Ayurvedic Herbs

VASA (Root)

Vasa consists of dried root of Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. Syn. A. vasica Nees (Fam. Acanthacem); a sub-herbaceous bush, found throughout the year in plains and sub-Himalayan tracts of the country ascending upto 1200 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vrsa, Atarusa, Vasaka, Simhasya, Vajidana
Assamese : Titabahak, Bahak, Vachaka
Bengali : Bakas, Basak
English : Vasaka, Malabar Nut tree
Gujrati : Ardusi, Aradusi, Araduso
Hindi : Adoosa, Arusa, Aduss
Kannada : Adusoye
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Adalodakam, Adarooshaka
Marathi : Adulsa, Vasa
Oriya : Vasanga, Basanga
Punjabi : Vishuti, Bhekar, Vansa, Arusa
Tamil : Adatodai
Telugu : Adda, Saramu
Urdu : Adusa(Arusa)

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug occurs in cut pieces of 8 to 13 cm long, 1.5 to 3.0 cm in dia.; hard, woody, almost cylindrical, tap root having lateral branches, rough due to longitudinal cracks or fissures; greyish-brown to dark brown externally; creamish-white internally; fracture, hard; taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Shows 6 to 15 layers of rectangular to slightly tangentially elongated, thin-walled cork cells; secondary cortex wide consisting of rectangular to polygonal, thin-walled parenchymatous cells a few containing oil globules, followed by more or less discontinuous, annular band of mostly rectangular groups of stone cells having distinct pits and striations; secondary phloem composed of 15 to 20 layered, rectangular, elongated, thin-walled cells having usual elements; secondary xylem composed of vessels, fibres, parenchyma and rays; vessel simple pitted; xylem rays mostly uniseriate, a few four seriate rays are also present; starch grains simple and compound, with 2 to 3 components, round to oval, 3 to 6 n in dia., having concentric striations and hilum, present in secondary cortex and secondary phoem.

Powder – Brownish-grey; shows fragments of cork cells; simple pitted vessels; stone cells mostly in groups; starch grains simple and compound having 2 to 3 components, round to oval, 3 to 6 n in dia. having concentric striations and hilum.

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 4 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 on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Chloroform: Methanol (80 : 20) shows under U.V. (366 nm) four fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.57, 0.63 (both red), 0.83 (sky blue) and 0.87 (yellow). On exposure to Iodine vapour six spots appear at Rf. 0.07, 0.27, 0.52, 0.72, 0.87 and 0.93 (all yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent two spots appear at Rf. 0.27 and 0.52 (both orange).

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (Vasicine and Vasicinol) and Oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Hrdya, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Raktasodhaka, Svara, Vivardhaka, Vatakrt

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Cyavanaprasa Avaleha, Kanakasava, Brhata Manjisadi Kvatha Curna, Pancatikta Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Svasa, Chardi, Jvara, Kasa, Krmi, Ksaya, Kustha, Meha, Raktapitta, Trsa, Vata Roga

DOSE – 3-6 gm.

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VISAMUSTHI (Seed)

Visamushti consists of dried seed of Strychnos nux-vomica Linn. (Fam. Fabacem), a tree, upto a height of 9 to 15 m found throughout tropical parts of the country upto 360 m
altitude in the moist deciduous forest. Seed is poisonous and can produce ill effects.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Karaskara, Visatindu, Kakatinduka
Assamese : Ajraki, Habbul gurab, Kucila
Bengali : Kuchila
English : Poison-nut tree, Nux vomica
Gujrati : Konchala, Jher Kochla, Kuchla, Zer Kochalu
Hindi : Kuchala, Kuchila, Bish tendu
Kannada : Kanjihemushti, Manjira, Hemmushti, Ittongi, Kasarkayi
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Kajjl, Kanniram
Marathi : Kajra, Kuchla
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Kuchla
Tamil : Yettimaram, Kakotee, Ettikottai, Ettikkai
Telugu : Mushti, Mushini
Urdu : Azaraqi, Kuchla

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds greenish-grey to grey, extremely hard, silky to touch with a satiny sheen; disc-shaped, almost flat, umbonate but a few seeds somewhat irregularly bent, 10 to 30 mm in diameter, 4 to 6 mm thick, margin rounded or depressed; when cut open, endosperm found to be horny, having a central cavity in which the embryo is situated with two small, thin, cordate, leafy cotyledons with 5 to 7 veins and a terete radicle; odourless.

b) Microscopic

Seed shows single layered epidermis, each epidermal cell elongated externally to form closely appresed trichomes, lignified, comprising of pitted bulbous base and a thick-walled narrowly elongated, projection; trichome slightly bent beyond the base, with about ten strongly lignified ribs of thickenings; inner testa composed of collapsed parenchymatous cells with yellowish-brown contents; outermost layer of endosperm consists of palisade-like cells while the inner layers have thick-walled, cellulosic polyhedral cells, showing plasmodesmata; endosperm cells also contain oil, and aleurone grams.

Powder – Greenish-grey; shows narrowly elongated and slightly bent thick-walled, lignified trichomes with bulbous base without ramification, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells filled with yellowish-brown content, oil globules and aleurone grains.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.2 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Assay Not less than 1.2 per cent of strychnine

ASSAY

Weigh accurately about 109 in fine powder, add 100 ml of a 33 per cent v/v mixture of chloroform in solvent ether and set aside for ten minutes. Add 5 ml of dilute ammonia solution and shake continuously for six hours. Transfer to a continuous extraction apparatus with more of the same solvent mixture and extract for two hours. Filter the solvent extract, washing the filter with solvent ether and extract with successive quantities of 20 ml, 20 ml , 10 ml and 10 ml of 1N sulphuric acid, until complete extraction of the alkaloids is effected. Combine the acid extracts and make alkaline with dilute ammonia solution. Extract with successive quantities of 20 ml, 20 ml ml and 10 ml of chloroform until complete extraction of the alkaloids is effected. Evaporate the chloroform, add 5 ml of alcohol and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in a mixture of 15 ml of a 3 per cent w/v solution of sulphuric acid and 2 ml of nitric acid, add a few crystals of sodium nitrite and set aside at 18oC for thirty minutes. Transfer to a separator containing 20 ml of solution of sodium hydroxide, shake for two minutes and then shake with 20 ml of chloroform, separate the chloroform solution, wash it with 5 ml of solution of sodium hydroxide and then with two quantities each of 10 ml of water. Continue the extraction with successive quantities of 10 ml of chloroform, until complete extraction of the alkaloids is effected, washing each chloroform solution separately with the 5 ml of solution of sodium hydroxide and with the two quantities of water, which were used for washing the first chloroform solution. Titrate the second wash with 0.1 N sulphuric acid using solution of methyl orange as indicator if more than 0.1 ml is required, wash the combined chloroform solutions with further quantities, each of 10 ml of water until on titration not more than 0.1 ml of 0.1 N sulphuric acid is required. Remove the chloroform, add 5 ml of alcohol, evaporate, and dry for thirty minutes, at 100oC. Dissolve the residue in 10 ml of 0.1 N sulphuric acid and titrate the excess of acid with 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, using solution of methlyl orange as indicator. Each ml of 0.1 N sulphuric acid is equivalent to 0.03344 g of strychinine, multiply the result by 1.02 to correct for loss of strychinine.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ using Toluene: Ethylacetate: Diethylamine (70:20:10) shows on spraying with Dragendorff reagent followed by 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid two orange spots at Rf. 0.44 and 0.65 corresponding to that of brucine and strychnine.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids, Indole Alkaloids, Strychnine & Brucine, Monoterpenoid Glycoside (Loganin), α, β -Colubrine, Vomicine.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Grahi, Madakaraka, Vatalam, Kaphanasaka, Pittanasaka, Raktadosa Nasaka, Vranasodhana, Parama Vedanahara, Agnireta, Rujahara, Jantunasana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Krmimudgara Rasa, Visatinduka Taila, Mahavisagarbha Taila, Agnitundi Vati, Ekangavira Rasa, Visatinduka Vati, Navajivana Rasa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Arsa, Ardita, Kandu, Klaibya, Visucika, Vrana, Paksaghata, Nadi Daurbalya, Kushha, Grdhrasi

DOSE – 60-125 mg powder of the shodhita drug.

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VRSCIKALI (Whole Plant)

Vrscikali consists of dried whole plant of Tragia involucrata Linn. (Fam. Euphorbiaceme), a perennial, evergreen, twiner, more or less hispid with scattered stinging hairs, distributed throughout India from Punjab and Lower Himalayas eastwards to Assam and Meghalaya, ascending upto an altitude of 750 m and southwards to Kerala.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : —
Assamese : —
Bengali : Shedha Songi
English : Scorpion Tail Plant
Gujrati : Vichaati
Hindi : Vahanta, Vrishi-Kali
Kannada : Haligilu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Terkkada
Marathi : Vrischikali
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Thai Kodu Kkuppoondu
Telugu : —
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root – Occurs in pieces of 2 to 10 cm long and 0.3 to 1.3 cm in dia., woody, hard, cylindrical, ribbed at some places, more or less rough due to presence of secondary roots and root scars; light brown; no characteristic odour and taste.

Stem – Cylindrical, slender, twining 0.2 to 0.6 cm in diameter, elongated, stinging to touch, and having fine ridges and furrows; light grey; moderately hard; internal surface whitish, composed of loosely arranged tissues; fracture, fibrous; no characteristic odour and taste.

Leaf – Simple, petiolate, stipulate, stinging to touch, linear-oblong to broadly ovate, cordate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate at apex, margin serrate; 1.5 to 5.5 cm long, 1 to 3 cm broad, slightly yellowish-green; no characteristic odour and taste.

b) Microscopic

Root – Root shows nearly circular outline; cork consisting of 3 to 10 layered, tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells; secondary cortex narrow consisting of fairly large, polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate and some fibres present in the region; secondary phloem appears in form of conical caps, composed of sieve tubes, companion cells, parenchyma, fibres and phloem rays; fibres present in small groups of 2 to 4 cells arranged in tangential rows alternating with phloem elements; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in phloem parenchyma; secondary xylem forms major part of root composed of vessels, tracheids, parenchyma, fibres and xylem rays; vessels solitary or 2 or 3 to a group, having simple pits; fibres and tracheids having thick-walled and blunt ends; medullary rays 1 or 2 cells wide, rectangular to radially elongated and thick-walled; some cells contain starch grains and rosettes of calcium oxalate present in those towards periphery; starch grains rounded to oval in shape, measuring 4 to 9 n in diameter.

Stem – Mature stem shows cork composed of 3 to 8 layered, thin-walled cells; at a few places epidermis shows the presence of glandular and stinging hairs; secondary cortex a wide zone, consisting of tangentially elongated, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells; some cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; some laticifers present scattered in this region; secondary cortex followed by zone of pericycle fibres with highly thickened walls, arranged in groups; secondary phloem composed of sieve elements, phloem fibres and phloem parenchyma; phloem fibres thick-walled, some phloem parenchyma cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; laticifers scattered in the secondary phloem similar to those found in secondary cortex; cambium narrow consisting of thin-walled, tangentially elongated cells; secondary xylem in form of continuous cylinder traversed by narrow xylem rays; xylem consists of vessels, tracheids, xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma; vessels numerous distributed uniformly in groups or singles; in macerated material vessels vary in shape and size, with transverse to oblique perforation, lignified with pitted walls; xylem parenchyma usually rectangular having simple pits, xylem rays uni to triseriate, uniseriate being more common and usually 2 to 15 cells high, having pitted walls; pits consists of large, thinwalled parenchymatous cells, some cells with rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

Leaf-
Petiole – shows irregular outline due to fine ridges and furrows; epidermis single layered having some unicellular glandular and stinging hairs; collenchyma 4 to 7 layered, followed by polygonal, thin-walled parenchymatous cells containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; vascular bundles collateral, five in number corresponding to ridges; centre occupied by oval to angular, thin-walled parenchymatous cells containing rosette crystals of calcium oxalate.

Midrib – nearly biconvex in outline; epidermis consists of single layered, oval, parenchymatous cells covered externally by a thin cuticle; some unicellular glandular and stinging hairs present on both surfaces; epidermis followed by 3 or 4 layers of collenchymatous cells; stele composed of single, collateral vascular bundle; ground tissue composed of 3 or 4 layers of thin-walled, polygonal, parenchymatous cells; rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in parenchyma and phloem parenchyma.

Lamina – shows dorsiventral structure; epidermis on either side; upper epidermal cells radially elongated and larger in size; lower ones oval-shaped, tangentially elongated both covered externally by thick cuticle; glandular and stinging hairs present on both surfaces similar to those present in midrib; palisade 1 or 2 layered; spongy parenchyma 5 to 7 layered of loosely arranged cells, some contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate; small veins found traversing spongy tissue at certain places.

Powder -Light greenish-yellow; shows groups of fibres, vessels with simple pits and spiral thickening, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, simple rounded starch grains, fragments of lamina showing palisade and groups of spongy parenchyma, unicellular stinging hairs

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 3 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 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel G plate using Chloroform : Ethyl acetate: Formic acid (5:4:1) shows under visible light two spots at Rf. 0.92 (light grey) and 0.95 (yellowish green). Under U.V. (366 nm) two fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.92 (blue) and 0.95 (pink). On exposure to Iodine vapur six spots appear at Rf. 0.08, 0.27, 0.40, 0.50, 0.92 and 0.95 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Ferric chloride solution and heating the plate for ten minutes a 110o C two spots appear a Rf. 0.92 and 0.95 (both bluish grey).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Usna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Balya, Vatakara, Suddikrt, Hrtsuddhikrt

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Vidaryadi Kvatha Curna, Vidaryadi Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Arocaka, Raktapitta, Vibandha

DOSE – 3-6 gm.

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YAVA (Whole Plant)

Yava consists of dried whole plant of Hordeum vulgare Linn. Syn. H. sativum Pers. (Fam. Poacem), an annual, erect, herb, 50 to 100 cm high, cultivated chiefly in North India, for its de husked fruits known as Barley in trade.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Divya
Assamese : —
Bengali : Jab, Jau, Yava
English : Barley
Gujrati : Jau, Java, Jau
Hindi : Yay, Jav, Jau
Kannada : Jave godi, Barli Akki
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Yavam, Baarli, Barley
Marathi : Jav
Oriya : Jav, Javadhana, Yava, Bansa
Punjabi : Jav, Jau
Tamil : Barliarisi, Yavam
Telugu : Yavalu, Barlibiyam, Tella Tumma, Barley
Urdu : Jau

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root – Fibrous, 0.5 to 1 cm thick; cylindrical, glabrous, greyish-brown.

Stem – Cylindrical, 0.4 to 0.6 cm thick; hollow, slightly flattened, smooth; internode long, shining yellow; node short, bearing sheath; fracture, fibrous.

Leaf – Linear-Ianceolate, 15 to 25 cm long, upper one dose to the spike; sheath smooth, striate; yellowish-grey. Inflorescence – Spike, terminal, linear-oblong, compressed spikelet sessile, 6 to 8 cm long, 6-rowed type; dark cream.

Fruit – A caryopsis, elliptic, oblong, ovoid and tapering at both ends; smooth, about 1 cm long and 0.2 to 0.3 cm wide; dorsally compressed and flattened on the sides with a shallow longitudinal furrow; 3 to 5 ridged having shallow depression between them; grains tightly enclosed and adhering to the lemma and palea; a long awn present on the palea; pale greenish-yellow; taste, sweetish acrid.

b) Microscopic

Root – Shows single layered epidermis, covered by striated cuticle; cortex composed of about 4 to 6 layers of round to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells having intercellular spaces; vascular bundles arranged in discontinuous ring, each having usual elements; pith very wide composed of round to polygonal thin-walled, parenchymatous cells having intercellular spaces.

Stem – Shows single layered epidermis, covered by thick cuticle; hypodermis composed of 5 to 6 layered, round to polygonal, lignified, sclerenchymatous cells; ground tissue consisting of 5 to 7 layered, round to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells having intercellular spaces; vascular bundles containing of usual elements found scattered in ground tissues.

Leaf – Shows single layered epidermis covered by thick cuticle on either surface; a few big or bulliform cells are present in upper and lower epidermis, mesophyll not differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma; vascular bundles conjoint, collateral, closed, each covered by bundle sheath; stomata paracytic, present on both surfaces; stomatal number 9 to 17 per sq. mm on lower surface. 5 to 8 per sq. mm on upper surface; stomatal index 15 to 23 on lower surface, 9 to 15 upper surface.

Fruit -shows single layered epidermis consisting of crescent-shaped, round to oval wavy walled cells, followed by 2 or 3 layers of thick-walled, sclerenchymatous fibres; below the sclerenchyma are present irregular, square or quadrilateral, spongy parenchymatous cells, a few cell walls having silica bodies through which run the fibro-vascular bundles of the ribs, followed by more or less, polygonal inner epidermal cells, a few inner epidermal cells having unicellular claw-shaped hair and stomata; pericarp composed of cells with more or less compressed parenchymatous cells; seed coat appears as a colourless line; perisperm composed of cells with more or less wavy walls having narrow lumens; endosperm divided into two zones, 2 to 4 cells deep aleurone layers, and the rest starch layers; starch grains simple, round to oval, measuring 3 to 30 n in dia.

Powder – Light creamish-yellow; shows fragments of epidermal cells, parenchyma, groups of tubular, elongated lignified cells, polygonal, thin-walled parenchymatous epidermal cells of palea with intercellular spaces, in surface view, thin-walled, conical trichomes with large lumen, measuring 30 to 180 n in length and upto 20 n in width and stomata, selerenchymatous fibres, scalariform vessels, abundant round to oval, simple starch grains having concentric striations, measuring 3 to 30 n in dia.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8.5 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 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 Silica gel ‘G’ using n-Butanol : Acetic acid : Water (4:1:5) shows under U.V. (366nm) nine fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.15, 0.28, 0.42, 0.52, 0.59, 0.67, 0.85, 0.93 and 0.96 (all blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour nine spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.15, 0.39, 0.48, 0.56, 0.67, 0.85, 0.93 and 0.96 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Phosphomolybdic acid reagent and heating the plate for fifteen minutes at 105oC nine spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.24. 0.39, 0.48, 0.56, 0.67, 0.85, 0.93 and 0.96 (all blue).

CONSTITUENTS – Proteins, Carbohydrate, free Amino-acids, Vitamins, Tannins and Flavonoid glycosides-Luteolin and Orientin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Ruksa, Mrdu, Aguru
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphapittahara, Lekhana, Medohara, Medhyavardhaka, Svara Vardhaka, Vatahara, Vrsya, Vrna Vardhaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No Formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Kasa, Pinasa, Svasa, Urusthambha

DOSE – 10-20 gm.

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AMRA HARIDRA (Rhizome)

Amra Haridra consists of the rhizome of Curcuma amada Roxb. (Fam. Zingiberacem), a biennial with ovoid root stock, 60 to 90 cm high, grown in W. Bengal and on the hills of west coast of India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Amradrakam, Amragandha-haridra
Assamese : —
Bengali : Aamaa Aadaa
English : Mango-ginger
Gujrati : Aambaa haldhar
Hindi : Aamaa-haldi, Amiyaa haldi
Kannada : Ambarasini, Huli Arsin
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Mangayinji
Marathi : Aambe halad, Ambaa halad
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Ambiya haladi
Tamil : Mankayyinji
Telugu : Mamidi Allamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizome laterally flattened, longitudinally wrinkled, 2 to 6 cm long, 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter, branched, remnant of scaly leaves arranged circularly giving the appearance of growth rings; cut pieces 1.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter, circular, punctate scars on the surface, branching sympodial, horizontal; roots long, unbranched, tapering, thread like, yellowish-brown; rhizome buff coloured with short and smooth fracture; odour and taste like raw mango.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of rhizome circular in outline; epidermal cells rectangular-oval; cuticle thick, long unicellular trichomes present, storied suberized cork cells interrupted by lysigenous oil glands; a wide cortex having irregularly scattered vascular bundles, each vascular bundle with a prominent fibrous sheath; inner limit of cortex marked by endodermis followed by pericycle; vascular bundles devoid of sheath, arranged in a ring; schizogenous canals and abundant oil cells with suberized walls found in cortex and in central region; most of the parenchymatous cells filled with starch grains, which are oval-ellipsoidal, sometimes polygonal in shape, 10 to 60 n m, simple, hilum circular or a 2 to 5 rayed cleft, lamellm distinct and concentric; vascular bundles in the central cylinder are similar to those in the cortex, scattered, closed, collateral, surrounded by sheath of thick walled cells; secondary wall thickening reticulate; fibres thin walled lignified, lumen narrow.

Powder – Powder light yellow, sweet, raw mango like odour; shows fragments of storied cork, xylem vessels with reticulate thickenings, lignified xylem fibres, oil cells, patches of parenchymatous cells filled with starch grains which are oval-ellipsoidal, sometimes polygonal in shape, 10 to 60 nm, simple, hilum circular or a 2 to 5 rayed cleft, lamellm distinct and concentric. Powder when treated with 1N aqueous NaOH becomes green with yellowish tinge under UV 254 nm; with 1N HCl and nitrocellulose in amylacetate added one after the other, powder becomes orange in daylight.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 12 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 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Starch Not less than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.13
Essential oil Not less than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanolic extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : ethyl acetate : methanol (5 : 0.5 : 0.05) shows fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.10 (green) and 0.34 (blue) under UV (366 nm). On spraying with anisaldehydesulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 1200C, spots of purple colour appear at Rf. 0.16, 0.32, 0.72 and 0.97.

CONSTITUENTS – Volatile oil (α-pinene, δ-camphor),α-curcumene, 1-β curcumene, phytosterol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Sara
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipani, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Ruciprada, Vrsya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asthisandhanaka Lepa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Kandu, Vrana, Kasa, Svasa, Hikka, Jvara, Abhighataja Sotha, Karnasula, Sannipata

DOSE – 2- 4 g.

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ANISUNA (Fruit)

Anisuna consists of dried fruit of Pimpinella anisum Linn. (Fam. Apiacem); an annual erect plant introduced and cultivated in India at Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Svetapuspa
Assamese : —
Bengali : Muhuri
English : Anise
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Badiyan Rumee, Sauph, Anisoon
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : Anisuna Shopa
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Shombu
Telugu : —
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The fruits are entire cremocarp, 3 to 5 mm long and 1 to 2 mm wide, ovoid, generally attached with slender pedicel, stylopods with bifurcate short styles; greenishyellow or greenish-brown in colour; rough to touch due to the presence of trichomes; primary ridges 8 to 12 in number with uniform width; odour characteristic and taste sweet and aromatic.

b) Microscopic

T.S. of fruit shows single layered epidermis with small, numerous, conical, mostly unicellular, occasionally two celled, thick walled and warty trichomes, vascular tissues present under the ridges; about 40 vittm are present on the dorsal surface and two large vittm on commissural surface; a few of the vittm are branched; small patch of mesocarpic stone cells are present at the commissural surface; inner epidermis represented by parquetry layer consisting of tangentially elongated cells; endosperm exhibits thick walled parenchyma cells with numerous aleurone grains usually containing a minute rosette of calcium oxalate and occasionally oil globules.

Powder – Powder shows fragments of vascular elements with scalariform, spiral and reticulate thickening; striated epidermal cells with occasional anomocytic stomata, thin walled parenchyma cells, tangentially elongated cells of parquetry layer, thick walled cells of endosperm with aleurone grains containing minute rosettes of calcium oxalate and oil globules, scattered aleurone grains with crystals of calcium oxalate and small conical, unicellular, occasionally bicellular, warty trichomes; fibres, stone cells and vittm with underlying parquetry cells.

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 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 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY

The drug on steam distillation yields colourless oil, not less than 1.8% v/w (Appendix 2.2.10).

T.L.C.

TLC of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plates (Merck), using Toulene : Ethyl acetate (93.7) shows under UV (254nm) five spots at Rf.0.18, 0.32(both orange), 0.38(white), 0.44 (red), 0.88(violet); on exposure to iodine vapours four yellow spots appear at Rf.0.23, 0.32, 0.38 and 0.88; on exposures to with vanillin-sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 minutes, six violet spots appear at Rf. 0.18, 0.23, 0.32, 0.38, 0.60 and 0.88.

CONSTITUENTS – Volatile oil, fixed oils and protein.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Vatanulomaka, Raksoghna, Artavajanana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Brahmi Vati

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Adhmana, Kaphavikara, Mutraghata, Balagraha

DOSE – 1-3 g.
Q. S. for dhupanartha [fumigation].

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ANKOLAH (Leaf)

Ankolah consist of dried leaf of Alangium salviifolium (Linn. f.) Wang. syn. A. lamarckii Thw.; (Fam. Alangiacem), a small tree found over the plains and foothills throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ankola, Ankota, Deerghakeela, Nikochaka, Tamraphala, Gupta Sneha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Akarkanta, Baghankura, Aankod, Angkura, Dhalakura
English : Sage-leaved Alangium
Gujrati : Ankol, Onkla
Hindi : Ankol, Ankora, Dhera
Kannada : Ankolimara, Ansaroli, Arinjil, Ankol
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Ankolam, Velittanti, Irinjil, Chemmaram
Marathi : Ankola
Oriya : Ankul, Baghonokhiya, Dolanku, Konkonolo
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Alangi, Ankolum, Atikoevam
Telugu : Ankolamu, Udagu, Urgen
Urdu : Ankola

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Leaves 8 to13 cm in length and 3 to 5 cm in width, simple, petiolate, petiole 6 to13 mm long, lanceolate, narrowly oblong or ovate, base rounded or acute, glabrous above, pubescent on the nerves, venation reticulate.

b) Microscopic

Leaf –
Petiole – Epidermis single layered, covered by cuticle; nonglandular, mostly unicellular, rarely bicellular, uniseriate trichomes, measuring upto 280 n in length and upto 16 n in width; 7 to10 layered collenchyma present just beneath the epidermis, followed by parenchymatous tissue; collateral vascular bundles 3 to10 in number arranged in an arch and surrounding parenchymatous pith; vascular bundles composed of xylem and phloem; xylem consists of fibres, tracheids and xylem parenchyma; abundant rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in the parenchyma tissue, measuring upto 45 n in diam.; granulated pigments noticed in all tissues except in the vascular bundle.

Midrib – T.S. shows biconvex outline; epidermis on both surfaces covered by cuticle; abundant nonglandular, unicellular trichomes measuring upto 385 n in length and upto 16 n in width present on epidermis; 4 or 5 layered collenchyma situated just beneath the epidermis; collenchyma followed by 3 or 4 layered chlorenchyma; vascular bundle surrounded by sclerenchymatous tissue except on lateral sides; phloem located on the outer peripheral parts of xylem; xylem mainly consists of tracheids, vessels and fibres; central part of the midrib occupied by parenchyma cells, containing rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals, measuring upto 20 n in diam.

Lamina – T. S. shows dorsiventral structure; epidermis on both the sides covered by cuticle; in surface view the lower epidermis shows straight walled, polygonal cells with prominent cuticular striations and anomocytic type of stomata; upper epidermis either devoid of stomata or with rare ones; cuticular striations also absent; nonglandular, unicellular trichomes similar to midrib abundant on lower epidermis; upper epidermis followed by a two layered palisade; mesophyll traversed by veins. Dispersed in the region are rhomboid calcium oxalate crystals, measuring 10 to 26 n in length and 6 to 16 n in width; palisade ratio 7 to 11; vein islet number 8 to 12; stomatal index 7 to 14.

Powder – Greenish brown, taste bitter; shows tracheids, vessels, lignified fibres with tapered ends measuring 40 to 280 n in length and upto 20 n in width, rosettes of calcium oxalate crystals, rhomboid crystals, nonglandular unicellular trichomes, groups of palisade cells, fragments of upper epidermis and lower epidermis with anomocytic stomata.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 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 5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY –

Contains not less than 0.35 per cent of alkaloid as determined by the following method :- Soxlet extract coarsely crushed (25g) dried leaves of A. salviifolium with nhexane (700 ml) for 15 hours. Leave the exhausted (defatted) plant material to dry at room temperature and then extract with methanol (500 ml) for 16 hours. Remove methanol under reduced pressure, acidify with 3 % acetic acid, wash with diethyl ether (3 x 100 ml) and make aqueous phase alkaline with 10 % aqueous sodium carbonate. Extract the liberated (free) alkaloids first with dichloromethane (3 x 100 ml) and then with ethyl acetate (5 x 100 ml). Combine both the extracts, evaporate to dryness and weigh the residue as total alkaloids.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel G plates (0.2 mm thick) using toluene: ethyl acetate: diethylamine (60:30:10) shows under UV (254 nm) six spots at Rf. 0.12 (brown), 0.17, 0.21,0.38 (all violet), 0.60 and 0.66 (both yellowish green). Under UV (366 nm) eight fluorescent spots appear at Rf. 0.12, (yellow) 0.17, 0.21(both faint blue), 0.24 (blue), 0.30 (pink), 0.38 (blue), 0.60 and 0.66 (both pink). On exposure to iodine vapour nine spots appear at Rf. 0.12, 0.17, 0.21 (all yellowish brown), 0.24 (reddish brown), 0.30, 0.38, 0.50 (all yellowish brown), 0.60 and 0.66 (both green). On spraying with Dragendorff’s reagent six orange spots appear at Rf. 0.17, 0.21, 0.24, 0.30, 0.38, 0.50.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (Alangimarckine, deoxytubulosine, ankorine); campesterol, episterol, stigmast-5,22,25-trien-3 β-ol, alangidiol and isoalangidiol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Sara, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Vatahara, Vamaka, Recaka, Vranasodhaka, Mutrala, Parada Sodhra, Jvarghna

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – (No formulations)

THERAPEUTIC USES – Graha Badha, Jantuvisa, Jvara, Krmi, Kukkuravisa, Lutavisa, Raktavikara, Sopha, Visrikara, Visarpa, Matsyavisa, Amavata, Kantharoga, Sotha, Sula, Musakavisa

DOSE – 2-10 g.

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ARAGVADHA(Stem bark)

Aragvadha consists of stem bark of Cassia fistula Linn. (Fam. Fabacem), a medium sized deciduous tree, 6 to 9 m tall with bright yellow flowers in long pendulous racemes, and long cylindrical blackish-brown pods of 25 to 50 cm in length and upto 3 cm in width; found wild and also commonly planted as ornamental tree in most parts of the country up to an altitude of 1200 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Krtamala, Vyadhighata, Sampaka, Samyaka, Nrpadruma, Krtamalaka,
Rajavrksa.
Assamese : —
Bengali : Sondaalee, Sonaalu
English : Indian Laburnum, Purging Fistula, Pudding pipe tree
Gujrati : Garmaalo
Hindi : Amaltaas, Girimaal
Kannada : Kakke, Kakkemar
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Konna
Marathi : Baahvaa
Oriya : Sunaari
Punjabi : Amaltaas, Kaniyaar, Girdnalee
Tamil : Konnai
Telugu : Rela
Urdu : Amaltaas

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug occurs in flat or curved thick pieces; outer surface smooth to rough with warty patches; greenish-grey to red; inner surface rough, reddish with parallel striations; fracture, laminate; odour, sweet and characteristic; taste, astringent.

b) Microscopic

Stem bark shows 5 to 8 layers of cork, composed of square to rectangular cells; cortex many layered, outer consisting of rectangular cells, middle tangentially elongated cells and inner of polygonal cells; groups of stone cells, oval to elongated arranged tangentially forming a continuous or discontinuous band; fibres present in groups in rest of the cortex; phloem shows sieve elements, phloem parenchyma and bast fibres in patches, traversed by uni to triseriate medullary rays of radially elongated oval cells; phloem parenchyma of rectangular to polygonal thin walled cells; bast fibres moderately thick walled, lignified, in groups surrounded by crystal fibres; abundant isolated calcium oxalate prism crystals present also in cells of outer cortex and inner cortex; starch grains mostly simple, but a few with 2 or 3 components in phloem parenchyma.

Powder -Light brown; shows thin walled parenchymatous cells; numerous bundles of lignified fibres associated with crystal fibres; sieve tubes, many, well-developed; numerous stone cells, thick walled, lumen nearly absent; abundant prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate mostly present singly in a cell and also as numerous crystal fibres; starch grains mostly simple, 2 or 3 in compound grains, hilum inconspicuous.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 13 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 25 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 18 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the diethyl ether extract on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using petroleum ether : ethyl acetate : formic acid (15:2.5:0.2) showed spots at Rf 0.19, 0.28, 0.54 and 0.72 (all pink) on spraying with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for about ten minutes.

CONSTITUENTS – Anthraquinones, tannins, sterols.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Guru
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Pittahara, Vatahara, Kosthasuddhikara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Avittoladi Bhasma Ksara, Manasamitra Vataka

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Aruci, Gulma, Jvara, Krmi, Raktapitta, Gandamala, Upadamsa, Kustha, Vibandha, Kamala, Hrdroga, Vatarakta, Sotha, Mutrakrcchra, Daha, Udaravikara, Prameha, Vrana, Kandu, Grahani, Asmari.

DOSE – 50 – 100 ml kvatha.

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ASPHOTA (Root)

Asphota consists of the dried root pieces of Vallaris solanacea Kuntze syn. V.heynei Spreng. (Fam. Apocynacem), a large woody climbing shrub, occurring wild in subtropical Himalayan forests, up to an altitude of 1500 m and on the Konkan coast and further south; often cultivated in the gardens as an ornamental plant due to its fragrant white flowers.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bhadravalli, Asphota
Assamese : —
Bengali : Haaparmaali
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Dudhibel
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : —
Oriya : Bonokonerinoi, Haporomoli
Punjabi : —
Tamil : —
Telugu : Nagamalle, Nityamalle
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The dried, young and old root pieces are light, tough, cylindrical, tortuous and rarely branched. Young root about 5 to 6 cm. in length and about 1 to 2 cm. in diameter, surface smooth to faintly longitudinally wrinkled, with transversely elongated lenticels, cracks and exfoliation at places exposing the inner wood, buff to greyish externally, pale yellowish brown internally. Old root pieces are about 5 to 12 cm. in length and 3 to 8 cm. in diameter, surface very rough, knotty, longitudinally fissured, furrowed, cracked, prominent rootlet scars present, small rounded protuberances encircle the lenticels and exfoliation; earthy brown to grey externally, pale brown internally; transversely cut surface shows brown coloured outer bark, colourless, papery, thin inner bark and a wide zone of pale brown central wood, occupying the major area of the root; odour slightly aromatic and irritant; taste,
bitter.

b) Microscopic

Cork many layered, outer one lignified, inner few layers suberised, cork cambium distinct 2 to 3 layered, cortex narrow in young root and compressed in old; parenchymatous, filled with cluster crystals of calcium oxalate and simple as well as compound starch grains; pericycle is characterised by the presence of isolated groups of small, thick walled, lignified fibres; phloem many layered, characterised by two distinct zones, cells of the outer one filled with yellowish brown contents, the inner narrow zone is devoid of this; medullary rays mostly uniseriate, rarely bi to fourseriate, narrow, almost running parallel to each other but becoming wavy in the outer phloem and abruptly getting broad at its extremities especially in case of old roots; sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma distinct, all parenchymatous cells of the phloem including medullary ray cells are filled with abundant clusters and a few prisms of calcium oxalate crystals and starch grains, microclusters of calcium oxalates arranged in rows form the characteristic feature of the phloem; thick walled, circular latex cells, rectangular, tangentially elongated oil channels filled with oil globules traverse throughout the phloem; a few thick walled, lignified, pitted stone cells are located especially in the old roots; cambium distinct, continuous; xylem very wide, lignified consisting of mostly isolated xylem vessels and tracheids, both border – pitted; fibers thin walled; parenchyma and medullarly rays pitted, containing starch grains.

Powder – Under the microscope it exhibits polygonal lignified cork cells in surface view, parenchymatous cells of the cortex and the phloem cells with starch grains and calicum oxalate cluster crystals, pitted xylem vessels and tracheids, lignified pitted medullary rays cells; occasionally groups of lignified thick walled, pitted stone cells and thin walled xylem fibres with wide lumen are also seen.

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 0.7 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 11 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 chloroform : methanol (9:1) under UV (254 nm) shows prominent spots at Rf. 0.51, 0.62, 0.68, 0.76 (all dark spot) and 0.96 (blue fluorescence). On exposure to iodine vapour spots appear at Rf. 0.12, 0.19, 0.29, 0.44, 0.50, 0.67, 0.80 and 0.95.

CONSTITUENTS –

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Vatahara, Vranasodhaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Vajraka Taila, Abhaya Lavan

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Svasa, Kustha, Vrana, Asmari, Mutrakrcchra, Putanagrahavista (Balaroga), Grahani, Musaka Visavikara, Arsa

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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BASTANTRI(Root)

Bastantri consist of dried root of Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Boj. syn. A. speciosa Sweet. (Fam. Convolvulacem), a woody climber with stout stems, extensively planted in garden along trellises and walls and also found wild as an escape.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vrddhadaru, Antaha Kotarapuspi, Chagalantri
Assamese : —
Bengali : Bijataadaka, Bridhadarak
English : Elephant Creeper
Gujrati : Samudara Sosha, Varadhaaro, Shamadrasosh
Hindi : Samandar-kaa-paat, Samundarsosh, Ghaavapattaa, Vidhaaraa
Kannada : Samudrapala, Samudraballi
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Samudra Pacchha, Samudra-Pala, Marikkunn Marututari
Marathi : Samudrashok
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Samudrappachai
Telugu : Samudrapaala
Urdu : Samandarotha

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Roots of varying sizes and thickness, thin pieces show somewhat smooth brownish exterior, thick pieces tough and woody, light brown in colour, rough, longitudinally striated, lenticellate and with circular root scars; fracture fibrous; rootlets and branches, thin and somewhat fibrous; odour, nil; taste, pungent, bitter and astringent.

b) Microscopic

T.S. comprises of 6 to 9 layers of cork cells, a single layer of phellogen and usually 10 to 12 layers of phelloderm; cortical cells thin walled and tangentially elongated, containing circular starch grains, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate found scattered; a wide zone of secondary phloem consisting of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma present, traversed by medullary rays containing circular starch grains; resin canals present; secondary xylem a wide zone comprising of xylem vessels, tracheids, fibre-tracheids and fibres.

Powder – Creamish brown when fresh turning greyish brown on storage; shows under microscope, cortical cells parenchymatous filled with circular starch grain measuring between 3 to 16 n in diameter; brown colouring matter and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present; vessels, tracheids, xylem parenchyma, fibres and fibre tracheids present; vessels, drum shaped, pitted with large end perforations; tracheids, much longer than wide with bordered pits; fibres having pointed ends; fibre tracheids, having blunt ends and a few oblique pits.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.8 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 methanolic extract of the roots on precoated silica gel G plate using methanol – chloroform (20 : 80) showed a blue fluorescent spot under UV (365nm) along with number of other spots of very weak intensity. Due to the presence of very negligible amount of alkaloids in the roots these could not be isolated. However, methanolic extract of A. nervosa seeds was prepared and T.L.C. compared with A. nervosa roots extract. The T.L.C. pattern of root and seed extracts (prepared in methanol) was similar although the intensity of spots in case of root extracts was very poor.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Sara
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Balya, Adhobhagahara, Agnikara, Asthisandhana Kari, Ayurvrdhikara, Kantikara, Kanthya, Kaphavatahara, Medhya, Rasayana, Rucya, Svarya, Vrsya, Visaghna.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Misraka Sneha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Sopha, Apasmara, Arsa, Aruci, Amavata, Anaha, Graharbadha, Gulma, Hrdruja, Kasa, Krmi, Mutrakrcha, Meha, Pandu, Raktapitta, Udavarta, Udara, Unmada, Vatarakta, Visuci, Vataruja, Vatarsa, Svayathu, Ksaya, Pratitum, Slipada

DOSE – 3-5 g.

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BHURJAH (Stem Bark)

Bhurjah consists of the stem bark of Betula utilis D.Don syn. B.bhojpattra Wall. (Fam. Betulacem), a moderate sized tree, usually with a somewhat irregular bole; occasionally a mere shrub, forming the upper limit of forest vegetation, found throughout the main Himalayan range ascending to an altitude of 4200 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Bhurja Patrah, Mrducchada, Bahulavalkala, Bhurjagranathi, Carmi,
Lekhyapatrakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Bhoojpatra, Bhujipatra
English : Himalayan Silver Birch
Gujrati : Bhojpatra
Hindi : Bhojapatra
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Bhurjamaram
Marathi : Bhoorjapatra
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Bhojapatram
Telugu : Bhurjapatri
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Broad, horizontal paper like strips, flaps or flakes of varying sizes or loosely laminated exfoliating pieces of bark; outer surface smooth silver grey or creamishyellow with brown streaks; inner surface shining, reddish brown in colour, slightly wrinkled, more often devoid of markings; odour, slightly terbinthene; taste-none.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows rectangular cells, 6 to 9 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells, containing prismatic calcium oxalate crystals.

Powder – Light brown; parenchymatous cells, with a few prismatic calcium oxalate crystals present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 2.1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 0.8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of chloroform extract of the drug on a precoated silica gel G plate using nhexane : ethyl acetate (9:1), on spraying with Liberman-Burchard reagent and heating the plate for about 5 minutes at 110oC, three spots appear at Rf . 0.31 (blackish-grey), 0.62 (dark pink) and 0.54 (light pink) and were comparable to the spots of betulin, lupeol and 3 β-acetoxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid respectively.

CONSTITUENTS – Betulin, lupeol and 3 β – mtoxy – 12 – oleanen – 28 – oic acid.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Tridosasamana, Bhutaraksakara, Visaghna, Balya, Slesmahara, Medohara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Ayaskrti

THERAPEUTIC USES – Balagraha, Raktapitta, Vrana, Karnaroga, Kustharoga, Raksoghnadhupana, Aparapatana, Garbhasanga, Granthivisarpa

DOSE – 1-3 g.

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CANDA (Root)

Canda consists of dried root of Angelica archangelica Linn. (Fam. Apiacem), a tall perennial herb with thick hollow stem bearing large bipinnate leaves and umbels of greenish-white flowers; found wild in inner valleys of Himalayas viz. Kashmir, Chamba, Kullu, Pangi, Lahaul and Kinnaur at altitudes between 3200 and 4200 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Laghu Coraka
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Choraka bheda, Dudhachoraa
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : —
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : —
Telugu : —
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Tap root thick, twisted, fleshy, highly aromatic with numerous rootlets, greyish in colour; odour, musk-like; taste, sweet.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows periderm composed of 5 to 9 layers of cork, followed by a layer of phellogen and a few layers of phelloderm, cork cells rectangular; cortex composed of thin walled parenchymatous cells, irregular in shape with intercellular spaces and contain abundant starch grains; numerous oleo-resin cells filled with oil globules are present, which, in mature roots may degenerate and form irregular cavities; vascular region and cortex traversed by biseriate medullary rays, containing circular starch grains, measuring usually upto 24 n but some upto 65 n in length and 45 n in breadth; phloem a wide zone composed of sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma and medullary rays; schizogenous oleo-resin cells lined by epithelium containing yellowish brown substances present in this zone; cambium very distinct consisting of 4 to 8 layers; xylem consists of vessels and tracheids.

Powder – Creamish yellow; shows under microscope drum shaped vessels with reticulate thickenings, tracheids elongated with pointed ends having reticulate thickenings; fibres narrow elongated with pointed ends; circular starch grains present.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2.0 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 0.3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the methanolic extract of the roots on precoated silica gel ‘G’ plates, using methanol : chloroform (2:98) as the mobile phase, on spraying with 2% vanillin in sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for five minutes at 110oC showed on orange brown spot at Rf.0.37 (comparable to the spot of selimone) and a greyish blue spot at Rf. 0.68 (comparable to the spot of archangelin).

CONSTITUENTS – Containing limonene, S-phellandrene, pinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, myrcene, fenchone, linalool, S-terpineol, cadinene, borneol, S-caryophyllene, bisabolol, angelica lactone, and other mono and sesquiterpenes. Other constituents include selimone, archangelin, oxypeucedanin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Mutrala, Vatahara, Visaghna, Svasahara, Varnaprasadaka, Svedaghna, Kandughna, Daurgandhahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Manjisthadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Apasmara, Svasa, Hikka, Kandu, Arsa, Pidaka, Kotha, Sotha

DOSE – 1-3 g.

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TUMBURU (Fruit)

Tumburu consists of dried fruit of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Syn. Z. alatum Roxb. (Farn. Rutacem), an armed or erect shrub or small tree, found in the valleys of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1000 to 2100 m, in Khasi hills at 600 to 1800 rn, and in the Ghats in peninsular India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Tejovati, Tejovali, Tejohva
Assamese : Tejovati
Bengali : Tejovati, Nepali Dhania
English : —
Gujrati : Tejbal
Hindi : Tejbal, Nepali Dhaniya
Kannada : Tejapatri, Tumburu, Tejovanti
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Thumboonal, Thumbooni
Marathi : Tejbal, Tejobalee
Oriya : Tejbal
Punjabi : Tirmira
Tamil : Thejyovathi
Telugu : Tumburl
Urdu : Kabab-e-Khanda (Miswak)

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Reddish-brown, sub-globose, mostly dehisced, follicles, containing a single seed in each follicle; seeds, globose, glabrous, shiny black; upto 0.5 cm long, and about 0.3 cm wide; taste, pungent; odour, aromatic.

b) Microscopic

Fruit – Pericarp shows large oil cavities and vascular tissues surrounded by parenchymatous cells containing irregular masses of hesperidin and followed by 2 to 5 layered palisade-like cells, hesperidin insoluble in organic solvents but soluble in potassium hydroxide.

Seed – Testa shows wide, very thick-walled, irregular, non-lignified cells having blackish-brown contents and numerous oil globules; tegmen shows 3 or 4 oval to polygonal tangentially elongated thin-walled parenchymatous cells, followed by 8 to 10 layers tangentially elongated tabular cells filled with reddish-brown contents; endosperm consists of thin-walled, polygonal, parenchymatous cells.

Powder – Dark brown to black; shows groups of thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, some filled with oil globules, and a few with hesperidin; polygonal cells of seed coat and separate globules of oil.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 8.5 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 8 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 on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Ethylacetate (9: 1) v/v shows in visible light two spots at Rf. 0.18, 0.35 (both grey). Under U.V. (366 nm) five spots appear at Rf. 0.10, 0.18, (both blue), 0.38 (violet) 0.55 (violet) and 0.93 (violet). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 105oC for ten minutes seven spots appear at Rf. 0.18, 0.26, 0.35, 0.48, 0.66, 0.76 and 0.96 (all grey).

CONSTITUENTS – Essential Oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Pacana, Rucya, Vatahara, Lalapraseka, Cimcimayanama, Rasana Samsvedaka

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Saptavimsati Guggulu, Dadhika Ghrta, Maha Visagarbha Taila, Hingvadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Arsa, Hrdroga, Hikka, Kasa, Kantha Roga, Svasa, Ardita, Kaphaja Roga, Asya Roga, Danta Roga

DOSE – 2-4 gm.

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CORAKAH (Root Sock)

Corakah consists of dried mature root and root stock of Angelica glauca Edgw. (Fam. Apiacem), a glabrous herb, upto 1.5 m tall, stem erect, grooved and fistular with pinnately divided leaves having compound umbels of white or purple flowers, found in temperate north-west Himalayas.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Taskarah, Ksemakah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Chorak
English : —
Gujrati : Chorak
Hindi : Choraa, Gandrayan, Rikha Choraa
Kannada : Choraka
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Choraka Pullu
Marathi : Corak
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Choraa, Churaa
Tamil : —
Telugu : Gaddi Davanamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root stock : Small, thick pieces, 5 to 15 cm long and 1 to 3 cm in thickness; yellowish to grey in colour, rough due to the presence of deep furrows and longitudinal wrinkles; frequently crowned with leaf or stem base; fracture, hard and fibrous; odour characteristically aromatic; taste, sweet with a bitter after effect and pungent aromatic flavour.

Root : Small pieces of 5 to 20 mm in thickness, externally grayish-brown and spongy; surface rough due to longitudinal wrinkles, furrows and transverse cracks; internally it shows a yellow porous radiating wood surrounded by dark brown cork; fracture short, smooth and the fractured surface shows bark with numerous radially arranged schizogenous oleo-resin cavities with brown or yellow content. 24

b) Microscopic

Root stock : T.S. shows 6 to 10 layered cork of tangentially elongated cells, followed by 3 or 4 layers of phellogen and a wide zone of phelloderm consisting of thin walled parenchyma in which schizogenous cavities present; phloem, cone shaped, traversed by parenchymatous medullary rays filled with circular starch grains measuring between 3 and 23 n in diameter; numerous schizogenous oleo-resin cells present; cambium present; xylem arranged in concentric layers and consists of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma and traversed by medullary rays; pith consists of thin walled parenchymatous tissue in which schizogenous oleo-resin cavities, filled with yellowish contents of resin are present.

Root : T.S. shows periderm consisting of 5 to 8 layers of thin walled yellowish – brown cork, a layer of phellogen and phelloderm, composed of thin-walled parenchyma cells, irregular in shape with intercellular space and containing abundant starch grains measuring upto 20 n in diameter; some of these cells disintegrate in the mature roots and give rise to some irregular cavities; schizogenous type of oleo-resin cavities in this region contain oil globules and resin; phloem a wide zone and traversed by medullary rays, consisting of phloem parenchyma, sieve tubes and companion cells; numerous radially arranged schizogenous oleo-resin cavities present in phloem parenchyma, containing yellowish or yellowish-brown contents; cambium present; xylem diarch and radiating wood traversed by parenchymatous, multiseriate medullary rays filled with starch grains measuring upto 20 n in diameter; wood consists of vessels, tracheids, wood parenchyma and wood fibres; vessels large, drum – shaped or elongated, reticulately thickened having oblique or transverse perforation.

Powder – Yellowish – brown, shows under microscope, parenchymatous cells filled with yellow or reddish-brown colouring matter and oil globules; schizogenous cavities and vessels with reticulate thickenings present; starch grains simple, oval to circular, upto 25n approximately.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6.5 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 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 0.4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of essential oil of the drug on precoated silica gel G plate using ethyl acetate : hexane (3:97) shows under UV light (365 nm) four spots at Rf. 0.48, 0.40 & 0.29 (yellowish blue fluoresence) and 0.25 (blue fluoresence). On spraying with dragendroff’s reagent two spots at Rf. 0.48 and 0.40 appeared as orange coloured. On spraying with 2% vanillin-sulphuric acid appears four spots at Rf 0.48 & 0.40 (greyishpurple), 0.29 (cremish) and 0.25 (pinkish-purple). The methanol extract of the drug on precoated silica gel G plate, using methanolchloroform (2: 98) shows one spot at Rf. 0.71, and ethyl acetate : hexane (5:95) appear single spot at Rf. 0.21 (yellowish-blue colour) under UV light (365 nm) and was comparable to the spot of oxypeucedanin.

CONSTITUENTS – Oxypeucedanin, 3-butylidene phthalide, 3-butylidene dihydrophthalide [(E-and (Z)-ligustilide] and dimers of butyl phthalides [angiolide, angelicolide].

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Medohara, Vamaka, Vatahara, Svedahara, Hrdya, Sajnasthapana, Dipana, Pacana, Vranaprasadana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Guducyadi Modaka, Balasvagandhalaksadi Taila, Mahanarayana Taila.

THERAPEUTIC USES – Apasmara, Svasa, Hikka, Jvara, Kandu, Kotha, Kustha, Unmada, Vrana, Pitika, Visaroga, Raktadosa, Agnimandya, Sirah Sula, Pratisyaya, Sitajvara, Balaroga

DOSE – 3-6 g.

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UTINGANA (Seed)

Utingana consists of dried mature seeds of Blepharis persica (Burm. f.) O. Kuntze. Syn. B. edulis Pers. (Fam. Acanthacem), a shrub, occurring in Punjab.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Uttingana
Assamese : —
Bengali : Ucchata
English : —
Gujrati : Utingun, Chopunivel
Hindi : Utangan
Kannada : Utangana
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Utigana, Utungana
Marathi : Utangan
Oriya : Utingana
Punjabi : Uttangan
Tamil : Uttanjana
Telugu : Uttangan
Urdu : Utangan

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seed occurs as entire or broken, 0.4 to 0.6 cm long, 0.3 to 0.4 cm broad; heart shaped, rough due to network of coarse hairs; cream to light yellow, flat; when soaked in water, hairs swell and produce viscid mucilage; mucilagenous on chewing.

b) Microscopic

Seed shows 4 to 6 layers of tangentially elongated, hyaline, thin-walled, parenchymatous seed coat, multicellular, multiseriate columnar, elongated hairs with twisted tips present towards outer side of the seed coat; embryo having two cotyledons with upper and lower epidermis; upper epidermis followed by 4 to 5 layers of oval to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells and 2 or 3 layers more or less radially 2 elongated, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells respectively; beneath this a single layer of palisade-like cells present; lower epidermis covered with thick cuticle and consisting of rounded, isodiametric cells that are larger than those of the upper epidermis.

Powder – Yellowish-brown; shows fragments of hairs with mucilage, palisade-like oval to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchyma cells isolated or in larger or smaller groups.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 23 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Chloroform : Methanol (80:20) shows in visible light four spots at Rf. 0.17 (grey), 0.25 (light grey), 0.79 (light yellow), 0.87 (yellow). Under U.V. (366 nm) six fluorescent zones are yisible at Rf. 0.09, 0.17 (both black), 0.23 (light black) 0.33, 0.69 (both light blue) and 0.90 (dark blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour seven spots appear at Rf. 0.13, 0.18, 0.26, 0.36, 0.64, 0.75 and 0.90 (all yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent followed by 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid one spot appear at Rf. 0.87 (orange). On spraying with 5% methanolic sulphuric acid eight spots appear at Rf. 0.14, 0.22, 0.33 (grey), 0.64 (violet), 0.71 (yellowish), 0.75 (brownish), 0.81 (yellow), and 0.90 (brown).

CONSTITUENTS – Glycosides and Tannin

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Picchila, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Vrsya, Mutrala

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kumaryasava

THERAPEUTIC USES – Mutrakrcchra, Klaibya

DOSE – 3-6 gm of the drug in powder form.

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DARBHA (Root)

Darbha consists of root of Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Beauv. (Fam. Poacem), a perennial, erect, 30 to 90 cm tall tufted grass, distributed in the hotter parts of India from Punjab southwards.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Yajnmula, Ulu, Kutuka, Kharadarbha, Svetadarbha
Assamese : —
Bengali : Ulu
English : Thatch grass, Cogon grass
Gujrati : Daabhdo, Darabh
Hindi : Daabha, Siru, Ulu
Kannada : Sanna dabbac hullu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Vidulam
Marathi : Darsnaa, Dhub
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Daaba, Sil
Tamil : Darbhaipul, Nanal
Telugu : Darbalu, Darbha gaddi, Modewa gaddi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

The roots are fibrous, upto 2 mm. in diameter, arising from the nodes of stolons; surface uneven, with fine wrinkles, light brown to dark brown in colour; fracture, fibrous; taste and odour-indistinct.

b) Microscopic

T.S. shows single layered epidermis with a few long root hairs, followed by cortex which can be differentiated into outer and inner regions; outer cortex represented by 3 to 5 layers of circular to oval-shaped thin walled parenchyma cells; inner cortical region exhibits numerous air cavities lined by thin walled radially elongated parenchymatous cells forming the trabeculm; the central region of the root exhibits a typical monocotyledonous structure having 10 to 15 bundles of xylem elements alternating with small patches of phloem and surrounded by rings of endodermis and pericycle; except those of phloem elements all the cells from metaxylem to pericycle region are thick walled and lignified; the centre of the vascular cylinder is occupied by pith consisting of thin walled parenchymatous cells; the vessels are border pitted; tracheids exhibit bordered pits as well as reticulate thickening; parenchyma of vascular region are pitted and fibres are thick walled with pointed to tapering ends.

Powder – The powder exhibits fragments of hairs, thin walled parenchyma cells, thick walled fibres with tapering or pointed ends; border pitted vessels, elongated tracheids with tapering to blunt ends exhibiting reticulate thickening or bordered pits and rectangular, thick walled, pitted parenchyma cells.

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 3 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 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

TLC of alcoholic extract on pre-coated Silica ‘G’ plates (Merck), using Chloroform: Toulene:Ethanol:Acetic : Water (22:8:1:0.5:1, lower phase), shows under U.V. (254 nm) two white fluorescent spots at Rf.0.72 and 0.42; on exposure to iodine vapours six spots appear at Rf. 0.94, 0.85, 0.72, 0.45, 0.39 (all yellow) and 0.36 (orange); after spraying with 5% ethanolic-sulphuric acid and heating the plate at 1100C for 30 minutes, ten spots appear at Rf. 0.94 (dark brown), 0.85 (light brown), 0.76 (faint brown), 0.72 (brown), 0.52 (light brown), 0.45 (light brown), 0.39 (violet), 0.36 (yellow), 0.26 (orange) and 0.21 (faint brown).

CONSTITUENTS – Contains five triterpenoids viz. cylindrin, arundoin, fernenon, isoburneol and simiarenol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Rasayana, Vamaka, Tridasahara, Mutravirecaniya, Stanyajanana, Pipasahara, Kusthaghna, Dahaprasamana,

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Karpuradyarka, Brahmarasayana, Traikantaka Ghrta, Sukumara Ghrta

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Daha, Jvara, Mutraghata, Mutrakrcchra, Raktapitta, Visarpa, Bastisula, Trsa, Raktapradara, Raktarsa, Pradara, Pittabhisyanda

DOSE – 10-20 g for decoction.

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VARAHI (Rhizome)

Varahi consists of dried cut pieces of rhizome of Dioscorea bulbifera Linn. (Fam. Dioscoreacem), a large unarmed climber found throughout India ascending upto 1800 m in the Himalayas.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Varahikanda
Assamese : —
Bengali : Ratalu
English : —
Gujrati : Dukkarkanda
Hindi : Varahi Kanda, Genthi
Kannada : Kunta Genusu, Heggenusu
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Varahi
Marathi : Dukarkanda
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : —
Telugu : Kaya Pendazam
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug occurs in cut pieces, 0.5 to 0.7 cm thick, 2 to 3 cm in dia.; a few root and root scars present; outer surface dark brown, inner yellow to light brown; odour, indistinct; taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Rhizome shows a cork composed of 10 to 15 layers of thick-walled, tangentially elongated rectangular cells; outer few cells filled with reddish-brown contents; cortex consists of oval to elliptical, thin-walled parenchymatous cells; ground tissue, forming major portion of drug composed of oval to polygonal cells having a few scattered closed vascular bundles; starch grains found both in cortex and ground tissues, but abundant in ground tissue, rounded to oval, three sided with rounded angles or rod-shaped, simple, solitary or in groups, 11 to 28 n in diameter; hilum present at the narrower extremity.

Powder – Slightly yellowish-brown; shows parenchymatous cells; varying sizes of cone and rod-shaped starch grains measuring 11 to 28 n in dia.

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 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ using n-Butanol : Acetic acid: Water (4: 1 :5) shows three spots at Rf. 0.79 (light yellow), 0.85 (light yellow) and 0.92 (grey) in visible light. Under U.V. (366 nm) six fluorescent zones are visible at Rf. 0.48, 0.59, 0.73 (all light blue), 0.78 (grey), 0.85 (blue) and 0.92 (grey). On exposure to Iodine vapour seven spots appear at Rf. 0.12, 0.34, 0.59, 0.73, 0.78, 0.85 and 0.92 (all yellow). On spraying with 5% Methanolic-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 110oC six spots appear at Rf. 0.34, 0.59, 0.66 (all light grey), 0.73, 0.85 and 0.92 (all grey).

CONSTITUENTS – Saponins-Steroidal, Saponins.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Balya, Pittakara, Rasayana, Svarya, Vrsya, Varnya, Slesmaghna, Ayurvardhana, Agnivrddhikara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Narasimha Curna, Vastyamayantaka Ghrta, Pancanimba Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Krmi, Kandu, Kustha, Prameha

DOSE – 3-6 gm.

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DHANVAYASAH (Whole Plant)

Dhanvayasah consists of dried whole plant of Fagonia cretica Linn. syn. F. arabica Linn., F. bruguieri DC. (Fam. Zygophyllacem), a small spiny under shrub with stiff, more or less prostrate branches found in north-west India and Deccan.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Duhsparsa, Duralambha, Dhanvyasakah, Virupa, Duralabha,
Ustrabhaksya
Assamese : —
Bengali : Duralabha
English : Khorasan thorn
Gujrati : Dhamaaso
Hindi : Damahan, Dhamaasa, Hinguaa, Dhanhare
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Kodittuva
Marathi : Dhamaasaa
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Dama, Dhamah, Dhamaha
Tamil : Tulganari
Telugu : Chittigava, Gilaregati
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root – Tap root externally brownish green, rough, with longitudinal striations, core yellowish-green; fracture, fibrous.

Stem – Stem pieces 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick, of variable lengths; young green, mature brown; spiny, two pairs of spines present at each node, spines sharp, slender, 1.5 to 2 cm in length; external surface of stem green, whitish brown when dry, striated; transversely smoothened surface showing a thin bark and prominent wood, bark peeling from stem; fracture, short.

Leaf – Small, subsessile, linear, oblong, leaflets entire, green or blackish brown, 0.5 to 1.5 cm in length and 0.05 to 0.1 cm in width, without any prominent midrib region projected above the level of lamina.

Flower – Flowers small, pale rose or purple, pedicels slender, 6 to 12 mm long; sepals 3 to 4 mm long, ovate, aristate; petals twice as long as the sepals, spathulate, claw long; ovary hairy, style tapering.

Fruit – Pentagonous schizocarp, composed of five compressed, two valved cocci.

b) Microscopic

Root – T.S. shows outermost cork represented by 4 or 5 layers of small, narrow, tangentially elongated cells; phelloderm composed of 6 to 10 layers of somewhat tangentially elongated, thin walled parenchymatous cells, some cells having rhomboid crystals of calcium oxalate measuring 10 to 15 n in length and 8 to 10 n in width; outer part of secondary phloem characterised by the presence of abundant, but small patches of 2 or 3 thick walled phloem fibres; wood composed of vessels, xylem fibres and traversed by 1 to 3 seriate medullary rays; vessels arranged in singles or doubles; fibres long, thick walled with tapering ends and measuring upto 500 n in length and about 25 n in width.

Stem – T.S. shows more or less circular outline; single layered epidermis with thick cuticle; unicellular trichomes occasionally present; cortex consisting of 7 to 10 layers of parenchymatous cells showing large patches of fibres; sclereids with narrow lumen occurring singly or in groups in the cortex, measuring upto 50 n in diam.; several cortical cells contain tannins; secondary phloem consisting of thin walled cells; vascular cambium composed of 3 to 4 layers of thin walled tangentially elongated cells; secondary xylem composed of fibres, tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma; fibres long, thick walled with tapering ends and measuring 260 to 950 n in length and upto 20 n in width; medullary rays mostly uniseriate or sometimes biseriate; pith composed of large thin walled parenchymatous cells, some cells containing tannins; rhomboid crystals measuring 18 to 30 n in length and 12 to 20 n in width present in cortex and pith.

Leaf – Isobilateral; single layered epidermis consisting of mostly tangentially elongated cells covered with thick cuticle. In surface view both upper and lower epidermii show anomocytic type of stomata, epidermal cells polygonal in shape; 2 or 3 layered palisade cells present on both the sides, adjacent to the epidermis; vascular bundles show xylem towards lower side and phloem towards upper side; sclerenchyma tissue occur as a bundle cap just above the phloem; small lateral vascular bundles also present in lamina; vein-islet number 11 to14; stomatal index 16 to 17 on lower epidermis and 5 to 7 on upper epidermis; palisade ratio 2 or 3 on upper epidermis and 2 to 4 on lower epidermis. Powder Yellowish-white, bitter taste, showing groups of fibres, bordered pitted vessels, fragments of palisade tissue, sclereids, rhomboid crystals of calcium oxalate, cork cells, and unicellular glandular and nonglandular trichomes (both from fruit epicarp), epidermal cells (cubical, rectangular or polygonal) with slightly wavy walls and anomocytic stomata.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.4 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 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

T.L.C.

T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract on silica gel ‘G’ plates (0.2 mm thick) using chloroform : methanol: acetic acid (70:30:0.2) shows under UV (254 nm) four spots at Rf. 0.14, 0.32, 0.46 (all violet) and 0.72 (yellowish green). Under UV (366nm) six fluorescent spots appear at Rf. 0.14, 0.32 (both brown), 0.39, 0.51, 0.61 and 0.72 (all pink). On exposure to iodine vapour nine spots appear at Rf. 0.14, 0.19, 0.28, 0.35 (all yellow), 0.46 (faint orange), 0.51, 0.61 and 0.72 (all yellow). On spraying with vanillin sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 110oC for 10 min. ten spots appear at Rf. 0.06 (bluish grey), 0.14 (violet), 0.19 (brown), 0.28 (violet), 0.35 (brown), 0.39 (violet), 0.46 (brown), 0.51 (violet), 0.61 (brown) and 0.72 (violet).

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (Harmine); amino acids (alanine, glycine, leucine, arginine isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine and valline); terpenoids of oleanane group.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Sara
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Kaphahara, Medohara, Pittahara, Vatahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Duralabhadi Kvatha, Duralabhadi Kasaya, Rasnadi Kvatha Curna (Maha), Tiktaka Ghrta, Usirasava, Kantakaryavaleha, Mahapancagavya Ghrta, Dasamularista, Punarnavasava

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Grahani, Gulma, Jvara, Kasa, Kustha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Vatarakta, Visarpa, Atisara, Visamajvara, Trsna, Moha, Murccha, Madaroga, Raktavikara, Bharama, Chrdi, Mutrghata.

DOSE – 5-10 g powder,
40-80 ml phanta.

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VARSABHU (Root)

Varsabhu consists of dried root of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. Syn. T. monogyna Linn., T. obcordata Roxb. (Fam. Aizoacem), a prostrate, glabrous, typically post monsoon annual herb, found almost throughout the country as a weed in cultivated and waste lands.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Sveta Mula, Sothaghni, Vrsoheev
Assamese : —
Bengali : Sabuni
English : Hoase Purslane
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Saphed Punamava, Bish Kharpra, Pathar
Kannada : Muchchugane, Sihi Punarnava
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Thazhuthama, Jamizhama
Marathi : Sweta Punarnava
Oriya : Sweta Puruni, Gothapurni
Punjabi : Sanaya
Tamil : Saranai, Mukuruttai
Telugu : Galijeru
Urdu : Bish Khapra

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root mostly twisted, consisting of tap root, 8 to 21 cm long, about 0.5 cm thick, with several lateral rootlets, external surface light greyish-yellow; fracture, short; no characteristic odour and taste.

b) Microscopic

Mature root shows anamolous secondary growth; cork 5 to 8 layered; secondary cortex narrow zone consisting of round to polygonal, tangentially elongated, thinwalled, parenchymatous cells, a few cells containing groups of prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; below secondary cortex five concentric bands of vascular tissue; vessels of varying sizes occurring alongwith xylem fibres and phloem; phloem composed of thin walled cells having intercellular spaces a few cells containing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate; a few rows of polygonal, thin walled, parenchymatous cells occur in rings; medullary rays prominent in middle of the cortical region and in the second or third vascular bundle ring; centre mostly occupied by a single vascular bundle strand with two isolated groups of phloem.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 11 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 alcoholic extract on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Acetone: Water: Cone. Ammonia (90 : 78 : 3) shows under U.V. (366 nm) three conspicuous fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.20, 0.33 and 0.91 (all sky blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour one conspicuous spot appears at Rf. 0.11 (yellow). On spraying with Dragendorff reagent one spot appears at Rf. 0.11 (yellow).

CONSTITUENTS – Glycoside

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedana, Dipana, Hrdya, Kaphahara, Rucya, Vatahara, Mutrala

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Suskamaulaka Taila, Kumaryasava, Dhanvatara Ghrta, Sukumaraka Ghrta, Punarnavadyarista

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sopha, Agnimandya, Arsa, Gulma, Hrdroga, Jvara, Pandu, Udara Roga, Garavisa, Vasti Sula, Urahksta, Yakrta Evam Pliha Roga

DOSE – 2-5 gm of the drug in powder form.

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DRAVANTI(Seed)

Dravanti is the dried seeds of Jatropha glandulifera Roxb. (Fam. Euphorbiacem), an evergreen shrub with stout branches and a smooth papery bark, found mostly in the black cotton soil of Deccan but also found in plains of northern India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Brhaddanti, Vyaghrairanda, Putrasreni
Assamese : —
Bengali : —
English : Purging nut
Gujrati : Ratanjota
Hindi : Laal Bagharend, Jangali erandi
Kannada : Erandane danti, Totla
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Katalaavanakku
Marathi : Thoradanti, Mogali eranda
Oriya : —
Punjabi : —
Tamil : Kattamanakku, Adalai
Telugu : Adavi Amadam, Vatti amudamu
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds 6 mm long, 4 mm broad and 2 to 3 mm thick, ellipsoid, oblong, light brown in colour, surface smooth with median sutures on both sides, with a small hard brownish white and minutely lobed caruncle round the micropyle, weight of 100 seeds are 1 to 2 g.

b) Microscopic

Subtrigonous to oval in transverse section; outer epidermis of testa single layered, thick walled, pitted narrow columnar cells with dark brown contents; mesophyll parenchymatous with intercellular spaces and schizogenous latex tubes; the inner epidermis has short palisade of narrow thin walled cells, tegmen 16 to 20 cells thick, the outer layer straight or curving, malphighian cells 2 or 3 with finely pitted yellowish brown walls followed by reddish-brown elongated single celled sclereids; the lower layer consists of large parenchymatous cells 12 to 16 layers deep with the inner cells radially elongated and crushed; inner epidermis not characteristic; endosperm composed of cells filled with starch grains and oil globules, starch grains spherical to oval, 5-20 nm in diameter, simple, hilum circular or indistinct, crescent shaped leucoplast at one side of the grains, lamellm indistinct.

Powder – Powder of seeds creamish-brown, mucilagenous in taste without any odour, shows the presence of parenchymatous patches; cells filled with starch, spherical to oval, 5 to 20 nm in diameter, simple, hilum circular or indistinct; lamellm indistinct; sclereids upto 160 n long and 30 n broad, oil globules, laticifers, vessels, elongated thick walled palisade cell, malphighian cells, and aleurone grains are observed; the powder when treated with 1N HCl on a microscope slide, becomes pink when observed in day light and pinkish red under UV light 254 nm.

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 0.3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 7 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Fatty oil Not less than 9 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 : ethyl acetate : methanol (80 : 20 : 0.4) on spraying with anisaldehydesulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 120oC, spots appear at Rf. 0.45, 0.53, 0.84 (all brown) and 0.31 (pink).

CONSTITUENTS – Jatrophin, jatropholone A, fraxetin, coumarino-lignan (I).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipana, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Recaka, Visaghna, Vidabhedana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Misraka Sneha

THERAPEUTIC USES – Anaha, Gulma, Hrdroga, Jvara, Kandu, Prameha, Raktavikara, Sotha, Trsna, Udavarta, Udara, Kusta, Pandu, Ajirna, Sula, Grahaniroga, Garavisa, Bhagandara, Amavata, Paksaghata, Urustambha, Granthi, Parsvsula, Pliharoga, Dustavrana, Dustaapaci

DOSE – 250 – 500 mg after purification.

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