MANJISTHA (Stem)
Manjistha consists of dried stem of Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Fam. Rubiacem); a perennial herbaceous prickly creeper or climber upto 10m long, found throughout the country ascending to 3750 m.
SYNONYMS
Sansk. : Yojnavalli, Vastrarajini, Rakta
Assam. : Phuvva
Beng. : Manjistha, Manjith
Eng. : Indian Maddar
Guj. : Manjitha
Hindi. : Manjitha, Manjit
Kan. : Manjustha
Kash. : —
Mal. : Manjatti
Mar. : Manjihtha
Ori. : —
Punj. : Manjistha, Manjit
Tam : Manjitte
Tel. : Manjishtha
Urdu. : Majeeth
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Stem slender, more or less cylindrical, slightly flattened, wiry, about 0.5 cm thick, brown to purple coloured; surface scabrous, stiff and grooved with longitudinal cracks; prickles present in the immature stem; nodes distinct having two leaf scars, one on either side; fracture, short.
b) Microscopic
Mature stem shows exfoliating cork, ruptured at places, forming dome-shaped structure, consisting of 3-12 or more layered radially arranged, squarish and tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, appearing polygonal in surface view; secondary cortex 3-5 layered consisting of tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, some of which contain acicular crystals of calcium oxalate as isolated or in bundles; a few cells contain sandy crystals as black granular masses; secondary phloem, a wide zone of reddish colour, composed of sieve elements and phloem parenchyma, fibres absent; phloem parenchyma smaller towards inner side gradually becoming larger and tangentially elongated towards periphery, a few cells contain sandy crystals of calcium oxalate; secondary xylem forms a continuous cylinder of reddish colour, composed of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma; vessels numerous, distributed uniformly throughout xylem, larger towards outer side and smaller towards centre; in macerated preparation, vessels show great variation in shape and size having lignified walls and pitted thickening; xylem fibres thick-walled, long and short, longer ones have narrow lumen while shorter ones have wide lumen with pitted thickenings; xylem parenchyma also vary in shape and size having pitted or reticulate thickening; centre occupied by narrow pith consisting of thinwalled, parenchymatous cells, a few cells contain sandy crystals of calcium oxalate.
Powder – Pink; shows numerous fragments of cork, lignified xylem vessels, tracheids, and fibres with pitted and reticulate xylem parenchyma having red coloured contents; acicular and sandy crystals as black granular masses.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.2
Total ash Not more than 12 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 3 Per cent, Appendix 2.2.6
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 17 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. 0.92 (grey) and 0.98 (green). Under UV (366 nm) two fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.92 (grey) and 0.98 (pink). On exposure to Iodine vapour six spots appear at Rf. 0.28, 0.37, 0.53, 0.72, 0.92 and 0.98 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110°C six spots appear at Rf. 0.28, 0.37 (both grey), 0.53 (bluish grey), 0.72 (grey), 0.92 (grey) and 0.98 (violet
CONSTITUENTS – Glycosides
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Guru
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Krmighna, Kaphapittasamaka, Svarya, Vrsya, Varnya, Visa, Sothaghna, Kusthaghna, Pramehaghna, Stambhan, Artavajanana, Rasanyana, Sonitasthapana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Arvindasava, Asvagandharista, Usirasava, Candanasava, Brhanmanjisthadi Kvatha, Manjisthadi Taila, Khadiradi Gutika (Mukha)
THERAPEUTIC USES – Yoni Roga, Aksi Roga. Slesmaja Sotha, Karpa Roga, Manjistha Meha, Raktatisara, Kustha, Visarpa, Prameha, Sarpavisa, Bhagna, Arsa, Vyanga
DOSE – 2-4 g. of the drug.