Indian Medicine

MADANA

Madana consists of dried fruit of Xeromphis spinosa (Thunb) Keay, Syn Randia dumetorum Lam. (Fam. Rubiacem), a deciduous thorny shrub or a small, tree, reaching a
height upto 9 m and girth about a metre, branches numerous, thick and horizontal, found in sub-Himalayan tracts extending eastwards in Sikkim upto 1200 m and southwards to
Peninsular India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Madani
Assamese : Mmn
Bengali : Mainaphal, Mayanaphal
English : Emetic nut
Gujrati : Mindhal, Mindhol, Mindhar
Hindi : Manphal
Kannada : Mangarikai, Karigidda, Madanaphala Maggrekai, Kari, Maggare Kayi
Kashmiri : Madanfal
Malayalam : Malankara, Malamkarakka
Marathi : Gal, Galphala, Giephala, Madanphala
Oriya : Mmna, Madana
Punjabi : Mindhal, Rara, Manphal
Tamil : Marukkarai
Telugu : Mranga Kaya, Monga Kaya
Urdu : Mainphal, Jauz-ul-Qai

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit, 1.8-4.5 cm long, globose or broadly ovoid, longitudinally ribbed or smooth yellowish-brown, crowned with persistent calyx-limb, fruit, contains numerous seeds, 0.4-0.6 cm long, compressed, smooth, brown and very hard.

b) Microscopic

Fruit-trasnverse section shows epicarp consisting of single layered epidermis, sometimes obliterated in surface view, epidermal cells thin-walled and polygonal, mesocarp, broad zone consisting of thin-walled, parenchyamatous cells, some cells contain reddish-brown content, a number of vascular bundles found embedded in this zone, endocarp stony consisting of light yellow polygonal, sclerenchymatous cells of variable shape and size.

Seed-transverse section shows a seed coat, consisting of single layered, rounded to oval epidermal cells, a few layers of yellowish-brown pigmented cells, endosperm forms bulk of seed consisting of large oval and irregular shaped parenchymatous cells, albumen horny, transluscent, cells of outermost layer smaller in size.

Powder-Reddish brown, under microscope shows numerous, large, irregular, reddish brown cells sclereids of variable shape and size, pieces of xylem vessels with reticulate thickenings, thin- walled, crushed parenchymatous cells and yellow-orange pieces of seed coat

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 0.25 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 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, saponin, tannin and resin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Vamana, Lekhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pippalyadi Taila.

THERAPEUTIC USES – Gulma, Kustha, Vidradhi, Slesmajvara, Pratisyaya

DOSE – 0.5 -1.0 g of the drug in powder form for decoction.
3-6 g of the drug for induction of vomiting.

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MISREYA

Misreya consists of dried ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Mill (Fam. Umbelliferm) , an erect, glabrous, aromatic herb, 1-2 m high, cultivated extensively throughout India upto 1830 m and also sometimes found wild, fruits ripen in September, stems cut with sickles and put up in loose sheaves to dry in sun, when dry, fruits are beaten out in a cloth in sun, cleaned by winnowing and collected.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Misi, Misi, Madhurika
Assamese : Guvamuri
Bengali : Marui, Panmauri
English : Fannel Fruit
Gujrati : Variyali
Hindi : Saunf
Kannada : Badisompu, Doddasompu
Kashmiri : Sanuf, Badnai
Malayalam : Kattusatakuppa, Parinjmragum
Marathi : Badishop
Oriya : Panamadhuri
Punjabi : Saunf
Tamil : Shombu
Telugu : Sopu
Urdu : Saunf

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruits, usually entire with pedicel attached, mericarps, upto about 10 mm long and 4 mm broad, five sided with a wider commissural surface, tapering lightly towards base and apex, crowned with a conical stylopod, glabrous, greenish or yellowish-brown with five paler prominent primary ridges , endosperm, orthospermous.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows pericarp with outer epidermis of quadrangular to polygonal cells with smooth cuticle and a few stomata, trichomes, absent vittm, 4 dorsal and 2 commissural extending with length of each mericarp, intercostal with an epithelium of brown cells and volatile oil in cavity, mesocarp, with much reticulate lignified parenchyma, costm, 5 in each mericarp, each with 1vascular strand having inner xylem strand and 2 lateral phloem strands separated by a bundle of fibres inner epidermis of very narrow, thin-walled cells arranged parallel to one another in groups of 5-7, many of these groups with longer axis of their cells at angle with those of adjacent groups (Parquetry arrangement), endosperm consists of thick-walled, cellulosic parenchyma containing much fixed oil, micro-rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, and numerous aleurone grains upto 5 n in diameter, carpophore with very thick-walled sclerenchyma in two strands, often unsplit with two strands very close to each Other.

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 15 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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 1.4 per centv/w, Appendix 2.2.10

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil and fixed oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Anulomana, Balya, Dipana, Vatapittahara, Amadosahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Misreyarka, Pancasakara Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Agnimandya, Kasa, Pravahika, Raktadosa, Arsas

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

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NYAGRODHA

Nyagrodha consists of dried mature stem bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn. (Fam. Moracem) , a large branching tree with numerous mrial roots occurring all over India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Vata
Assamese : Vat, Ahat, Vatgach
Bengali : Bot
English : Banyan tree
Gujrati : Vad, Vadalo
Hindi : Badra, Bargad, Bada
Kannada : Aala, Aladamara, Vata
Kashmiri : Bad
Malayalam : Peraal
Marathi : Vml
Oriya : Bata, Bara
Punjabi : Bhaur
Tamil : Aalamaram, Aalam
Telugu : Marri
Urdu : Bargad, Bad

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Mature stern bark grey with thin, closely adhered ashy white, light bluish-green or grey patches, bark fiat or slightly curve, thickness varies with age of tree : externally rough due to presence of horizontal furrows and lenticels, mostly circular and prominent, fracture short in outer two thirds of bark while inner portion shows a fibrous fracture taste, astringent

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature bark shows compressed cork tissue and dead elements of secondary cortex consisting of mostly stone cells and thin-walled, compressed elements of cortex cork cells rectangular, thick-walled and containing brownish content, secondary cortex wide, forming more than half of thickness of bark, composed of large groups of stone cells and parenchymatous cells, stone cells vary in shape, parenchymatous cells thin-walled and somewhat cubical to oval few in number and occur between groups of stone cells, some of cells contain prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, starch grains and tannin, secondary phloem composed of a few sieve elements parenchyma, fibres, stone cells and latex tube alternating with medullary rays, sieve elements compressed in .outer region of bark while intact m inner region, few thick-walled phloem parenchyma occurring in between patches of phloem fibres and stone cells, stone cells similar to those present in secondary cortex, some phloem cells contain prismatic calcium oxalate crystals also, present in fibres forming crystal fibres, medullary rays 2-5 seriate, composed of thick-walled, circular to oval cells few cells also converted into stone cells and some have pitted walls, also containing plenty of starch grains, mostly rounded, rarely oval or semi-lunar in shape, simple as well as compound type, compound starch grains consist of 2-3 components, cambium composed of a few layers of small, rectangular, thin-walled 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 3 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 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Tannins, glycosides and flavonoids.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Guru, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dahaghna, Mutrasangrahaniya, Stambhana, Varnya, Vranapaha, Kaphapittajita, Yonidosahrt

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Nyagrodhadi Curna, Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Prameha, Raktapitta, Trsna, Visarpa, Vrana, Yonidosa

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

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PASANABHEDA

Pasanabheda consists of rhizomes of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb., Syn. Bergenia ligulata (Wall.) Engl. (Fam. Saxifragacem), a small perennial herb found throughout temperate Himalayas from Bhutan to Kashmir at an altitude between 2000-3000 m and in Khasia hills upto 1200 m altitude.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Asmabhedaka, Silabheda
Assamese : Patharkuchi
Bengali : Patharkuchi, Himasagara, Patrankur
English : —
Gujrati : Pashanbheda, Pakhanbheda
Hindi : Pakhanabheda, Silphara, Patharcua, Pakhanabhed, Silpbheda
Kannada : Alepgaya, Pahanbhedi, Hittaga, Pasanaberu, Hittulaka
Kashmiri : Pashanbhed
Malayalam : Kallurvanchi, Kallurvanni, Kallorvanchi
Marathi : Pashanbheda
Oriya : Pasanbhedi, Pashanabheda
Punjabi : Kachalu, Pashanbhed
Tamil : Sirupilai
Telugu : Kondapindi
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizome, solid, barrel shaped, cylindrical, 1.5-3 cm long and 1-2 cm in diameter with small roots, ridges, furrows and root scars distinct, tranversely cut surface shows outer ring of brown coloured cork, short middle cortex, vascular bundles and large central pith, odour, aromatic, taste, astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of rhizome shows cork divided into two zones, outer a few layers of slightly compressed and brown coloured cells, inner zone multilayered consisting of thin-walled tangentially elongatd and colourless cells, followed by a single layered cork cambium and 2-3 layers of secondary cortex composed of thick-walled, tangentially elongated, rectangular cells with intercellular spaces, some cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate and simple starch grains cortex a narrow-zone of parenchymatous cells containing a number of simple starch grains, most of cortical cells also contain large rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, endoderm is and pericycle absent. vascular bundles, arranged in a ring, collateral, conjoint and open, phloem tissues cornposed of sieve elements and parenchyma, in outer region found as compressed masses while in inner region intact. a number of rosette crystals of calcium oxalate also found as crystal fibres, cambium present as continuous ring composed of 2-3 layers of thinwalled, tangentially elongated cells, xylem consist of fibres, tracheids, vessels and parenchyma, with centre occupied by large pith composed of circular to oval, parenchymatous cells, varying in size and containing starch grains with crystals of calcium oxalate similar to those found in cortical region.

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 0.5 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 15 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Tannic acid, gallic acid and glucose

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhedana, Vastisodhana, Asmarighna, Mutravirecaniya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asmarihara Kasaya Curna, Mutravirecaniya Kasaya Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Meha, Mutrakicchra

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.
20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KARKATASHRINGI

Karkatashringi consists of gall-like excrescences formed by insects on the leaves, petioles and branches of the plant Pistacia chinensia Burgo, Pistacia integerrima Stew. ex Brandis, Rhus succedanea Linn. (Fam. Anacardiacem) during autumn season, growing on the steps of Western Himalayas from Indus to Kumaon at an altitude of 350-2400 m, often cultivated in Punjab plains.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Srngi, Visani, Karkata
Assamese : Kakiasrngi
Bengali : Kankda Shringi
English : Crab’s claw
Gujrati : Kakada shing, Kakada singi
Hindi : Kakadasingi, Kakarasingi, Gheekadava
Kannada : Kakadasingi, Karkatakasringi
Kashmiri : Kakkar, Kamaladina
Malayalam : Karkatasringi
Marathi : Kakadshingi
Oriya : Kakadashrungi, Kakadashringi
Punjabi : Kakar, Kakarsingi
Tamil : Karkata singi
Telugu : Kakarsingi, Karkatakashrungi
Urdu : Kakrasinghi

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Dried galls hard, hollow, horn-like, thin-walled, generally cylindrical, tapering at both the ends, greyish brown externally and reddish brown internally, size varies from 2.5-30.0 cm or more, each gall contains numerous dead insects, odour, terebinthine, taste of powdered galls, strongly astringent and slightly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of gall shows the collapsed epidermis on both the sides, epidermal cells thin-walled, tangentially elongated, ground tissues thin-walled and oval or circular, the outer two layers tangentially elongated while between vascular bundles radially elongated, outer few layers and some of cells of ground tissue filled with yellowish brown contents, vascular bundle scattered throughout the ground tissues in two rows, consist of phloem accompanied by a large tannin sac in each vascular bundle.

Powder-Powder greyish brown, under microscope, shows orange yellow colour isolated or associated fragments of xylem vessels and ground tissues.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

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 0.2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 30 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, tannins and resinous matters.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Guru
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kasahara, Kaphavatahara, Urdhvavatajit, Hikkanigrahana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Balacaturbhadrika Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Svasa, Chardi, Hikka, Jvara, Kasa, Ksaya

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

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PATHA

Paha consists of roots of Cissampelos pareira Linn. (Fam. Menisperrnacem), an extensively spreading, glabrous to softy pubescent, perennial climbing shrub with nodose stem, common in warm and dry regions of tropical and sub-tropical parts of India upto an altitude of about 1500 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Ambashtaki
Assamese : Tuprilata
Bengali : Akanadi,Patha
English : Velvet leaf
Gujrati : Kalipath, Karondhium, Karondium, Venivel, Karedhium
Hindi : Patha, Padh, Akanadi
Kannada : Pahadavela, Agalushunthi
Kashmiri : Pad
Malayalam : Patha
Marathi : Pashadvel, Paharrel, Pahadavel, Padali
Oriya : Kanabindhi, Patha
Punjabi : Patha
Tamil : Vatta tiruppi
Telugu : Adivibankatiga, chiru boddi, Boddi tiga
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Roots, cylindrical, often tortuous, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, light brown to yellowish in colour, surface rough and at places rugged due to transverse wrinkles, cracks and fissures, fracture short and splintery, odour, faint aromatic, taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transvarse section of root shows, 6-10 layers of thin-walled, rectangular cork cells secondary cortex, 1-3 layered of oval to tangentially elongated cells, discontinuous ring consisting of 2-3 rows of stone cells and group of phloem fibres, stone cells variable in shape with simple pits, vascular strands as radiating strips usually 8-12 of xylem and phloem some reaching up to the centre, phloem consists of small strands of sieve elements and parenchyma just below the ring of stone cells, xylem consists of vessels, tracheids, fibres and xylem parenchyma, vessels and tracheids show simple pits on the walls, xylem parenchyma usually thick-walled and lignified but due to delignification patches of thin-walled parenchyma appear in the xylem region., medullary rays 1-3 seriate appear to be very wide at a number of places due to addition of delignified xylem parenchymatous cells, ray cells thin-walled, a few lignified and thick-walled while some show reticulate thickening, plenty of starch grains present in some of ray cells.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

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 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 11 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids, saponin and quarternary ammonium bases, flavonol and sterol.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Bhagnasandhanakrt, Grahi, Raktasodhaka, Visaghna, Tridosasamana, Stanyasodhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Brhatgangadhara Curna, Pusyanuga Curna, Pradarantaka Lauha, Sarasvata Ghrta, Stanyasodhana Kasaya Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sularoga, Atisara, Chardi, Jvara, Kandu, Kustha, Stanyadusti

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

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KARPASA

Karpasa consists of seeds (devoid of lint) of Gossypium herbaceum Linn. (Fam. Malvacem) , an annual or perennial shrub, 0.6-2.4m high, extensively cultivated in India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Tundakesi
Assamese : Karpasa, Tula
Bengali : Bona, Kapasia
English : Cotton plant seed
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Kapasa, Binaula
Kannada : Hati, Arale
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Karpasi, Panji Karpasam
Marathi : Sarki
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Lodhar
Tamil : Parutti kkoottam
Telugu : Patti ginga
Urdu : Pambadana, Habb-ul-Qutn

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seed, dark brown, ovoid, 0.3-0.6 cm diameter, minute, shallow longitudinal grooves arise from funicular region of seed, taste, slightly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature seed shows, two integuments forming seed coat, outer integument differentiated into epidermis, a wide zone of parenchyma and a hyaline layer, epidermis single layered, some trichomes arise from epidermis and form lint and fuzz hairs, lint hairs elongated with thin wall and wide lumen, fuzz hairs thick-walled with narrow lumen, parenchymetous zone consists of 4-8 layers of reddish-brown cells, a few vascular bundles embedded in this zone, hyaline layer consisting of 2-3 layers of tangentially elongated, cubical, thick-walled cells, inner integument composed of palisade and parenchyma, palisade cells compactly arranged and colourless, parenchyma many layered of tangentially elongated cells with deep reddish-brown contents, cotyledons thin, large and folded, upper epidermis of cotyledon, single layered, externally covered with cuticle followed by 1 or 2 layered palisade like cells of mesophyll, beneath this zone, mesophyll cells show elongated to rounded structure without inter-cellular spaces, lower epidermis single layered, cubical or oval, covered with cuticle, some lysigenous glands filled with yellowish-brown contents also found scattered in mesophyll region, starch and calcium oxalate crystals absent. Powder- Brown under microscope shows palisade cells, thin-walled mesophyll cells, deep brown contents and hairs, pieces of testa and fuzz intact.

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 0.1 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 8 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Fixed oil, resin and sterols.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Hrdya, Vrsya, Stanyajanana, Kaphakara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Karpasashvadi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Daha, Srama, Bhranti, Murccha, Stanyaksya

DOSE – 3-6 g of he drug in powder form.

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PUGA

Puga consists of dried ripe seed of Areca catechu Linn. (Fam. Palmm), a graceful, slender, stemmed, perennial palm, trunk reaching a height of about 25 m cultivated in the coastal regions of Southern India, Bengal and Assam upto an altitude of 1000 m.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kramuka, Ghona
Assamese : Tamol, Tamul
Bengali : Supari
English : Areca nut, Betle nut
Gujrati : Sopari
Hindi : Supari, Chr alia
Kannada : Adiks
Kashmiri : Supari, Spari
Malayalam : Adakku, Pakku
Marathi : Supari, Pophal
Oriya : Gua
Punjabi : Supari, Spari
Tamil : Kamugu, Pakku, Pakhumaram
Telugu : Paka chekka, Vakka
Urdu : Fufal, Choalia

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Ovoid, externally pale, reddish-brown to light yellowish-brown, marked with a net work of paler lines, frequently with adhering portions of silvery brittle endocarp and adhering fibres of mesocorp at base of seed, seed hard with ruminate endosperm of brownish tissue alternating with whitish tissue, odour, characteristic, taste, astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of seed shows a seed coat consisting of several rows of cells, tangentially elongated, with inner walls more or less thickened, whitish cell of endosperm tissue with thick porous walls containing oil globules and aleuronic grains, brown peri sperm tissue with thick walled cells and delicate trachem. Powder-Reddish brown to light brown, under microscope shows fragments of endosperm tissue with porous walls, irregularly thickened and small stone cells of seed coat, a few aleurone grains and oil globules and a few delicate trachem, starch absent.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 3 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 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloid (arecoline) tannins and fats.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Guru, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Prabhava: Mohakrt, Dipana, Kaphapittajit, Kledanasana, Malabhedi, Mukhsodhana, Vikasi

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Pugakhanda

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Mukhavikara, Yonisaithilya, Svetapradara

DOSE – 1-2 g of the drug in powder form.

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KASERU

Kaseru consists of rhizome of Scirpus kysoor Roxb. (Fam. Cyperacem), a weed commonly found on the margins of ponds and swampy places throughout India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kaseruka
Assamese : Kaheru
Bengali : Keshura
English : Water chestnut
Gujrati : Kasela, Kasola
Hindi : Kaseru
Kannada : Kasure gadd, Kaseruva, Kothigadde
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Kazhi Muthanga
Marathi : Kasara, Kachera, Kachora
Oriya : Kasaru Kawda, Kasaru Kanda
Punjabi : Kaseru
Tamil : Gundatigagaddi
Telugu : Guntatungagaddi
Urdu : Kaseru

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Rhizomes, oval to cylindrical, often branched having a number of transverse rings, black coloured roots and rounded scars, black externally and cream coloured internally, odour, aromatic, taste, bitter.

b) Microscopic

Tranverse section of rhizome shows epidermis of collapsed and brown coloured cells: hypodermis, 4-8 cells with thick brown cell walls, followed by a wide zone of cortical ground tissue of oval to rounded, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, filled with oval to spherical starch grains, encircled by sclerenchymatous sheath, vascular bundles, found scattered throughout cortical ground tissue, endodermis consists of brown coloured cells with heavy thickenings on thier walls, enclosing a wide central stelar ground tissue with a number of scattered vascular bundles of closed, collateral type, encircled by sclerenchymatous sheath, stelar ground tissues of rounded to oval, thinwalled and parenchymatous cells, containing oval to spherical starch grains, a number of secretory cell with orange-brown contents found throughout cortical and stelar ground tissue.

Powder– Light brown, under microscope shows abundant round to oval starch grains and orange-yellow pigments, fragments of xylem vessels with annular thickenings and thinwalled, parenchymatous tissue.

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 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 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Starch, saponins, sugars and progesterone.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Kasaya
Guna : Guru
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Caksusya, Grahi, Pittaghna, Dahaghna, Sukrakara, Stanyakara, Rucikara.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Saubhagyasunhti

THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Atisara, Daha, Daurbalya, Netraroga, Sukraksya, Stanyaksaya

DOSE – 5-10 g of the drug in powder form.

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PUNARNAVA

Punarnava consists of dried, matured whole plant of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Fam Nyctaginacem), trailing herb found throughout India and collected after rainy season, herb is diffusely branched with stout root stock and many long slender, prostrate or ascending branches.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kahtilla, Sophaghni, Sothaghni, Varsabhu
Assamese : Ranga Punarnabha
Bengali : Rakta punarnava
English : Horse Purslene, Hog Weed
Gujrati : Dholisaturdi, Motosatodo
Hindi : Gadapurna, Lalpunarnava
Kannada : Sanadika, Kommeberu, Komma
Kashmiri : Vanjula Punarnava
Malayalam : Chuvanna Tazhutawa
Marathi : Ghetuli, Vasuchimuli, Satodimula, Punarnava, Khaparkhuti
Oriya : Lalapuiruni, Nalipuruni
Punjabi : ltcit (Ial), Khattan
Tamil : Mukurattai (Shihappu)
Telugu : Atikamamidi, Erra galijeru

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Stem-greenishpurple, stiff, slender, cylindrical, swollen at nodes, minutely pubescent or n early glabrous, prostrate divericately branched, branches from common stalk, often more than a metre long.

Root– wel developed, fairly long, somewhat tortuous, cylindrical, 0.2-1.5 cm in diameter, yellowish brown to brown coloured, surface soft to touch but rough due to minute longitudinal striations and root scars, fracture, short, no distinct odour, taste, slightly bitter.

Leaves-opposite in unequal pairs, larger ones 25-37 mm long and smaller ones 12-18 mm long ovate-oblong or suborbicular, apex rounded or slightly pointed, base subcordate or rounded, green and glabrous above, whitish below, margin entire or subundulate, dorsal side pinkish in certain cases, thick in texture, petioles nearly as long as the blade, slender.

Flowers-very small, pink coloured, nearly sessile or shortly stalked, 10-25 cm, in small umbells, arranged on slender long stalks, 4-10 corymb, axillary and in terminal panicles, bracteoles, small, acute, perianth tube constricted above the ovary, lower part greenish, ovoid, ribbed, upper part pink, funnel-shaped, 3 mm long, tube 5 lobed, stamen 2-3.

Fruit-one seeded nut, 6 mm long clavate, rounded, broadly and bluntly 5 ribbed, viscidly glandular.

b) Microscopic

Stem-Transverse section of stem shows epidermal layer containing multi cellular, uniserite glandular trichome consisting of 9-12 stalked cells and an ellipsoidal head, 150-220 n long, cortex consists of 1-2 layers of parenchyma, endodermis indistinct, pericycle 1-2 layered, thick-walled often containing scattered isolated fibres, stele consisting of many small vascular bundles often joined together in a ring and many big vascular bundles scattered in the ground tissue, intra fascicular cambium present.

Root-transverse section of mature root shows a cork composed of thin-walled tangentially elongated cells with brown walls in the outer few layers, cork cambium of 1-2 layers of thin walled cells secondary cortex consists of 2-3 layers of parenchymatous cells followed by cortex composed of 5-12 layers of thin-walled, oval to polygonal cells, several concentric bands of xylem tissue alternating with wide zone of parenchymatous tissue present below cortical regions, number of bands vary according to thickness of root and composed of vessels, tracheids and fibres, vessels mostly found in groups of 2-8 in radial rows, having simple pits and reticulate thickening, tracheids, small, thickwalled with simple pits, fibres aseptate, elongated, thick-walled, spindle shaped with pointed ends, phloem occurs as hemispherical or crescentic patches outside each group of xylem vessels and composed of sieve elements and parenchyma, broad zone of parenchymatous tissue, in between two successive rings of xylem elements composed of thin-walled more or less rectangular cells arranged in radial rows, central regions of root occupied by primary vascular bundles, numerous raphides of calcium oxalate, in single or in group present in cortical region and parenchymatous tissue in between xylem tissue, starch grains simple and compound having 2-4 components found in abundence in most of cells of cortex, xylem elements in parenchymatous tissue between xylem elements, simple starch grains mostly rounded in shape and measure 2.75-11 n in diameter.

Leaves-Transverse section of leaf shows anomocytic stomata on both sides, numerous, a few short hairs, 3-4 celled, present on the margin and on veins, palisade one layered, spongy parenchyma 2-4 layered with small air spaces, idioblasts containing raphides, occasionally cluster crystal of calcium oxalate and orange-red resinous matter present in mesophyll. Palisade ratio 3.5-6.5, stomatal index 11-16, vein islet number 9-15.

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 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY

Assay-Contains not less than 0.1 per cent of total alkaloids, when assayed by the following methods, Take accurately about 100 g of the drug (60 mesh powder) and moisten with dilute solution of Ammonia. Extract continuously in a soxhlet apparatus for 18 hours with 95 per cent Alcohol. Remove the alcohol by distillation. Extract the residue with five 25 ml
portions of 1 N Hydrochloric acid till complete extraction of the alkaloid is effected. Transfer the mixed acid solutions into a separating funnel and wash with 5 ml of Chloroform, runoff the Chloroform layer. Make the acid solution distinctly alkaline with Ammonia and shake with five 25 ml portions of Chloroform or till complete extraction of alkaloids is effected. Wash the combined chloroform extracts with two portions each of 5 ml of water. Filter the chloroform layer in tared flask and evaporate to dryness. Add to the residue 5 ml of Alcohol, evaporate to dryness, repeat the process once again and weigh the residue to constant weight in a vacuum desiccator.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloid (Punarnavine).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Ruksa
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Anulomana, Sothahara, Mutrala, Vataslesmahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Punarnavasaka Kvatha Curna, Punarnavasava, Punarnavadi Mandura, Sukumara Ghrta, Sothaghna Lepa

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Pandu

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KETAKI

Ketaki consists of dried, underground roots of Pandanus tectorius Soland.ex Parkinson (Fam. Pandanacem), a densely branched shrub, rarely erect found along the coast of India and Andaman Island and sometimes cultivated in gardens also.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Sucikapuspa
Assamese : Katki
Bengali : Katki
English : Screw pine
Gujrati : Kevado
Hindi : Kevada
Kannada : Kadajlmudu, Talehuvu
Kashmiri : —-
Malayalam : Pookaitha
Marathi : Kewda
Oriya : Ketaki, Kia
Punjabi : Keora
Tamil : Tazhai
Telugu : Mogali
Urdu : —-

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Root pieces, 2-6 cm long, 0.3-2 cm in diameter, cylindrical, rusty or yellowishbrown, to grey, surface smooth except for protuberances at certain places, papery cork, surface uneven, easily peelable exposing a fibrous surface, fracture, usually unbreakable.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature root shows a wide zone of stratified cork, exfoliating at places, consisting of rectangular, thin-walled, tangentially elongated, radially arranged cells, upper few layers filled with reddish-brown contents, remaining cells colourless, cortex, a wide zone of rounded cells with fibre groups towards central and middle region, cells obliterated at places, endodermis barrel-shaped, slightly thickwalled , pericycle and phloem not distinct, xylem forms bulk of root consisting of vessels, fibres and parenchyma, medullary rays not distinct, vessels show annular or pitted thickening, fibres thick-walled, elongated having a few simple pits. Powder-Yellowish-brown, under microscope shows fragments of corks, xylem vessels and fibres.

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 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Balya, Kesya, Rasayana, Varnya, Daurgandhyanasana, Dardhyakara, Saukhyakara, Kaphapaha, Caksusya.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Triphaladi Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Gulma, Netraroga, Kapharoga.

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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SAPTAPARNA

Saptaparna consists of stem bark of Alstonia scholaris (Llnn.) R. Br. (Fam. Apocynacem), a tall evergreen tree, found in the Sub-Himalayan tracts ascending to 900 m from Jammu eastwards and western peninsula mostly in deciduous forests.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Saptacchada, Saptaparni, Saptahva
Assamese : Chatiyan
Bengali : Chatin
English : Dita
Gujrati : Saptaparna, Satvana
Hindi : Chhativan, Satawana
Kannada : Maddale, Hale, Eleyalaga
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Daivaphal, Ezilampala
Marathi : Satveen
Oriya : Chbatiana, Chatiana
Punjabi : Sathi, Satanna
Tamil : Ezilampalai
Telugu : Edakula Ponna
Urdu : —

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Bark occurs in channelled or occasionally quilled pieces, 3-4mm thick from branches and cut or broken irregularly into curved or flat pieces, about 7 mm thick from stem, externally younger bark dark grey to brown, older bark very rough, uneven and much fissured transversely and longitudinally, both marked with numerous rounded or transversely elongated, grey to whitish brown lenticels, internally brownish-buff to dark greyish-brown, somewhat striated and indented, fracture, short and smooth, fractured surface shows a narrow, inner portion traversed by numerous, fine, medullary rays and a varying spongy outer portion

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of bark shows a multi-layered, thick and thin-walled cork, a broad zone of secondary cortex composed of thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, including many rounded latex cavities, scattered throughout tissue, containing numerous rhombic to polygonal calcium oxalate crystals, numerous stone cells forming a noncontinuous layer of 4-8 cells, irregular, rounded to linear, fibre-like, blunt at both ends, internal to secondary cortex a secondary phloem cells containing many sieve tubes, cork cells brick shaped to almost square in transverse and longitudinal sections and polygonal in surface view, cork cambium forms a region of two rows of cells identical to cork cells, situated in between cork and secondary cortex, secondary phloem cells smaller in dimension than cortical cells consisting of phloem parenchyma, many sieve tubes and companion cells, fibres absent.

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 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

ASSAY

Assay-Contains not less than 0.2 per cent of total alkaloids when assayed by the following method:-
Take 25 g in No. 60 mesh powder. Transfer to a continuous extraction apparatus and extract with 90 per cent Alcohol for 4 hours (at least 3 extractions are essential). Remove the solvent and transfer to a separating funnel with the help of a little water and 5 ml of 95 per cent Alcohol. Add about 15 ml of Water and 2 ml of solution of 20 percent Sodium Hydroxide to make the solution alkaline and extract with successive quantities of Chloroform till the extraction of alkaloid is complete. Shake the combined Chloroform extract with successive quantities of a mixture of 4 volumes of 0.2 N Sulphuric Acid and 1 volume of Alcohol until complete extraction of alkaloid is effected. Wash the mixed acid solution twice with 10 ml portion of Chloroform and then twice with 10 ml portion of Ether. Wash the combined Chloroform and Ether solution with 20 ml of 0.1 N Sulphuric acid. Transfer this washed acid extract to the original acid extract, make distinctly alkaline with solution of Sodium Hydroxide and shake with successive portions of chloroform till the extraction of the alkaloids is complete. Wash the combined chloroform solution with about 5 ml of water. Remove most of the chloroform and transfer the remainder to a small open dish. When the removal of chloroform is almost complete on water bath, add about 2 ml Dehydrated Alcohol and evaporate to dryness. Dry at 100o to constant weight and weigh as total alkaloids.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids (echitamine, ditamine and echitamidine).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Sara, Snigdha
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Anulomana, Dipana, Jvaraghna, Kushaghna, Raktasodhaka, Tridosaghna

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Amrtarisa, Aragvadhadi Kvatha Curna, Vajraka Taila.

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sula, Gulma, Jvara, Krmiroga, Kustha, Sandrameha

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KHADIRA

Khadira consists of dried pieces of heart-wood of Acacia catechu (Linn. f.) Willd. (Fam. Leguminosm), a moderate sized tree, found mostly in dry parts of India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Gayatri
Assamese : Kharira, Khara, Khayar
Bengali : Khera, Khayera
English : Black catechu, Cutch tree.
Gujrati : Khair, Kathe, Kher
Hindi : Khair
Kannada : Kaggali, Kaggalinara, Kachinamara, Koggigida
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Karingali
Marathi : Khaira, Khair
Oriya : Khaira
Punjabi : Khair
Tamil : Karungali, Karungkali
Telugu : Chandra, Kaviri
Urdu : Chanbe Kaath

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Heart-wood, light red, turning brownish-red to nearly black with age, attached with whitish sapwood, fracture hard, taste, astringent

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of heart-wood shows, numerous, uni-to bi-seriate medullary rays, vessels occurring isolated or in small groups of two to four, xylem fibres with narrow lumen occupying major portion of wood, xylem parenchyma usually predominantly paratracheal, forming a sheath around vessels, wood consists of crystal fibres with 14-28 segments, each having one prismatic crystal of calcium oxalate, a few tracheids with scalariform thickening, some of cells, including vessels, filled with brown content, prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate present in a number of cells throughout the wood.

Powder– Brown coloured, under microscope shows a number of xylem fibres, vessels, crystal fibres, prismatic crystals of calcium exalate.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

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

CONSTITUENTS – Catechin, catechu-tannic acid and tannin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Krmighna, Kushaghna, Medohara, Raktasodhaka, Kaphapittahara, Dantya

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Khadirarista, Arimedadi Taila, Khadiradi Gutika

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Kustha, Prameha, Vrana

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for the decoction.

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KIRATATIKTA

Kiratatikta consists of whole plant of Swertia chirata Buch.Ham, (Fam, Gentianacem), a small, erect, annual, herbaceous plant, 0.6-1. 25 m high, found in temperate Himalayas at an altitude between 1200-3000 m from Kashmir to Bhutan and Khasia Hills in Meghalaya, drug collected when flowering (July-October) and dried.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Kirata, Kirataka, Bhunimba, Kiratatiktaka
Assamese : Chirta
Bengali : Chirata
English : Chireta
Gujrati : Kariyatu, Kariyatun
Hindi : Chirayata
Kannada : Nalebevu, Chirata Kaddi, Chirayat
Kashmiri : Lose, Chiraita
Malayalam : Nelaveppu, Kirayathu, Nilamakanjiram
Marathi : Kiraita, Kaduchiraita
Oriya : Chireita
Punjabi : Chiretta, Chiraita
Tamil : Nilavembu
Telugu : Nelavemu.
Urdu : Chiraita

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug consists of whole plant, a peculiar shining yellowish tinge all over the herb in fresh sample, stem upto 1 m long and 6 mm in diameter, glabrous, yellowish-brown to purplish, slightly quadrangular above and cylindrical below, large, continuous, easily separable yellow pith, leaf, opposite, cauline, broad at base, ovate or lanceolate, entire, acuminate, glabrous, usually with 5-7 prominent lateral veins, branching from the axils of the leaves which ramify further into paniculate inflorescence, flower, tetramerous, 2-3 mm wide, ovoid, with two glandular depressions near the base of each of corolla lobes, ovary, superior, bicarpellary, unilocular, ovoid and pointed, fruit. a capsule with numerous, minute reticulated seed, 0.25-0.55 mm long, 0.16-0.45 mm broad irregularly ovoid.

b) Microscopic

Root-transverse section of root shows, 2-4 layers of cork, secondary cortex representee by 4-12 layers of thick-walled, parenchymataous cells, some showing radial wall formation, tangentially elongated with sinuous walls, secondary phloem composed of thin-walled strands of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma, secondary xylem composed of vessels, tracheids parenchyma and xylem fibres, all elements lignified and thick-walled, in older roots, centre of wood more or less spongy and hollow in most cases, outer woody ring remaining strongly lignified, vessels show scalariform thickening and also simple and bordered pits, tracheids similar in thickening as the vessels, fibres have simple pits, mucilage present in secondary cortical cells, minute acicular crystals present in abundance in secondary cortex and phloem region, resin also present as dark brown mass in secondary cortex cells.

Stem-transverse section of stem shows single layered epidermis, externally covered with a thick striated cuticle present in young stem, in older epidermis remains intact but cells flattened and tangentially elongated, four ribs also consists of an epidermis and parenchymatous cortical cells, endodermis distinct, showing anticlinal or periclinal walls, followed by single layered pericycle consisting of thin walled cells, stem possesses an amphiphloic siphonostele, external phloem represented by usual elements,
cambium between external phloem and xylem composed of a thin strip of tangentially elongated cells, internal phloem similar in structure as that of external phloem excepting that sieve tube strand is more widely separated, xylem continuous and composed mostly of tracheids, a few xylem vessels present singly or rarely in groups of two while tracheids and fibres present in abundance, vessels and fibre tracheids have mostly simple and bordered pits and fibres with simple pits on the walls, medullary rays absent, central part of the stem occupied by a pith consisting of rounded and isodiametric cells with prominent intercellular spaces mucilage present in cortical cells, minute acicular crystals also present in abundance, cortical cells, in resin present as dark brown mass in some cortical cells along with oil droplets.

Leaf-transverse section of leaf shows very little differentiation of mesophyll tissues, epidermis single layered covered with a thick, striated cuticle, more strongly developed on the upper surface than the lower, stomata of anisocytic type, palisade tissue single layered, cells at places become wider and less elongated particularly in bigger veins, spongy messophyll represented by 4-7 layers of somewhat loosely arranged, tangentially elongated cells, some epidermal cells prominently arched outside at the margin, mucilage present in epidermal and mesophyll cell while minute acicular crystal also present in abundance in mesophyll cells, in leaf parenchymas oil droplets also present.

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 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6. (60 per cent)
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

Absence of tannin-On addition of Ferric Chloride to aqueous or alcoholic extract no blue black colour develops.

Assay -Contains not less than 1.3 per cent, of the bitter principle as determined by the following method:-
Mix 20 g in powder (No. 60 sieve) with boiling water containing 0.5 g of Calcium Corbonate and extract with boiling water till the last portion of the extract is devoid of bitterness, concentrate in vacuum and dissolve the residue in hot Alcohol. Filter while hot and wash the residue thrice on the filter with 10 ml portions of hot Alcohol, remove the alcohol from the filtrate and take up the residue repeatedly with 25, 15, 15, 15, and 15 ml of hot water. Shake the aqueous extract repeatedly with 25, 20, 15, 15 and 10 ml of Ethyl Acetate, collect the Ethyl Acetate extracts, evaporate, dry and weigh.

CONSTITUENTS – Xanthones, xanthone glycoside and mangiferine (Flavonoid).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Jvaraghna, Kaphapittahara, Raktasodhaka, Vranasodhana, Saraka, Trsnapaha

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sudarsana Curna, Chinnodbhavadi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sotha, Daha, Jvara, Krmiroga, Kandu, Kustha, Meha, Trsna, Vrana

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.
20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KRSNAJIRAKA

Krsnajiraka consists of dried ripe fruits of Carum carvi Linn. (Fam. Umbelliferm), a biennial herb, 30-90 cm high, cultivated as a cold season crop in plains of India and as summer crop in hilly areas of Kashmir, Kumaon, Garhwal and Chamba.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Asitajiraka
Assamese : Krisnjeera, Ka1ajira, Kaljira
Bengali : Kala jira
English : Black Caraway
Gujrati : Shahjirun
Hindi : Kalajira
Kannada : Kari jeerige, Shahajeerige
Kashmiri : Krihunzur
Malayalam : Karunjiraka, Karinjeerakam
Marathi : Shahira, Shahajira
Oriya : Kalajira
Punjabi : Zira Siyah, Kalajira
Tamil : Karamjiragam, Shimai shambu
Telugu : Nalla Jeelakarra
Urdu : Zira Siyah, Kala Zira

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit, greenish-brown, slightly curved, elongated, mericarps, usually separate, free from the pedicel, carpophores, upto 7 mm long, 2 mm broad almost equally five sided, narrow, tapering to each end, arcuate, glabrous, brown with five very narrow, yellowish primary ridges’ endosperm, orthospermous, odour and taste, aromatic and characteristic.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows pericarp with outer epidermis of polygonal tabular cells with a thick outer wall and striated cuticle, trichomes, absent, vittm four dorsal, intercostal and two commissural extending the length of each mericarp, with an epithelium of brown cells and volatile oil in the cavity, mesocarp parenchymatous without reticulate thickening, costm five in each mericarp with vascular strand consisting of an inner group of small vessels and fibres and arched, outer group of pitted sclerenchyma with a small group of phloem on each lateral surface, on the outer margin of each vascular strand a small schizogenous canal extending into both stylopod and pedicel, inner epidermis of thin -walled, subrectangular cells, elongated tangentially each about 8-12n wide and 40-100n long, arranged parallel with one another, endosperm of thick-walled, cellulosic parenchyma, containing much fixed oil and numerous small aleurone grains upto 10 n in diameter, each containing one or sometimes two micro-rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, carpophore, when present, passing at the apex to a raphe in each mericarp, and with a small strand of sclerenchyma, the sclereids of which continue into the stylopod.

Powder-Colour fawn to brown, epidermal cells of pericarp with striated cuticle, fragments of brown endothelium of vittm, parenchymatous cells of the mesocarp without reticulate thickening, rectangular, finely pitted sclereids of mesocarp, thickwalled polygonal parenchymatous cells of endosperm containing much fixed oil, numerous small aleurone grains containing micro-rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, trichomes, starch and parquetry layer absent, it contains no less than 2.5 per cent of volatile oil.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 9 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 1.5 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
Volatile oil Not less than 3.5 per cent, Appendix 2.2.10

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oils (carvone and carvacrol).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Sothahara, Caksusya, Dipana, Jvaraghna, Pacana, Rucya, Sangrahi

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Jirakadyarista, Jirakadi Modaka

THERAPEUTIC USES – Agnimandya, Adhmana, Krmiroga, Jirnajvara, Grahaniroga

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.

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KULATTHA

Kulattha consists of dry seeds of Vigna unquiculata (Linn.) Walp. Syn. Dolichos biflorus Linn. (Fam Leguminosm); an annual branched, sub-erect or twining, downy or glabrescent; herb; cultivated all over India.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Khalva, Vardhipatraka
Assamese : —
Bengali : Kulattha, Kalaya
English : Horse gram
Gujrati : Kalathi, Kulathi
Hindi : Kulathi, Kurathi
Kannada : Huruli, Hurali
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Mudiraa
Marathi : Kulitha
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Lodhar
Tamil : Kollu, Kaanam
Telugu : Ulavalu
Urdu : Kulthi

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Seeds, hard, surface smooth, ellipsoid, flattened, greyish to reddish brown, 4-6 mm long and 4 mm wide, micropyle prominent, taste, somewhat astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of seed shows testa consisting of a single layer of columnar, thin-walled, parenchymatous, palisade like cells covered with a thin cuticle followed by single layer of rectangular to square bearer cells and 3-4 layers of thin-walled rectangular parenchymatous cells, more wide at micropyler region, cotyledon consisting of single layer of upper and lower epidermis covered with a thin cuticle, epidermal cells thin-walled, rectangular and parenchymatous followed by mesophyll, consisting of angular parenchymatous cells, filled with numerous simple starch grains and protein bodies also present.

Powder-Whitish in colour, under microscope shows broken pieces of testa, parenchymatous cells and starch

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than Nil 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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – An enzyme (urease) and oil.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Sara
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Vidahi; Svedasangrahaka, Krmihara, Kaphavatahara.

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Saptasara Kvatha Curna, Dhanvantara Taila

THERAPEUTIC USES – Asmari, Nasartava

DOSE – 12 g of the drug in powder form for decoction.

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KUSTHA

Kustha consists of dried roots of Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke (Fam. Compositm), a tall, robust, perennial herb with thick roots, found in Kashmir at an altitude of 2500-3600 m, roots collected in September-October.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Amaya, Pakala
Assamese : Kud, Kur
Bengali : Kudo
English : —
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Kutha
Kannada : Changal Kustha
Kashmiri : Kuth
Malayalam : Kottam
Marathi : Upleta, Kustha
Oriya : Kudha
Punjabi : Kuth
Tamil : Goshtam, Kosbtham, Kottam
Telugu : Changalva Koshtu
Urdu : Qust

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug greyish to dull brown, thick, stout, fusiform to cylindrical, 7-15 cm long, 1.0-5.5 cm broad, thicker roots with collapsed centre, occasionally ridged, wrinkles longitudinal and anastomosed, rootlets rarely present, cut surface shows two regions, outer periderm ring thin, inner porous woody portion lighter in colour showing fine radial striations and often the central portion collapsed, fracture, short, horny, odour, strong, characteristically aromatic, taste, slightly bitter.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of thin root shows thin periderm, followed by broad zone of phloem and still broader zone of xylem traversed by wide medullary rays, cork, 3-5 layered wide secondary cortical cells polygonal, mostly elongated, secondary phloem consists of mostly storage parenchyma, small groups of sieve tubes and companion cells and often phloem fibres, bast fibres thick-walled, lignified, upto 350 n in length, with many simple pits associated with fibre, tracheids and parenchyma, wood fibres smaller than bast fibres, with wider lumen and obtusely tapering ends, meduallary rays multi seriate and wider in phloem region, resin canals found throughout as large cavities, some roots possess a central cylinder of sclerenchyma, while others have parenchymatous centre with scattered xylem elements, in older roots, wood parenchyma collapses and takes a spongy appearance in the centre of root, inulin present in storage parenchyma. Powder-Deep brown or rusty, under microscope irregular bits of yellow, brown or orange-red fragments of resins and oils associated with thin-walled parenchymatous cells, broken bits of xylem vessels with scalariform, reticulate thickening and horizontal end walls.

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 12 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 20 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil, alkaloid (saussurine) and bitter resin.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Laghu
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphavatajit, Raktasodhaka, Varnya, Sukrala

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Kttoamacukkadi Taila.

THERAPEUTIC USES – Svasa, Kasa, Kustha, Vatarakta, Visarpa

DOSE – 0.2-1.0 of the drug in powder form.

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GOKSURA (Fruit)

Goksura consists of dried, ripe, entire fruit of Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Fam Zygopyllaceae), an annual, rarely pernnial common weed of the pasture lands, road sides and other waste places, chiefly in hot, dry and sandy regions, grows throughout India as prostrate herb and upto 3,000 m in Kashmir.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Svadamstra, Goksuraka, Traikantaka, Trikatna
Assamese : Gokhurkata, Gokshura
Bengali : Gokhri, Gokshura
English : Caltrops fruit
Gujrati : Bethagokharu, Mithagokhru, Nanagokharu
Hindi : Gokhru
Kannada : Neggilamullu, Neggilu, Sannaneggilu
Kashmiri : Pakhda, Michikand
Malayalam : Nerinjil
Marathi : Gokharu, Sarate
Oriya : Gokhyura, Gukhura
Punjabi : Bhakhra, Gokhru
Tamil : Nerinjil, Nerunjil
Telugu : Palleru Kaya
Urdu : Khar-e-Khasak Khurd

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fruit stalked, light or greenish yellow, five ribbed or angled, more or less spherical in structure and covered with short stiff or pubescent hairs, 1 cm in diameter with five pairs, of prominent short stiff spines, pointed downwards, about 0.5 cm in length, tips of spines almost meet in pairs whole together forming pentagonal framework around fruit, ripe fruit separates into five segment, of each cocci and each appears as single-fruit, each coccus semi-lunar or plano-convex in structure one chambered, armed with a pair of spines, starting from its middle, containing four or more seeds, taste, slightly astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows small epidermal cells of each coccus rectangular, unicellular trichomes in abundance, mesocarp 6-10 layers of large parenchymatous cells, rosette of calcium oxalate crystals abundantly present, mesocarp followed by 3-4 compact layers of small cells containing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 15 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 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Potassium nitrate, sterols, sapogenin with pyroketone ring (diosgenin), gitogenin and hecogenins.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Brmhana, Vatanut, Vrsya, Asmarihara, Vastisodhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Goksuradi Guggulu, Traikanaka Ghrta, Draksadi Cruna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Sularoga, Arsa, Svasa, Daurbalya, Hrdroga, Kasa, Mutrakrcchra, Asmari, Prameha

DOSE – 3-6 g of the drug in powder form.
20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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KAMPILLA

Kampilla consists of glands and hairs of fruit of Mallotus philippinensis Muell . Arg. (Fam. Euphorbiacem), a very common perennial shrub or small tree found in outer Himalayas ascending to 1500 m, mature fruits collected in February-March, reddish brown powder collected in cloth by shaking and rubbing the fruits with hands.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Rajanaka, Kampillaka
Assamese : Lochan
Bengali : Kamlagudi
English : Kamala
Gujrati : Kapilo
Hindi : Kabila
Kannada : Kapila, Chandrahettu, Kapilathettu
Kashmiri : Kameelak
Malayalam : Kampippala, Kampipalu
Marathi : Shendri, Kapila
Oriya : Kamalagundi
Punjabi : Kamila
Tamil : Kamala, Kampila
Telugu : Kampillamu
Urdu : Kamila

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Fine, granular powder, dull-red or madder-red coloured, floating on water.

b) Microscopic

Under microscope glands appear depressed and globular, containing deep-red coloured resin, secreted by many club shaped cell radiating from a common centre, a number of stellate trichomes present, trichomes thick-walled, branching lignified with smooth margins, yellow coloured, arranged in small radiating groups.

IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH

Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 50 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 1.0 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Resinous colouring matter (rottlerin).

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Katu
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Krmighna, Vranapaha, Virecana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Dhanvantara Ghrta, Misraka Sneha.

THERAPEUTIC USES – Adhmana, Gulma, Krmiroga, Vibandha, Vrana

DOSE – 0.5-1.0 g of the drug in powder form.

Note– Sodhana of this drug is to be done before use, as described in Appendix.

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GOKSURA (Root)

Goksura consists of root of Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Fam. Zygophyllacease): an annual prostrate herb, rarely perennial common weed of the pasture lands, road sides and other waste land, chiefly growing in hot, dry and sandy regions throughout India and upto 3,000 m in Kashmir.

SYNONYMS

Sanskrit : Goksuraka, Trikatna, Svadamstra, Traikantaka
Assamese : Gokshura, Gukhurkata
Bengali : Gokshura, Gokhri
English : Caltrops root
Gujrati : Be tha gokharu, Nana gokharu, Mithogokharu
Hindi : Gokhru
Kannada : Sannanaggilu, Neggilamullu, Neggilu
Kashmiri : Michirkand, Pakhda
Malayalam : Nerinjil
Marathi : Sarate, Gokharu
Oriya : Gukhura, Gokhyura
Punjabi : Bhakhra, Gokhru
Tamil : Nerinjil, Nerunjil
Telugu : Palleruveru
Urdu : Khar-e-Khasak Khurd

DESCRIPTION

a) Macroscopic

Drug consists of root, 7-18 cm long and 0.3-0.7 cm in diameter, slender, cylindrical, fibrous, frequently branched bearing a number of small rootlets, tough, woody and yellow to light brown in colour, surface becomes rough due to presence of small nodules, fracture fibrous, odour aromatic, taste, sweetish and astringent.

b) Microscopic

Transverse section of primary roots show a layer of epidermis followed by 4-5 layers of thin-walled parenchymatous cortex, endodermis distinct, pericycle enclosing diarch stele, in mature root, cork 4-6 layered, cork cambium single layered followed by 6-14 layers of thin-walled parenchymatous cells with varying number of fibres, distributed throughout, some secondary cortex cells show secondary wall formation and reticulate thickening, fibres found in groups resembling those of phloem, secondary phloem divided into two zones, outer zone characterised by presence of numerous phloem fibres with a few sieve tubes slightly collapsed, inner zone frequently parenchymatous, devoid of fibres often showing sieve tubes and companion cells, phloem rays distinct, few cells get converted into fibres in outer region, cambium 3-5 layered, wood composed of vessels, tracheids , parenchyma and fibres and traversed by medullary rays, vessels scattered, arranged in singles or doubles towards inner side, in groups of three to four on outer side having bordered pits, tracheids long, narrow with simple pits, xylem parenchyma rectangular or slightly elongated with simple pits and reticulate thickening, xylem fibres few, trachieds elongated with simple pits, medullary rays heterogenous, 1-4 cells wide, starch grains and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in secondary cortex, phloem and medullary rays cells, few prismatic crystals also present in xylem ray cells.

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 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 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.

CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids and saponins.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION

Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Mutrala, Vrsya, Vatanut, Brmhana

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sahacaradi Taila, Dasamula Kvatha Curna, Dasam ulakautraya Kvatha Curna, Dasam ulapancakoladi Kvatha Curna

THERAPEUTIC USES – Svasa, Hrdroga, Kasa, Vataroga, Sularoga, Mutrakrcchra, Asamari

DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.

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