KANDAKARI CHUNDA

SI Name: Solanum xanthocarpum

Family: Solanaceae

Types:

Ayurvedic texts mention three varieties of the plant viz. violet flowered, yellow flowered and white flowered called as 'laksmana' , which is rare. Kantakari is bitter and pungent in taste, pungent in the post digestive effect and has hot potency. It alleviates kapha and vata doshas. It possesses light and dry attributes. It is useful in the diseases like bronchial asthma, cough, worms etc. The fruits facilitate the seminal ejaculation, alleviate worms, itching, and fever and reduce fats.

Sanskrit Name:

Kandakari, Nidigdhika, Dushparsa, Khudrakantha, Bahu kantha, Vyaghree, Kalee.

General Discription:

Kantakari enjoys an important place among medicinal herbs, (especially, for the treatment of cough).in India since ancient times. This prickly herb has various synonyms in Ayurvedic texts portraying the peculiarities of its prickles viz.dushsparsa – difficult to touch, bahu kanta of many prickles, ksudrakanta having small prickles etc. Caraka and Susruta, the great sages, have mentioned the plant to have multiple medicinal properties, in Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita respectively. Bhavamisra specially mentions the plant as useful in facilitating conception. Acarya Vagbhata has adored it as a drug of choice for cough. Maharsi Caraka has categorized it as kasahara anti tussive, kanthya beneficial for the throat, hikka nigrahana – alleviates hiccup, sitaprasamana relieves cold sensation, sotha hara relieves edema and sita pitta prasamana anti urticaria. Kantakari is one of the herbs from the group laghu pancamulas – five minor roots, viz. salaparni, prsniparni, brhati, kantakari and goksura.

Distribution:
The plant occurs throughout India, often in waste places, on roadsides and in open scrublands.

Morfology:

It is a prickly, usually spreading or diffused perennial, woody at base. The young branches are densely covered with minute star-shaped hairs. The branches zigzag, spread close to the ground are covered with yellow, sharp, shining prickles, about 1.5 cm long. The leaves are up to 10 cm in length, their midribs and other nerves with sharp yellow prickles. The flowers are purple, about 2 cm long, few together in small bunch opposite the leaves. The fruits are glabrous, globular drooping berries, 1.5-2 cm, yellow or pale with green veins.

Chemical contutuents:

A glucoalkaloid termed solanocarpine is found in the fruits. A sterol known as carpesterol and solanocarpidine are also present. Potassium nitrate, a fatty acid, a resinous and phenolic substance, diosgenin and sitosterol are present. Dry fruits contain traces of isochlorogenic, neochronogenic, chronogenic and caffeic acids. Solasodine, solasonine, solamargine and solamargine are present in fruits of Nepalese plant. Quercetin isolated together with apigenin and sitosterol.

Rasadi Gunas:

Rasam: Thiktham, Katu

Gunam: Snigdham, Teekshnam, Saram, Lakhu

Veeryam: Ushnam

Vipakam: Katu

Uses :

Fruits eaten as an anthelmintic and for indigestion. Root is an expectorant, used in Ayurvedic medicine for cough, asthma and chest pain. Also used for flatulence, sore throat, and toothache. Has high concentration of solasodine, a starting material for the manufacture of cortisone and sex hormones. It cures asthma, cough, bronchspasm, sore throat, constipation, an effective expectorant and diuretic.

Bhavamisra, an ancient physician, mentions it as promoting conception in females. Given with honey, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), datura (Datura metal), and black pepper it can be effective in cases of bronchial asthma. Stem, flowers and fruits are bitter and carminative and are prescribed for relief in burning sensation in the feet. Leaves are applied locally to relieve pain.

Parts Used:

Fruits, Wholeplant

Classical Ayurvedic Preparations:
>Kantakari ghrta
>Kantakari avaleha
>Kantakari kalpa
>Vyaghri taila
>Dasamularista
>Vyaghriharitaki
>Kanakasava
>Nidigdhadi
>Kvatha etc.