Vernacular names

Eng.- Vogel-Tephrosis. Hindi- Mashparni, Mashavan, Vana Urada, Jangli

udad, Banurdi, Banudad, Mashoni, Mashani. Beng.- Mashance, Bankalai,

Mashani. Guj.- Valiyovelo, Jungaliadada vela, Ban udad, Janglee Adad.

Kan.- Kadu uddu. Mal.- Katt ulandu, Kattu zhunnu. Mar.- Ran udid. Punj.-

Jangali urad. Tam.- Katulandu, Kattu-ulandu. Tel.- Karuminum, Adavi-

vuddulu, Mashperni (Kirtikar and Basu, 1933; Chopra et al., 1986; B.N.,

1982; Nadkarni, 1976; Vaidya, 1968; Sharma, 1978; Anonymous, 1976;

Anonymous, 2000a; Ayer and Kolammal, 1963).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

A widely spreading twining herb, stems slender, more or less appressedly

hairy. Leaves 3-foliate, leaf-lets membranous or sub-coriaceous, 3.5 - 6 x

1.5 - 2.5 cm, the terminal slightly the largest, ovate-oblong or oblong - lanceolate, hairy beneath, base rounded or acute, stipels subulate, stipules

ovate - lanceolate, deciduous. Flowers reddish, bisexual, in axillary few

flowered lax racemes, 5-15 cm long, solitary or fascicled along a slender,

261

MASHAPARNI Teramnus labialis Spreng.

262

more or less hairy rachis. Pods 3-5 cm long, narrowly linear, straight or

slight incurved, hairy when young, glabrous on maturity with a short stout

beak bent upwards nearly at right angle with the pod. Seeds 8-12, oblong,

truncate or slightly rounded at the ends, smooth and dark brown in colour.

Flowering and Fruiting: August - December (Cooke, 1967; Anonymous,

2000b; Gamble, 1967; Ayer and Kolammal, 1963; Hooker, 1973; Kirtikar

and Basu, 1933).

DISTRIBUTION

Found wild throughout the greater parts of the country, especially in the

tropics from Punjab eastwards to West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra,

Deccan, N. Circars, Tamil Nadu, grows wild in the plains in southern parts of

India (Cooke, 1967; Anonymous, 1976). Also occurs in Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines,

Madagascar and New Guinea (Kirtikar and Basu, 1933; Haines, 1961;

Gamble, 1967).

PART(S) USED

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

ACTIONS AND USES

The fruit is bitter, cooling and sweet. It is used as aphrodisiac, stomachic,

nervine tonic, astringent to the bowels, antipyretic and galactagogue,

(Kirtikar and Basu, 1933). It is also used in inflammation, biliousness, blood

diseases, gout, fevers, bronchitis, thirst, burning sensation, paralysis,

rheumatism, affections of the nervous system, haemoptysis, tuberculosis and

catarrh (Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1992).

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa - Madhura, Tikta.

Guna - Ruksha (S.S.Su.46.36), Laghu, Snigdha (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Vipaka - Madhura.

Veerya - Sheeta.

Doshaghnata - Pittanashaka (S.S.Su.46.46), Kaphavataghna

(A.H.Su.6.169), Vatapitta shamak, Kaphavardhak (Sharma, 1978; B.N.,

1982).

Karma - Deepana, Snehana, Anulomana, Grahi, Raktapittashamaka

(C.S.Ci.4.84), Raktashodhaka, Shothhara, Shukrajanana (C.S.Su.4-9.19),

Jwarghna, Dahaprashmana, Jeevaniya (C.S.Su.4-9.1), Balavardhaka

(S.S.Su.46.46; A.H.Su.15.9.) (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

263

Rogaghnata - Pakshaghat, Sandhivata, Ardita (A.H.Ci.21.76), Raktapitta

(C.S.Ci.4.84), Udarshoola, Grahani, Shukrameha (A.H.U.40.13), Sheeta

jwara, Daha (C.S.Ci.3.267; A.H.Ci.1.121), Kshayroga (C.S.Ci.11.34;

A.H.Su.15.9), Rajayakshma (C.S.Ci.8.69; A.H.Ci.5.13), Madataya

(C.S.Ci.24.149), Vatavydhi (C.S.Ci.28.149; S.S.Ci.37.19), Vatarakta

(C.S.Ci.29.61,73), Shotha (S.S.Ci.23.12), Visha (S.S.Ka.2.47), Atisara

(A.H.Ci.9.56) (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Doses : Powder 5-10 g, Decoction 50-100 ml. (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

SIDDHA PROPERTIES

Siddha Name - KATTU ULUNTHU

Suvai (Taste) - Inippu (Sweet).

Veeriyam (Potency) - Seetham (Cold).

Vibakam (Tansformation) - Inippu (Sweet).

Gunam (Pharmacological action) - Annmai perukki (Aphrodiasic).

Siddha pharmaceutical preparations - Kattu ulunthu ilagam ,

Kattu ulunthu choornam.

Uses - Used in treatment Sexual debility.

PHARMACOGNOSY

Macroscopic

Root - Tap root with lateral roots occurs in cylindrical, branched pieces, 3-5

cm long, upto 1 cm diameter, light brown to dark brown with longitudinal

and transverse cracks, lateral roots thin, smooth, moderately woody; fracture

short and laminated.

Microscopic

Transverse section of root shows poorly developed 4-10 layered cork comprising of tangentially elongated cells having brown walls, exfoliating

strips of crushed cork cells occasionally present. Secondary cortex consisting

of 3-8 layers of tangentially elongated thin-walled cells. Secondary phloem

appearing dome-shaped, composed of sieve tubes, companion cells,

parenchyma, fibres and crystal fibres, the whole being traversed by phloem

rays; phloem parenchyma thin-walled, polygonal, phloem fibres numerous,

lignified, thick-walled, septate, occur mostly in groups, among phloem

parenchyma; crystal fibres containing prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate;

cambium not distinct. Secondary xylem consisting of vessels, fibres and

crystal fibres all traversed by xylem rays; vessels solitary or in groups of 2-3

with pitted thickenings; tracheids present, fibres septate with thick-walls and

pointed ends; xylem parenchyma non-lignified, thick-walled elongated cells;

crystal fibres elongated, thick walled divided by transverse partitions into

264

chambers, each containing a prismatic crystal of calcium oxalate; xylem rays

1-6 cells wide, thin-walled radially elongated; prismatic crystals of calcium

oxalate and starch grains present in secondary cortex, phloem fibres, phloem

parenchyma and medullary rays. Starch grains numerous, mostly simple,

rarely compound, oval to rounded with central hilum and measuring 3-14

in diameter (Anonymous, 2001)

Macroscopic

Stem - Cut pieces 5-8 cm long, upto 0.8 cm in diameter, somewhat twisted

and branched, or cylindrical, slender, rough due to cracks and longitudinal

ridges and furrows; brownish-grey in colour; fracture short and fibrous.

Microscopic

Transverse section shows 6-11 layers, thin-walled, rectangular exfoliated

cork cells; secondary cortex comprising of thin-walled, oval to rectangular

parenchymatous cells having numerous groups of cortical fibres arranged in

radial rows, pericycle composed of isolated strands of fibres, occasionally

with stone cells between them; secondary phloem composed of usual

elements along with secretary cells, secondary xylem composed of usual

elements, xylem fibres long, lignified; vessels simple pitted; ray 1 or 2 cells

wide. Pith composed of oval to polygonal, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells

containing secretary cells (Anonymous, 2001).

Macroscopic

Leaf - Trifoliolate, leaflets ovate - oblong, 6-12 cm long, base round or

acute, light brownish-yellow in colour.

Microscopic

Transverse section of midrib shows single layer of epidermis covered by thick cuticle and having few unicellular trichomes on both surfaces followed

by 4 or 5 layers of thick-walled polygonal collenchymatous cells on both

surfaces; 2-3 layers of oval to polygonal, thin-walled parenchymatous cells

on both surfaces and „v‟ shaped vascular bundles having usual elements.

Lamina shows single layered epidermis covered by thick striated cuticle and

having a few unicellular hairs on both surfaces; single layered palisade cells;

1-2 layers of thin-walled polygonal parenchymatous cells containing

chlorophyll in lower surface, a few small vascular bundles having usual

elements scattered in central region; stomata paracytic on both surfaces;

stomatal index 28-34 on lower surface and 18-24 on upper surface; Palisade

ratio not more than five; vein-islet number 6-8; vein let termination number

not more than four (Anonymous, 2001).

Flowers - in lax axillary racemes, 5-15 cm long, red, pink or purple or white

in colour, slender, more or less hairy peduncles.

265

Macroscopic

Fruit - Pod upto 5cm long, straight or sometimes slightly recurved,

brownish-black to dark brown containing 8-12 seeds.

Microscopic

Transverse section of fruit shows single layered, thick-walled, radially, elongated epidermal cells followed by one row of thick-walled, rounded to

rectangular stone cells of various sizes having narrow lumen and centric

striation, 3-4 layers of thin-walled radially elongated parenchymatous cells

and several layers of thick-walled lignified sclerenchymatous cells of

mesocarp.

Seed - oblong, cylindrical, slightly rounded at the ends; 2-3 mm long and

upto 2 mm in diameter; colour dark brown. Testa containing thick-walled,

tangentially elongated lignified, sclerenchymatous cells followed by two

layers of thin-walled, palisade like cells, palisade internally supported by a

single layered bearer cells; cotyledons consists of oval to polygonal, thin-

walled parenchymatous cells (Anonymous, 2001).

Powder microscopy

Whole plant powder light yellowish-cream in colour; shows fragments of

cork, parenchyma, tracheids, unicellular hairs, thick-walled, elongated

polygonal cells of testa, simple pitted vessels, septate, thick-walled and

pointed fibres; prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and simple oval to

rounded starch grains measuring 3-14 in diameter (Anonymous, 2001).

Physical constants

Total ash - Not more than 7%; Acid insoluble ash - Not more than 0.5%;

Alcohol soluble extractive - Not less than 3%; Water soluble extractive -

Not less than 7% (Anonymous, 2001).

Thin Layer Chromatography

TLC of the alcoholic extract on silica gel „G‟ plate Toluene: Ethylacetate

(9:1) shows under UV (360 nm) seven fluorescent zones at Rf. 0.05, 0.10,

0.15 (all blue), 0.26 (light blue), 0.49, 0.74 (both blue) and 0.85 (light blue).

On exposure to lodine vapour four spots appear at Rf. 0.05, 0.10, 0.33 and

0.69 (all yellow). On spraying with vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent and

heating the plate for ten minutes at 110C four spots appear at Rf. 0.05, 0.10,

0.33 (all violet) and 0.96 (dark violet) (Anonymous, 2001).

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Seed: Fraxidin (Fort et al., 2000), amino acids, lysine, leucine, isoleucine,

arginine, valine, histidine; unsaturated fatty acids, minerals-potassium,

magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA, hydrogen

cyanide, phytic acid; proteins (Vishwanathan et al., 1999).

266

Stem and aerial part: Flavonol glycoside (C₂₆H₂₈O₁₇) characterized as 3, 5, 7, 3, 4, 5- hexahydroxyflavone-3-0--D-glucopyranosyl (1 3) -O--L- arabinopyranoside (Yadava and Jain, 2004), vitexin, bergenin, daidzin, 3-O-

methyl-D- chiro -inositol (Sridhar et al., 2006).

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

The chloroform extract of stem showed antibacterial and antifungal activities. (Yadav and Jain, 2004). Aqueous alcoholic extract of aerial parts was

reported to have antihyperglycemic bioactive flavonol glycoside (Fort et al.,

2000). Vitexin, bergenin, daidzin and 3-O-methyl-D- chiro -inositol from the

plant were reported for antiinflammatory activity. Vitexin exhibited a dose-

dependent inhibitory activity on 5-lipoxygenase enzyme and exhibited

moderate antioxidant activity (Sridhar et al., 2006).

FORMULATIONS AND PREPARATIONS

Avaleha and Paka - Chyavanaprasha, Brahma rasayana.

Ghrita - Amritaprasha ghrita, Ashoka ghrita, Brihat Ashvagandha ghrita,

Brihatchhagaladya ghrita, Vidaryadi ghrita.

Taila - Dhanvantara taila, Bala taila, Madhyama narayana taila, Narayan

taila (Anonymous, 1978; 2000).

Other classical formulations: Jeevaniya ghrita, Mahakalyanaka ghrita,

Aguvadya taila (C.S.Ci.3.267).

TRADE AND COMMERCE

Retail market price - Rs. 40 per kg. (2006).

SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERANTS

Phaseolus calcaratus Roxb, P. sublobatus Roxb; P. dalzelli (Cooke, 1967).

Atylosia goensis Dalz., Teramnus mollis Bakers are used as substitute

(Anonymous, 2000a). Pueraria phaseoloides Benth. and Calapagonium

mucunoides are also being sold, in Kerala side, as Mashaparni (Ayer and

Kolammal, 1963).

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271

BOTANICAL NAME:

FAMILY:

CLASSICAL NAMES

MURVA

Marsdenia tenacissima Wight. & Arn.

Syn. Asclepias tenacissima Roxb.;

A. tomentosa Herb;

Gymnema tenacissima Spreng.

Asclepiadaceae

Murva, Madhusrava, Piluparni, Madhurasa, Morata (C.S.; S.S.; A.H.)

SYNONYMS

Devashreni, Devi, Prithakparni, Srigdhaparni, Swadurasa, Tiktavalli, Triparni (Sharma, 1978; D.N., 1982; B.N., 1982; R.N., 1982).