The book deals with one hundred and eighty crude botanical drugs finding regular use in preparation based on Ayuredic System of Medicine. These drugs also constitute the bulk of the medicinal herbs traded and exported form India. The text includes detailed description of distinctive morphological and organoleptic characters of authentic botanical source in Ayurvedic Drug formulary(1987). It incorporates 206 coloured photographs of the crude drugs to facilitate quick and easy identification of a particular material.

The book is intended to be a reference guide to practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, teachers and students of "Dravyaguna Vijnana" and manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicines, cosmetics and other products. It may also serve as ready reckoner in the collection, marketing and export of herbal drugs.

Contents
Executive Summary
Crude Drugs Described

1.Root, Rhizome and underground parts
(Total drugs described 69)
Example

Agnimantha

The drug consists of root and root bark of Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm F.) O. Ktze. Syn. C. phlomoides Linn.and certain species of Premna of family Verbenaceae

The roots of Clerodendrum multiflorum and Premna species are called Kshudra agnimantha and Brihad agnimantha respectively. They are considered to have similar properties and one can be used in place of other. Roots of at least three species of Premna are employed as Brihad agnimantha. P. obtusifolia R. Br. Is the common source of the drug in eastern and central parts of India. The material used in northern and western regions come from P. latifolia Roxb., while the roots of P. serratifolia Linn. constitute the drug used in south India especially in Kerala.

2.Stem, Stem Bark and Stem Tuber
(Total drugs described 26)
Example

Arjuna (Termindalia arjuna)

The drug consists of the stem bark of Terminalia arjuna Wight. and Arn. of family Combretaceae

Description
Flat or slightly curved, stratified pieces of stem bark of varying sizes and 5 to 10 mm thickness. External surface pink or flesh coloured with a mealy coating. Inner surface reddish brown, finely striated, peeling out in thin flakes. Fracture - fibrous; odour - none; taste - gritty and astringent.

Substitutes and Adulterants
Bark of a number of other species of Terminalica are found as an adulterant. Among these the bark of Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth syn. T. tomentosa W. & A. is most common. The main distinguishing character of the adulterant is a rough, cracked or fissured external surface of dark brown colour and longitudinally striated inner surface.

Uses
Considered useful in heart diseases, bilious affection, blood dysentery, inflammatory conditions, and in the fracture of bones. The major preparations employing this crude drug are Arjunarishta, Arvindaasava and Kakubhaadi churna.

3.Leaf and Leaflets
(Total drugs described 10)
Example

Dhattura patra

The drug consists of leaves and flowering or fruiting tops of Datura metel Linn. Syn. D. Fastuosa Linn. , of family Solanaceae

Description
Terminal parts of the plant, having cylindrical, divaricately branched stems of green or greenish purple colour, bearing leaves, flowers and fruits; leaves, large upto 12 cm long and 9 cm broad, sinuate dentate, irregularly lobed; flowers trumpet shaped, upto 9 cm long, having double corolla of purplish brown colour; fruits globular, of varying sizes having a tubercled surface with short but stiff spines; flowers and fruits are borne on the forks of the branches. Odour- strong and foetid; taste - bitter.

Substitutes and adulterants
Datura innoxia Mill., a more commonly growing species is the main adulterant. More often it constitutes the exclusive component commercial samples. The material differs from genuine drug in having hairy leaves and stems of dirty green colour, long tender spines covering the fruits and an eleven lobed white corolla.

Uses
Employed in drug formulations considered useful in skin diseases, boils, itch, worm infestations and fever. It is one of the ingredients of drug formulations prescribed in asthma, elephantiasis and fevers accompanied with catarrah symptoms. The main preparations are Kanakaasava, Dhatturaadi pralepa and Laghuvisgarva taila.

4.Flower and parts thereof
(Total drugs described -10)
Example

Dhaataki

The drug consists of flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa (Linn.) Kurz. Syn. W.floribunda Salisb. of family Lythraceae

Description
Dried flowers of scarlet or bright red colour, measuring 12 to 15 mm in length and occurring in fascicled bunches. The flower is trimorphic, short pedicelled with a long tubular calyx, which is upto 2 mm broad. The latter is slightly contracted above the middle and has an oblique mouth having six small triangular teeth. The stamens are much exerted beyond the mouth of the tube. Odour- characteristic; taste -slightly bitter and astringent.
Commercially available material contains small amount of fruits and leaves. The drug is generally available with bunches of flowers attached to stalks.

Uses
It is the ingredient of a number of drug formulations, prepscribed in dysentery and menorrhagia. The flowers are extensively employed for fermentations of Asavas and Arishtas. The other preparations employing the drug are Dhaatakyadi churna, Laghugangadhar churna and Dhaatakyadi taila.

5.Seeds and Fruits
(Total drugs described- 56)
Example

Aamalki

The drug consists of fresh or dry fruits of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. of family Euphorbiaceae.

Description
Both dry and fresh fruits are used as drug. The dried fruit is globular, sub-hexagonal, upto 1.5 cm in diameter, with a wrinkled surface of yellowish brown or greyish black colour. The fruit breaks easily, exposing a section of dried pulp and nut which contains triangular seeds of yellowish brown colour. Odour mild and characteristic; taste- acidic and astringent. The fresh fruit is globular, fleshy, obscurely six lobed and measure 2 to 3 cm in diameter. The surface is smooth and pale or yellowish green in colour. The fruits contain a juicy pulp enclosing an obtusely obvate, triangular, 3 celled nut, containing two seeds in each cell. The taste of the pulp is acidic and astringent.

Uses
The fruit is used to promote longevity, memory, intellect and strength of the sensory and motor organs. It is useful in dyspepsia, haemorrhages, constipation, anaemia and enlarged liver. The fresh fruit is the main constituent of Chayavanpraasha - a much acclaimed Ayuredic tonic while dry fruit is one of the ingredients of Triphala. Other major preparations are Brahma rasaayan, Sanjivanivati, Karanjaadi yoga, Amalkyadi churna and Dhaatri lougha.

6.Whole Herbs
(Total drugs described- 19)
Example

Apaamaarga

The drug consists of whole of Achyranthes aspera Linn. of family Amaranthaceae collected at fruiting stage.

Description
Dry herb, consisting of pieces of quadrangular, Striated stems, 4 to 7 mm in diameter; orbicular, obvate, hairy leaves, having an attenuated base and short petiole and pieces of long slender spikes bearing prickly flowers or fruits which are sharply deflexed against the rachis. The colour of freshly dried material is greyish which changes to pale brown during storage. Odour -faintly aromatic; taste -bitter.

7.Gums, Juice and Extracts
(Total drugs described -11)
Example

Babbula Niryaasa

The drug consists of gum obtained from the stem bark of Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd. Sub-sp. indica (Benth.) Brenan syn. Acacia arabica Willd. of family Mimosaceae.

Description
Round or irregular, translucent, mostly broken, tears of varying sizes, having brown, red or light straw colour. Surface glossy with few minute fissures. Fractures-difficult and conchoidal; odour-none; taste-bland and mucilaginous.

Substitutes and Adulterants
Gum obtained from a number of other species of Acacia as well as of Albizzia of the same family are found mixed with the commercial samples. These gums are darker in colour and have a smooth surface. Ghatti gum obtained from Anogeissus latifolia Wall. (Fam.-Combretaceae) is frequently used as substitute. Tears in this case are club-shaped and have a dull surface. Acacia gum obtained from West Asia and North Africa is considered more effective therapeutically. Tears of this gum are comparatively bigger in size, bright yellow in colour, but opaque due to presence of numerous minute fissures.

Uses
The gum finds extensive use as binder in pills, tablets and lozenges such as Lavangaadi vati.

8.Insect Galls
(Total drugs described- 2)
Example

Pistacia kinjuk

The drug consists of insect galls formed on the leaves and petioles of Pistacia kinjuk stocks. Syn. P. integerrima Stew. Ex Brandis. of family Anacardiaceae.

Description
Curved or horn shaped, hollow galls, upto 15 cm long and 3 cm broad. Outer surface rough, pinkish purple or dark brown in colour, having a fimbriated appearance. The inner surface is reddish brown in colour, bearing deposits of dust-like particles, which represent dried insects and their excrementitious matter. Fracture-short and uneven; odour-reminiscent of terpentine; taste -slightly bitter and astringent.

Substitutes and Adulterants
The material is commonly adulterated or even substituted with the insect galls obtained from other trees, especially those of Terminalia sps. The adulterants differ from genuine material by their thinner size, greenish brown or black colour and absence of characteristic odour.

Uses
Useful in asthma, cough and other diseases of respiratory tract. It is considered very effective in pulmonary affections. The main ayurvedic preparations using Kartatashringi are Karkataadi churna, Brihattaalishaadi churna and Balachaturbhadra.

Bibliography

Indices
Index to Botanical Names
Index to Sanskrit Names
Index to English, Trade and Regional Names
Index to Illustrations

Published : 1996
Pages : 422 + xxxix
Plates : 206
Price : Rs. 2100** US$ 210