Vernacular names

Eng.- Thatch grass, Wild sugar cane. Hindi- Kagara, Kans, Kansi, Kas, Kosa, Kus, Kasa. Beng.- Kagara, Kas, Kash, Kashiya, Khagra, Chhote-

kase, Kash, Keshe. Guj.- Kans, Kansado, Kansadoghas, Kansa, Ghans.

Kan.- Kirayikagachchha, Kasalua. Mal.- Nannaua, Kusa, Kuruvikarimpu.

Mar.- Kagara, Kasai. Punj.- Kahi, Kanh, Kans, Sarakara, Kani, Nanalu,

Karumbu, Kasa, Amaver. Tam.- Achabaram, Anjani, Eruvai, Kosangan,

Kucham, Kumil, Kurbagam, Nanal, Nanarbul, Nanmulgappul,

Peykkarumbu, Sangabidam, Saravanam, Sarupparasi, Sasabaram,

Sugattan, Suvedasaram, Tittru, Tittiruchi, Tuttam, Vedasam, Pekkarimpu.

Tel.- Billugaddi, Kakicheraku, Kakiveduru, Koregadi, Rasalamu, Rellugaddi,

Veticheraku, Kakiceruku, Kakigaddi, Relu. Sind.- Kahu, Khan, Khau.

N.W.P.- Kans, Kansa, Kansi. Oriya- Chhatiagaso, Inkora, Kaso, Khnodi,

Pothhoro, Khhodi. Urdu- Kansa, Kasa (Anonymous, 1996a; Anonymous,

1972; Anonymous, 2001; Chopra et al., 2002; Sharma, 1978; Watt, 1972;

Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 2001; Anonymous, 2000a; B.N., 1982; Kirtikar and

Basu, 1989; Vaidya, 1995).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Perennial rhizomatous 1.5-2 m, tall grass with erect culms, stem 1.2 - 6 m, erect from a stout rootstock, solid, smooth, polished, silky beneath the panicle. Culms green, grey, ivory or white, hard but very pithy and often

hollow in the centre, often rooting at nodes; internodes usually long. Leaves

199

KASHA Saccharum spontaneum Linn.

200

30-75 X 3-6 cm, linear-acuminate, rigid, coriaceous, glabrous, margins

convolute, sheaths smooth with fimbriate mouth. Inflorescence panicle, 20-50

cm long, contracted, pale or greyish-white to purplish, spikelets lanceolate,

silky hairy. Flowering and Fruiting: August - January (Cooke, 1967;

Anonymous, 1996; Hooker, 1973; Anonymous, 1972; Yoganarsimhan, 1996,

2000).

DISTRIBUTION

Throughout India in the warmer parts ascending to 1800 m in the Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka, South Europe, East Australia, Pakistan and warmer

regions of the old world (Cooke, 1967; Anonymous, 1972; Watt, 1972;

Chopra et al., 2002; Hooker, 1973; Kirtikar and Basu, 1989).

PART(S) USED

Whole plant, root, fruit (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

ACTIONS AND USES

The whole plant used as aphrodisiac and laxative. It causes soothing effect on

burning sensation, vesicle calculi, dyscrasia, haemorrhagic disorders,

strangury and tuberculosis (Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 2001; Chopra et al.,

1958). The root is diuretic and galactogogue, astringent, emollient,

refrigerant, diuretic, lithotriptic, haemostatic and tonic (Annonymous, 1996).

It is useful in, dysentery, galactia, pthisis and general debility (Kirtikar and

Basu, 1989).

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES Rasa - Madhura, Tikta Kashaya. Guna - Laghu, Snigdha.

Vipaka - Madhura.

Veerya - Sheeta (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Doshghnata - Pittanashaka (A.H.Su.6.171), Vata Pittashamaka (Sharma,

1978; B.N., 1982).

Karma -Ashmaribhedana (S.S.Su.38.11; A.H.Su.15.24), Shukrashodhaka

(S.S.Su.38.75), Stanyajanana (C.S.Su.4-9.17), Vrishya, Vajeekarana

(A.H.U.40.12), Pittahara, Shramahara, Mootravirechaneeya (C.S.Su.4-

9.35), Dahaprashamana, Balya, Raktapittashamaka, (Sharma, 1978; B.N.,

1982).

Rogaghnata - Raktapitta (C.S.Ci.4.102; S.S.Su.38.75), Mootrakrichchhra,

Ashamari (C.S.Ci.26.49; S.S.Su.38.11; S.S.Ci.7.9; A.H.Su.15.24;

A.H.Ci.11.22), Daha (C.S.Su.3.26), Raktadosha, Shosha (S.S.Su.38.75),

201

Kshaya, Paittika Ajeerna, Raktatisara, Raktarsha (C.S.Ci.14.215) as

picchavasti (C.S.Ci.14.225), Raktapradara, Shool (A.H.Ci.13.42), Jwara

(C.S.Ci.3.257; A.H.Ci.8.125), Apasmara (C.S.Ci.10.28; A.H.U.7.25),

Trishna (C.S.Ci.22.43; A.H.Ci.6.171), Rasayana (C.S.Ci.1-1.42),

Shukradosha, Shukradaurbalya (C.S.Ci.2-4.22) (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Doses: Powder 5-6 gm., decoction 50-100 ml.

SIDDHA PROPERTIES Siddha Name - NAANAL

Suvai (Taste) - Inippu (Sweet).

Veeriyam (Potency) - Seetham (Cold).

Vibakam (Tansformation) - Inippu (Sweet).

Gunam (Pharmacological action) - Malamilakki (Laxative ), Udal thetrri

(Alterativei).

Uses - Used in treatment of abscess as external medicine.

PHARMACOGNOSY

Macroscopic

Root Stock - Attached with stem portions having numerous dark brown roots; cylindrical, yellowish brown or brown, 2-25cm. or more in length and

0.2-1 cm thick; fracture splintery.

Microscopic

Transverse section shows single layered epidermis consisting of slightly oval, thin-walled cells, a few elongated, pointed, aseptate, long unicellular hairs

arising from epidermis; cortex composed of 2-3 layered, elongated, thick-

walled, palisade-like cells and 3-4 layers of thin-walled, oval to polygonal

parenchymatous cells; endodermis consisting of thin walled, single layered

cells, followed by 6-9 layered thick walled, lignified, polygonal, continuous

ring of sclerenchymatous cells; pericycle single layered, composed of very

small, thin walled cells beneath endodermis; ground tissues wide, composed

of thin-walled, oval to polygonal, elongated parenchymatous cells containing

numerous, round to oval starch grains measuring 8-24 in dia., scattered „U‟

shaped vascular bundle with sheath also present (Anonymous, 2001).

Powder microscopy

Root stock powder dark brown in colour; shows fragments of thin-walled, tabular, somewhat rectangular epidermal cells in surface view, oval to

polygonal, thin-walled parenchymatous and thick-walled polygonal

sclerenchymatous cells, pointed unicellular hairs, vessels with reticulate

thickening, small round to oval starch grains, measuring 8-24 in diameter

(Anonymous, 2001).

202

Physical constants

Foreign matter - Not more than 2%, Total Ash - Not more than 7%, Acid

insoluble ash-Not more than 4%, Alcohol soluble extractive - Not less than

3%, Water soluble extractive - Not less than 4% (Anonymous, 2001).

Thin Layer Chromatography

TLC of the alcoholic extract on silica gel „G‟ plate using n-Butanol: Acetic

acid: water (4:1:5) shows under U.V. (366 nm) one fluorescent zone at Rf.

0.83 (green). On exposure to Iodine vapour three spots appear at Rf. 0.30,

0.83 and 0.90 (all yellow). on spraying with 5% Methanolic-sulpuric acid

reagent and heating the plate for ten minutes at 105C six spots appear at Rf.

0.13, 0.23, 0.30 (all dull yellow), 0.69, 0.83 and 0.90 (all grey). (Anonymous,

2001).

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Plant: Protein, calcium, phosphorus, hydrocyanic acid glycosides (Kehar, 1948).

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Plant was found to have diuretic, laxative, aphrodisiac activities. It is reported enhance immune system (Gopinathan et al., 2004). Alcoholic extract of

rhizomes and roots showed diuretic activity at a dose of 500 mg/kg kw. in

rats.

FORMULATIONS AND PREPARATIONS Arka - Karpuradyarka.

Kvatha Churna - Ashmarihara kashaya churna, Trinapanchamoola kvatha

churna, Stanyajanana kasaya churna, Mootravirechaniya kasaya churna.

Ghrita - Traikantaka ghrita, Sukumara ghrita, Kushadya ghrita,

Brihachhagaladya ghrita.

Vati and Gutika - Kasturyadi (Vayu) gutika (Anonymous, 1978; 2000).

Other classical formulations - Chandanadya taila (C.S.Ci.3.257),

Sukumara taila (C.S.Ci.29.102).

REFERENCES

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Directorate, CSIR New Delhi.-9, (Rh-So). p. 103-105.

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206

KATPHALA

BOTANICAL NAME: Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham.exD. Don

Syn. M. nagi Thunb.; M. cerifera Linn.

FAMILY: Myricaceae

CLASSICAL NAMES

Kayaphal, Somavalka (C.S.; S.S.; A.H.), Bhadra (S.S.Ci.), Kumbhik (S.S.Su.), Kaitarayam (C.S.Su.;Vi.).

SYNONYMS

Aranya, Bhadranjaka, Bhadravati, Kahakumbhi, Kaidaryama, Kaitarya, Krishnagarbha, Kumbhi, Kumbhika, Kumbhipaki, Kumbli, Kumuda,

Kumudika, Laghykashmarya, Mahakumbha, Mahavalkala, Nasany,

Prachetasi, Purusha, Ramasenaka, Rohini, Shriparnika, Shriparni,

Somavriksha, Somavriksta, Tvakaphala, Ugragandha (Sharma, 1978;D.N.,

1982; B.N., 1982;R.N.1982).