly or in groups in isolated patches; sclereids vary in size and wall thickness, distinctly striated, pitted and often associated with cells containing crystal; inner cortex of polygonal parenchymatous cells with bundles of sclerenchymatous fibres, thick walled with irregular lumen; secondary phloem composed of alternating tangential bands of bast fibres and parenchymatous tissues intercepted by uni to biseriate phloem rays; abundant starch grains present in parenchymatous cells of cortex and phloem; starch grains simple, or more usually, compound with 2 or 3 components, hilum cleft or radiate, individual grain 5 to 20 n; abundant prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate in cortex, of 10 to 15 n, also associated with phloem fibres; idioblasts with reddish-brown contents seen in cortex; cells with fat droplets seen in inner cortex and phloem.

Powder – Reddish-brown; shows cork cells; numerous prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate both isolated, and in association with phloem fibres; individual fibres with narrow lumen and elongated tapering ends; pitted macrosclereids with wide lumen and distinct striations; simple, and compound starch grains with 2 or 3 components, of 5 to 20 n in size; parenchymatous cells large and occasionally filled with brown contents.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using hexane : ethyl acetate (1:1) shows spots at Rf 0.08, 0.12, 0.19 (all violet), 0.25 (mustard yellow), 0.33, 0.39, 0.46 (all light violet) and 0.82 (purple) on spraying with 1% Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent followed by heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Tetranortriterpenoids, margocin, nimbidiol, nimbolicin, azadirinin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kandughna, Sitagrahi, Ahrdya, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Rucya Dipana, Visaghna, Vransodhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Amrtastaka, Astangadasanga Lanha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Aruci, Svasa, Chardi, Daha, Dusta Vrana, Grahani, Jvara, Kasa, Krmiroga, Kaphavikara, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Trsa, Hrllasa, Yakrtvikara, Hrdayavidaha, Vamana

DOSE – 3 – 6 g.

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RENUKA (Seed)

Renuka consists of dried fruit of Vitex negundo Linn. (Fam. Verbenacem) a small tree with triplicate to pentafoliate leaves and bluish inflorescence, found throughout India. Note : ‘Renuka’ is the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus Linn., a plant of foreign origin according to the AFI. However, since they are not available in the market, the recognised substitute fruits of Vitex negundo have been taken here as Renuka. ‘Nirgundi’ is the dried leaf of Vitex negundo

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Rajaputri, Nandini, Kapila, Dvija, Bhasmagandha, Pandupatri,
Harenuka
Assamese : —
Bengali : Renuka, Kauntee, Renuka Beej
English : Chaste-Tree, Hemp-Tree
Gujrati : Harenu, Renuka
Hindi : Renukaa, Renuka, Sambhaalooka Beej
Kannada : Renuka
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Renuka Beej
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Yettee
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The fruit is a rounded drupe, 1 to 3 mm in diameter, 1/3 rd to 3/4 th of its size surrounded by a dull grey cup like, persistent calyx alongwith pedicel; calyx cup may show one or two vertical splits; fruit colour light brown to black; locules two, each containing two seeds; texture smooth, taste and odour not characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Fruit shows a circular outline; the outermost layer consists of compact, rounded or barrel shaped epidermals cells; epidermis bears abundant, characteristic bicelled, bent or wavy trichomes; distal cell of the trichomes generally broken; the subepidermal ground tissue comprising the mesocarp, composed of thin walled, angular cells which overarch between the two loculi of the fruit at the distal end; mesocarp also contains a ring of vascular strands; thick walled lignified cells inner to mesocarp comprise the endocarp; each loculus contains l or 2 flattened seeds; calyx consists of an outer epidermal layer of small cells followed by a central tissue of thin walled angular cells.

Powder -The powder shows stone cells, bicellular trichomes and groups of vessels with scalariform thickenings beside tissue fragments comprising both thin and thick walled cells.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 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 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol (8-2), shows under U.V. (366nm) spots at Rf. 0.36 (Blue), 0.52 (Yellowish green), 0.57 (Bluish green), 0.63 (Bluish green), 0.71 (Blue), 0.84 (Blue), 0.93 (Bluish green); on spraying with anisaldehyde- sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at110oC under U.V. (366nm) spots appear at Rf. 0.04 (Greyish Black), 0.58 (Blue), 0.73 (Blue), 0.90 (Blue), 0.97 (Yellow). T.L.C. of the n-Hexane extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : ethylacetate (95:5) shows under U.V. (366nm) spots at Rf 0.13 (Green), 0.27 (Green), 0.34 (Green), 0.44 (Green), 0.51 (Green), 0.66 (Green), 0.77 (Green), 0.84 (Green), 0.90 (Dark Green); on spraying with anisaldehyde: sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110o C under U.V. (366nm) spots appear at Rf 0.13 (Yellow), 0.27 (Yellow), 0.34 (orange yellow), 0.44 (Light yellow), 0.51 (Greenish Yellow), 0.65 (Pale yellow), 0.77 (pale yellow), 0.84 (Yellow), 0.90 (Yellow).

CONSTITUENTS – Seeds contain hydrocarbons such as n-tritriacontane, nhentriacontane, n-pentatriacontane and nonacosane. Other constituents of the seeds include β- sitosterol, phydroxybenzoic acid and 5 oxyisophthalic acid.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipani, Kaphahara, Medhya, Pacani, Vatahara, Visaghna, Pittakara, Garbhapatini, Mukhavaimalyakara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pramehamihira Taila, Vasacandanadi Taila, Candanadi Taila, Dasamularista, Sarsvatarista, Mahayogaraja Guggulu, Anutaila, Balasvagandha Laksadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Dadru, Daurbalya, Gulma, Kasa, Kandu, Netraroga, Trsna, Klaibya

DOSE – 1-3 g.

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NIMBA (Flower)

Nimba consists of dried flower and flower bud of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. syn. Melia azadirachta Linn. (Fam. Meliacem), a medium to large size evergreen tree attaining a height of 15 to 20 m or more under favourable conditions and found through-hout the plains of India upto an altitude of 900 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Aristah, Picumandah, Picumaradah, Prabhadrah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Nim, Nimgaachh
English : Indian Lilac, Margosa Tree, Neem tree
Gujrati : Leemado
Hindi : Neem
Kannada : Chikkabevu, Huchchabevu, Turakbevu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Aaruveppu, Aryaveppu, Veppu
Marathi : Nimb, Kadunimb
Oriya : Neemo, Nimba
Punjabi : Nim, Nimba
Tamil : Vempu, Veppu
Telugu : Vemu, Vepa
Urdu : Neem

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Dried flowers are brown to deep brown; individual flower 5 to 6 mm long and 6 to 11 mm wide, pentamerous, bisexual, regular and hypogynous; calyx 5, short, united at base; corolla 5, free, spathulate, spreading, 4.5 to 5.5 mm long 2 mm wide; stamens 10, monoadelphous, staminal tube inserted at base of corolla; gynoecium tricarpellary, syncarpous, superior, trilocular, two ovules in each locule, style 1, stigma 3-lobed; taste, mildly bitter: odour, indistinct.

b) Microscopic

Calyx – Sepal shows thin walled polygonal papillose epidermis; elongated thin walled unicellular conical trichomes of varying lengths; rosette crystals in cells of epidermis.

Petals – Petal shows epidermis of rectangular cells papillose at margins, non-glandular unicellular trichomes, over 150 n long, tubular and hyaline; glandular trichomes of about 20 n, numerous rosette crystals in epidermal cells.

Androecium – Epidermis of staminal tube composed of thick walled rectangular parenchymatous cells and the endothecium of the anther walls.

Gynoecium – Stigma sticky, parenchymatous epidermal cells, elongated into extensive papillm, style thin walled, rectangular, ovary superior, trilocular.

Pollen Grain – Porous, 4-colporate, spherical 105 to161n in dia., with a smooth exine.

Powder – Yellowish-brown, fragments of parenchymatous papillose epidermal cells, trichomes, numerous vessels, rosette calcium oxalate crystals, and yellowish-brown pollen grains.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 5 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : acetone (20:1) shows spots at Rf 0.12 (violet), 0.17 (light pink), 0.33 (violet), 0.51 (purple), 0.64 (dark purple), 0.80 (light purple), 0.85 (light purple), 0.92 (purple) on spraying with 1% Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent followed by heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – 15-Acetoxy-7-deacetoxydihydroazadirone (neeflone),nonacosane (saturated hydrocarbon)

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Caksusya, Krmighna, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vatakara, Visaghna, Kusthaghna, Grahi.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kusthakalamla Rasa, Kustha Sailendra Rasa, Krmivinasana Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Aruci, Chardi, Daha, Hrllasa, Jvara, Kasa, Krmi, Kandu, Kustha, Netraroga, Phiranga, Prameha, Raktavikara, Trsna, Visamajvara, Vrana, Kaphapittaja Vikara, Srama, Hrdayavidaha

DOSE – 2 – 4 g puspa curna.
10 – 20 ml puspa svarasa.

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RIDDHI (Tuber)

Riddhi consists of dried tuber of Habenaria intermedia D.Don (Fam. Orchidacem); a glabrous, small, erect, herbaceous plant found in temperate Himalayas, upto 2000 m commercial samples are usually processed in steam or boiling water and dried before marketing.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Asvasini
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : —
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : —
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : —
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Unprocessed tubers are 1.5 to 3.5 cm long and 1.0 to 2.5 cm thick, oval, obovate or oblong in shape; buff to yellowish brown, with shrunken surface, covered with numerous fine hairs; internally white to creamish in colour; showing scars of mrial portion at the apex and beaked or sometime round base; odourless; taste, palatable and mucilaginous. Processed tubers; with scar or attached stem on top; 1.5 to 3.0 cm in length and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in width, conical, tapering to a beaked base, surface rough, occasionally grooved, grayish-brown; very hard to break; fractured surface show creamy interior; taste palatable and mucilaginous; odourless.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of unprocessed tuber shows 2 to 3 layered epidermis with long unicellular hairs, followed by a distinct exodermis and 15 to 20 layers of cortical parenchyma, cells of which in proximity of exodermis are smaller as compared to the remaining cells of cortex region; a few parenchymatous cells of outer cortex contain bundles of rephides. It is followed by a typical polystelic condition consisting of 14 to 16 diarch steles arranged in a ring and 7 to 10 steles distributed among the parenchyma in the central region; schizogenous mucilage canals lined by an epithelium of usually 6 to 9 cells are found distributed throughout the parenchymatous tissue; small and large starch grains mostly of simple type are found distributed in abundance throughout the parenchyma as well as in the epithelial cells of mucilage canals; the smaller ones are mostly found with hilum as a point or cleft and large one are round to oval with centrally situated hilum in the form of a point or cleft or triangular or 2 to 3 stellate cleft. The processed tubers show no anatomical changes except the gelatinized starch grains.

Powder – The powder shows the presence of a large number of starch grains, long needle shaped raphides in bundles or isolated; fragments of root hairs, mucilage canals, parenchymatous cells and vessels with scalariform thickening.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 5 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 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 22 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ precoated plates (Merck), using Toluene : Methanol (84:16) shows in visible light four spots at Rf. 0.41, 0.35 (both light yellow, 0.22 and 0.16 (both pink); under UV rays (254nm) three spots appear at Rf. 0.79 (white), 0.67 (dark blue) and 0.39 (yellow), on exposure to iodine vapours five spots appear at Rf.0.79, 0.41, 0.35, 0.22 and 0.16 (all yellow); on spraying with 5% vanillin sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 minutes, nine spots appear at Rf. 0.79, 0.67, 0.61, 0.41, 0.39, 0.35, 0.22 and 0.19 ( all pink) and 0.16 (violet).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Pittahara, Rasayana, Tridosasamaka, Vatahara, Vrsya, Sukrajanana, Ojovardhaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asoka Ghrta, Amrtaprasa Ghrta, Dasamularista, Chagaladya Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Jvara, Ksaya, Raktavikara, Murccha

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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NIMBA (Fruit)

Nimba consists of whole dried fruit including seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. syn. Melia azadirachta Linn. (Fam. Meliacem), a medium to large size evergreen tree attaining a height of 15 to 20 m or more under favourable conditions and found throughhout the plains of India upto an altitude of 900 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Aristah, Picumandah, Picumaradah, Prabhadrah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Nim, Nimgaachh
English : Indian Lilac, Neem tree, Margosa tree
Gujrati : Leemado
Hindi : Neem
Kannada : Chikkabevu, Huchchabevu, Turakbevu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Aaruveppu, Aryaveppu, Veppu
Marathi : Kadunimb, Nimb
Oriya : Neemo
Punjabi : Nim, Nimb
Tamil : Vempu, Vembu
Telugu : Vemu, Vepa
Urdu : Neem

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit – Glabrous, dark reddish-brown, ovoid to ellipsoid drupes. 0.5 to 2 cm long, over one cm wide; indehiscent, deeply wrinkled, enclosing a single seed in a brownish leathery pulp; odour strong; taste, bitter.

Seed– Brownish, dorsally convex; upto 1.5 cm long and 0.6 cm wide; seed coat thin, brownish, shell-like, cracks to touch, inside of cracked pieces golden yellow; seed kernel, light brown, oily; odour, strong; taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Fruit – Pericarp well differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp; epidermis more than one layered; squarish to rectangular cells containing yellowishbrown contents and oil droplets; mesocarp, many layered of loosely packed cells with large elongated sclereids scattered in outer layers; endocarp of two distinct layers, outer of closely packed lignified stone cells, inner fibrous, loosely packed, lignified.

Seed – Seed kernel shows a thin brown testa, of isodiametric stone cells overlying integument of loosely packed parenchymatous cells; cotyledon consisting of parenchymatous cells containing abundant oil droplets.

Powder – Dark brown; shows abundant brachysclereids, columnar sclereids and pitted stone cells with wide lumen and distinct wall striations; groups of lignified fibres, thinwalled, arranged in network of loose strands; parenchymatous cells of cotyledon containing aleurone grains and oil globules; fragments of testa showing distinctly striated isodiametric stone cells; a few scattered rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8 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 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : acetone (18.5:1.5) shows spots at Rf 0.11 (greyish violet), 0.16 (yellow), 0.19 (green), 0.24 (violet), 0.29 (grey), 0.33 (mustard yellow), 0.42 (pink), 0.49 (greyish black), 0.57 (violet) and 0.76 (light purple) on spraying with 1% Vanillin- Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Fixed oil containing diterpenoids and triterpenoids (limonoids);nimbin, gedunin, azadirachtin, nimbidinin, salanin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Rasayana, Vatahara, Visaghna, Bhedaniya, Hrdayadahahara, Pacana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Arsoghnivati(Seed), Palasabijadi Curna (Seed)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Siroroga, Sotha, Arsa, Aruci, Chardi, Daha, Gulma, Hrllasa, Jvara, Krmi, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Visavikara, Vibandha, Vrana, Palitya, Netraruja, Ksata Ksaya, Khalitya, Gandamala

DOSE – 1 – 2 g curna.
5 – 10 drops of oil.

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