MUVILA

SI Name:Desmodium gangetcum 

Family – Papilionacea

Introduction



The drug which has been studied in this work is the classical drug called as Saliparni. Saliparni is common classical drug which has been mentioned in various ayurvedic classical texts. It is a commonly available plant with a wide range of uses.


Like with some ayurvedic drugs, there is confusion regarding the identification and nomenclature of the plant. While the vaidyas in the northern part of India consider it as the species Desmodium gangeticum, the vaidyas of the south identifies it as the species Pseudarthria viscida. Since the work has been done in south India the species Pseudarthria viscida has been studied and explained in this work.


 
Rasadi Gunas:
 
Rasa - Madhura, Tikta

Guna- Guru, Snigdha
Veerya - Usna
Vipaka – Madhura


Synonyms



The various synonyms according to various ayurvedic texts are,


1-vidarigandha – The arises as the kanda or the stem has the smell similar to that of vidari(Ipomea digitata)
2 -amsumati –It is named so due to the shape of it’s root which resembles the rays of sun
3-Salaparni – The name orginatd due to its similarity to the leaves to that of leaves of sala tree (shorea robusta)
4-Sthira – It is so called, as its root exists in the land for a long period of time.
5-Dirghapatra – As it has long and narrow leaves
6-Dirghamula – This name arised due to its long roots
7-Dhirghangi – This name originated due to its long limbed branches.
8-Ekamula – It is named so as it has a single root
9-Saliparni – The name originated due to its resemblance of its leaves to the leaves of that of Sali or Paddi
10-Vrihiparni – The name aroused due to the similarity of its leaves to that of Vrihi or a Bear


Distribution and habitat



Saliparni is a common plant found in almost all districts of southern parts of India. It is mainly seen in areas from southwards of the river Godavari. It is very common in Kerala, where it is found in areas of sea level to up to that of 3000feet in the hills. It grows well in the dry gravelling soil under cover and also as undergrowth in damp forest. It is mainly seen as a weed and grows wildly through out.


Habit


It is villous or viscid, pubescent, semi erect, or more often diffusely creeping “Desmodium like” perennial under shrub up to 2 feet high with several slender, mostly prostrate or tailing branches with long internodes often rooting at the nodes, bearing palmately trifoliate leaves almost invariably marked with pale green or greenish white irregular patches. They have elongate filiform racemes of small bright purplish or pink flowers and very sticky or adhering pods about three fourth of an inch long and quarter inch broad.


External morphology


Branches

Branches are many. They are 2-4 feet long or even longer. The branches are covered with soft fine grayish white pubescence.


Leaves


Leaves are pinnately trifoliate, alternate, and stipulate. Stipules are free and hairy. The leaves are lanceolate, subulate or cuspidate. They are 4.5-6mm long deciduous. They have leaflets with filiform stipules below. Lateral leaflets are rhombiform or ovate. They are present one or two inches either way. The terminal one, to be rhomboid ovate. Petioles are densely hairy and half to one inch long.


Inflorescence


They have a fairly long terminal erect hairy raceme often with one or more smaller branches arising from the axils of the uppermost leaves.


Flower


Flowers are many, small, deep purple, red or pink color. They are arranged in distantly placed fascicles of 2 to 4 or comparatively long spreading, filiform pedicels jointed or articulated close beneath the calyx. Bracts are narrow lanceolate subulate calyx about a tenth of an inch long, hairy canpanulate left to middle in 2 obscure lips, 5 toothed- the upper two subconnate forming an upper lip


Corolla is nearly twice as long as the calyx. They are papilionaceous, exerted and with petals nearly equal.


Stamens are diadelphous- nine and one. Anthers are uniform. Ovary is sub sessile and many ovules. Style short subulate or filiform


Fruit


A flat compressed or slightly inflated linear oblong indehiscent one celled legume half to three quarters of an inch long and about one fourth an inch broad. With its chamber continuous with in. the valves of the fruit are membranous transversely, veined and closely covered with many stiff hooked viscid hairs. The sutures are densely ciliate but not usually intended or only slightly indented.


Seed


Seeds are varying from four to six. They are brownish black in color, compressed and some what reniform in structure.


Histology


The transverse section is circular. It shows a central strand of wood, a narrow bark and a thin dark brown strip of cork.


The cork tissue is compressed of 10-15 rows of thick walled rectangular cells. Those towards the periphery often have dark brown contents. A distinct phellogen with a few rows of phelloderm within is made out


The cortex is comparatively narrow and composed of oblong cells. A noteworthy feature of this region is the presence of short tangential rows or series of very large thin walled cells filled with brownish contentswithin the broadened distal ends of the medullary rays. Small irregular groups of sclerenchyma also occur here. The medullary rays are 2-3 and their cells are loaded with stacks. The phloem is of usual type. The xylem or wood is composed of a large portion of wood fibers, a small amount of xylem. Parenchyma and xylem vessels, in addition to the medullary rays. The xylem parenchyma cells contain starch


Useful part
Roots are the commonly used part however the whole plant is also used




Chemical constituents
Root contain yellow resinous matter, oil, alkaline substance and 6% ash

PUTHARI CHUNDA

SI Name: Solanum indicum
Family: Solanaceae

General discription:
Brhati root forms one of the Laghupancamula meaning literally, minor five roots, of Dasamula kvatha (decoction of ten roots), one of the widely prescribed formulation of Ayurveda. Maharsi Caraka has categorized brhati as kanthya – benefical for the throat, sothahara – relieves oedema , angamarda prasamana – relieves bodyache and hikka nigrahana – anti – hiccup.


Distribution:

Brhati occurs throughout India, often in waste places, on roadsides and in open scrublands.

Morfology:
It is a prickly, much branched shrub, usually spreading or diffused, It grows upto 1-5 metres in height. The young branches are densely covered with minute star – shaped hairs . The prickles are yellow, shining, about 1-5 cm long. The leaves upto 10 cm long, their midribs and other nerves with sharp yellow prickles. The flowers are purple, about 2 cm long, in racemose extra – axillary cymes. The fruits round, 1.5 – 2 cm, dark yellow when ripe. The seeds are smooth, minutely pitted.

Rasadi Gunas:
Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha

Virya : Ushna


Chemical constituents:
The fruit and root of brhati contain wax, fatty acids and alkaloids solanin and solanidine.


Disogenin, lanosterol, sitosterol. Solasonnine, solamargine and solasidine have been isolated from the plant. A glycoalkaloid, solasonine on hydrolysis afforded solasodine, sugars, glucose, galactose and rhamnose,


Properties



Brhati is pungent and bitter in taste , pungent in the psot digestive effect and has hot potency . It alleviates kapha and vata dosas. It possesses light , dry and sharp attributes. It is an appetizer, digestant, diuretic and is beneficial to the heart. It alleviates cough and asthma. It is useful in the diseases like fever, cough, skin diseases, distaste and pain.


Uses


The roots and fruits are used for medicinal purpose. The herb is useful both internally as well as externally. Externally, the fresh juice of brhati is applied in alopecia areata with honey. The mixture of powders of brhati fruit, haridra and daruharidra rhizomes is beneficial, topically, in pruritus vulvae to alleviate intense itching. In halitosis (bad breath), the gargle with the decoction of brhati is an effective deodorant. The paste of its seeds is applied on the penis, in erectile failure, with great benefit. The inhalation of its seeds powder like snuff is a good stimulant in samjnanasa. The paste of brhati alleviates pain and itching.


Internally, brhati is used in vast range of diseases. The fruit juice mixed with honey and ghee prepared from cow’s milk effectively curbs vomiting. The plant is beneficial in various digestive ailments like loss of appetite, abdominal pain, distaste, worms and colitis. In respiratory problems like colds, cough, asthma , sinusitis, pleurisy the decoction of its roots works well with the fruit powder of pippali )Piper Iongum). The cough due to kapha and vata are controlled with the decoction of its roots given along with the honey and ghee. Respectively. Being hot and sharp in properties, brhati liquefies the phlegm and relieves the blocked mucous and clears off the respiratory channels. It is the best blood purifier, hence, benevolent in blood disorders. Brhati stimulates and strengthens the heart and ameliorates the oedema. It also works well in dysuria and urinary calculi as it is diuretic in action. In fever, it is of special benefit, as it digests ama for which, its decoction is recommended with sunthi and dhanyaka. The seeds boost uterine contraction, so are used in dysmenorrheal, amenorrhea and in difficult labour. The seeds also bestow an aphrodisiac action. In urinary disorders like dysuria, urinary stones and cystitis, the medicated ghee of its roots brhati mula siddha ghrta, is commonly used. Brhati is useful in various deramatoses.




Classical Ayurvedic Preparations:


Dasamularista
Brhatyadi kvatha
Brhati mula siddha ghrta

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.

Palaka payyani

In Ayurveda, it is included in sopha hara and vathahara drugs.

SI Name: Oroxylum indicum
Family: Bignoniaceae

General discription:
Oroxylum Indicum Vent., a member of family Bignoniaceae is mostly sighted along the river banks or slopes of the hills. Except in the western drier area, the plant is distributed throughout India and South East Asia. The use of this plant for the treatment of various ailments is part of the local tribal communities’ knowledge of various tribes in Manipur such as Anal, Kuki, Mao, Maram, Tanghkul and Zeliangrong.

Sanskrit Name:
Syonakam, Sodana, Deergha vriksha, Pruthu sumbha, Dundukam.

Distribution:
It is mostly seen in Rain forests.

The medicinal properties of Oroxylum indicum:
The decoction of the bark is taken for curing gastric ulcer and a paste made of the bark powder is applied for mouth cancer, scabies and other skin diseases. The seed is ground with fire-soot and the paste applied to the neck for quick relief of tonsil pain. Also, a paste made of the bark is applied to the wounds of animals to kill maggots. Decoction of the bark is given to animals for de-worming. The sword-like fruit or a branch of the plant is used by the farmers to kill crabs in wet paddy fields.

Potential anti-cancer properties:
During a botanical exploration tour to Senapati district (1999) which is situated in the northern part of Manipur, Mr.A.A.Mao of the Botanical Survey of India, learned from Maram Naga villagers that a man of about 50 years of age, Pashi Maram had been diagnosed with cancer in 1995. He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for one month and his family was informed that due to the advanced stage of the disease, he would live a maximum of six months more. On the advice of a Tangkhul Naga whom he had met in Imphal, Pashi Maram then took an herbal decoction of the bark of Oroxylum indicum. Surprisingly after coming home, he led a normal life till 2000 with intakes of only pain relief medicines and analgesics along with the herbal medicine. But in January, 2001 he passed away.
RasadiGunas:
Rasam: Tiktham, Kashayam, Madhuram
Gunam: Lakhu, Rooksham
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

Useful parts:
Root, Bark

PAATHIRI

SI Name: Stereospermum suaveolens
Family: Bignoniaceae

Sanscrit names:
Paadala, Krishnavrinda, Tamrapushpi, Kuberakshi, Madhubhoothi.

Distribution:
Seen in Kerala forests.

Rasadi Gunas:
Rasam: Thiktham, Kashayam
Gunam: Lakhu, Rooksham
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

Useful part:
Root, Flower, Bark

Antihyperglycemic and Antioxidant Activities of Medicinal Plant Stereospermum suaveolens in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats:


The ethanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens (EESS) bark was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic in addition to antioxidant effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats by acute and subacute models at dose levels of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, given orally. The ethanol extract showed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels when compared to the standard drug, oral Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg body weight). The serum of rats treated with ethanol extract showed decreased levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and increased level of total proteins. EESS showed reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level and significantly increased the body weight (P < .001), glycogen, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, compared with STZ diabetic control in a dose-dependent manner. This finding shows that the ethanol extract of Stereospermum suaveolens exhibits potent antihyperglycemic and antioxidant properties.

KUMIZHU

SI Name: Gmelina arborea
Family: Verbenaceae

Distribution:
Almost all forests in India.Mostly seen in watery areas of hills and valleys.Native to tropical moist forest from India, Burma, and Sri Lanka to southern China, Gmelina is widely introduced, e.g. in Brazil, Gambia, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Malawi, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, and Sierra Leone

Morphology:
Deciduous tree 12–30 m high and 60–100 cm in diameter. Bark light gray or gray-yellow, smooth, thin, somewhat corking, becoming brown and rough; twigs stout, often slightly 4-angled. Leaves opposite, broadly ovate, 10–20 cm long, 7–13 cm wide; base with 2–4 glands beneath, acuminate, entire, with 3 or 5 main veins from near base and 2–5 pairs of side veins, underneath velvety with yellow-brown hairs. Petiole 5–12 cm long, hairy. Cymes paniculate at ends of twigs, 15–30 cm long, branched, densely hairy. Flowers many, short-stalked, nodding, 4 cm long, densely hairy. Calyx bell-shaped, 5 mm long, 5-toothed; corolla bright orange-yellow or brownish-yellow, with short narrow tube, 2-lipped; stamens 4 in 2 pairs inserted near base of tube. Pistil with elliptical 4-celled ovary having 1 ovule in each cell. Stigma often slightly 2–4-forked. Drupes ovate or pyriform, 2–2.5 cm long, smooth, becoming orange-yellow, pulpy, with large egg-shaped stone, having 1–4 cells. Seeds 1–4 (Little, 1983).

Chemical constitutions:
The drupes are reported to contain butyric acid traces of tartaric acid and resinous and saccharine matter, the latter two also in the roots, which contain traces of benzoic acid. Root cotained alkaloids, benzoic acid, etc. Fruit contained sugar, tartaric acid, alkaloids.

Rasadi Gunas:
Rasam: Tiktham, Kashayam, Madhuram
Gunam: Guru
Veeryam: Ushnam
Vipakam: Katu

MUNJA

Included in "Dasamoola".Othervise known as "Agnimandha".

SI Name:Premna integrifolia.

Family:Verbenaceae.

RASADI GUNAS:

Rasam: Kadu,Tiktham,Madhuram.

Gunam: Laghu.

Veeryam: Ushnam.

Vipakam: Madhuram.

OUSHADHA GUNAM:

Vatha,Amavatha, Kapha roga, Nadeesoola, Agnimandyam, Vibandham, Prathisyayam - Nasanam.

TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS

Gokshura ...

Botanical Name Tribulus Terrestris
Common Names: Tribulus, Gokshura
Parts Used: Mainly the fruit

Introduction:

Tribulus is cooling, sweet and strengthening. It is common throughout India and found to be growing as weed along roadside and waste places.
Plant Description: Tribulus is a prostrate, annual herb grows upto 90 cm in length with paripinnate leaves. The flowers are small, yellowish, and solitary. The fruits of tribulus are typically five angled and spinous.

History:

The name "Gokshura" signifies "cow hoof" from its resemblance of the cocci when adhering together in pairs. It is also called "Ikshugandha" for its aroma which resembles the sugarcane.The entire plant but especially the fruit and roots are used in Ayurvedic formulations for Urinary disorders, calculus formation, impotence and other UTI issues.

Chemistry:

The fruits of Tribulus contain alkaloids, resins, tannins, sugars, sterols, essential oil, peroxidase, diastase and glucoside.

Action & Uses of Tribulus:
Tribulus is non-irritant diuretic and urinary antiseptic. It is used in case of dysurea, urinary stone and incontinence of urine.

Tribulus Terrestris is used in various herbal formulas to treat headaches, eye problems such as itching, conjunctivitis and weak vision, and nervousness. It is also used to treat high blood pressure and rib pain.

The hormone balancing effects of Tribulus Terrestris for women makes this herb suitable for premenstrual syndrome and menopausal syndrome.

Tribulus contains Sterols like betasitosterols or stigma. These substances protect the prostate from swelling and in combination with the X steroidal saponins, protect the prostate from cancer.
Tribulus is used in case of impotence and spermaturia as it helps to increase the level of the luteinizing hormone in the body and improved the synthesis of the testicular male sex hormone. So it is being aphrodisiac in nature.

References:
Jayaram, S., et. al. Indian Drugs. 30(10): 498-500, 1993.
Milanov, et. al. Farmatsiya. 37(6): 142, 1987.
Yan, W., et. al. Phytochemistry. 42(5): 1417-1422, 1996.
Traditionally use of Tribulus is found to be effective in case of gout.

vilwam

Latin name: Aegle Marmelos
Local Name: Bael, bhel, bilwa, belaphal, Bengal Quince
Parts Used: Fruits & Leaves

Distribution:

Bael tree is found throughout India in each and every place.

Introduction:

Bael is a very good source of protein which is 5.12 per cent of the edible portion. Fresh half-ripe Bael fruit is mildly astringent and is used for dysentery and diarrhea. The pulp may be eaten or the decoction administered. Bael is said to cure without creating any tendency to constipation. Bael leaves, fruits and root can be used as tonic and coolant with antibiotic properties ;

Remedies For:
Bael leaves are extremely useful for treating Diabetes, jaundice, cholera and asthma. Bael leaves are made into a poultice and used in the treatments of ophthalmia. Bael Leaf poultice is applied to inflammations - with black pepper for edema, constipation, and jaundice - with water or honey it is good for catarrh and fever.

Bael roots are sweet which cures fevers caused by tridosho, stop pain in the abdomen, the palpitation of the heart, poverty of seminal fluid and all types of urinary troubles and melancholia. Bael roots and the bark of the Bael tree are used in the treatment of fever by making a decoction of them. They are also useful in the disorders of vata, pitta and kapha.

Bael fruits are valuable for its rich nutritive, sweet, aromatic mucilage and pectin contents – very good for all kinds of stomach disorders. Bael Fruits are very useful in chronic diarrhea and dysentery, particularly in the case of patients having diarrhea, alternating with the spells of constipation. Sweet drink (sherbet) prepared from the pulp of the Bael fruits produce a soothing effect on the patients who have just recovered from bacillary dysentery.

The pulp from unripe Bael fruits are soaked in gingelly oil for a week and this oil is smeared over the body before bathing. The unripe and half-ripe fruits improve appetite and digestion (Jain, 1968; Jauhari, 1969). As per Indian Ayurvedic concept this oil is said to be useful in removing the peculiar burning sensation in the soles. Rind is used for acute and amoebic dysentery, griping pain in the loins and constipation, gas, and colic, sprue, scurvy.

Peoples in South India use the juice of bael leaves to get relief from wheezing and respiratory spasm. The leaf juice is mixed in warm water with a little pepper and given as a drink.

DASAMOOLAM(GENERAL)

DASAMOOLAM

Botanical names.

1) Vilva - Aegle marmelos
2) Kashmarya - Gmelina arborea
3) Takkari - Premna serratifolia
4) Patala - Steriospermum colais
5) Dunduka - Oroxylum indicum
6) Brihati - Solanum anguivi
7) Kandakari - Solanum xanthocarpum
8) Prsniparni - Desmodium gangeticum
9) Salaparni - Pseudarthria viscida
10) Gokshura - Tribulus terrestris

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Pacify vitiated tridosha, pain, arthritis, fever, cough, bronchitis, general weakness, neuropathy, nervine weakness, urinary tract diseases and boosts immune power.