Caraka (Su.27/89 & Ci.13/180), Susruta (Su.46/272 & Sa.10/30) and vagbhata (Su.6/97 & Ci.15/82) have quoted kalasaka twice each in their works and the plant is identified as C. capsularis Linn. Apart from kalasaka, cancu is also quoted by caraka (Ci.19/35) and vagbhata (Su.6/85; Ci.9/22 & Ut.30/37) separately. In the sutra sthana 6th chapter, vagbhata quoted both cancu (A.H.Su.6/85) and kalasaka (A.H.Su.6/97) separately. This provides a clue that these are two different plants. Kalasaka and cancu are therefore considered as C. capsularis and C. fascicularis respectively. Caraka described cancu under AtisŒra treatment while vµagbhata quoted it under Saka varga.
CaÛchu phala is identified as Heliotropium indicum Linn., by the Bengali Kavirajas, which, however, is also used for ulcers and sores. Other species like C. aestuans, C. olitorus and C. trilocularis are also used as CaÛcu.
- capsularis is native to tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. Different common names are used in different contexts, with jute applying to the fibre produced from the plant. Mallow-Leaves Malukhiyah applied to the leaves used as a vegetable. The leaves from the Corchorus plant has been a staple Egyptian food since the time of the Pharaohs and is from there it gains its recognition and popularity. Varieties of Mallow-leaves stew with rice is a well known Middle-eastern cuisine.
Botanical Description – Annual, suberect, 50-60 cm tall herb. Stem woody, with scaly bark, glabrous. Leaves 3-costate, elliptic-oblong or lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 1.5-6 cm long, 0.5-2.0 cm broad, glabrous, serrate, basal serratures not prolonged into filiform appendages, obtuse; petiole 3-15 mm long, hirsute; stipules subulate-filiform, c. 5 mm long. Cyme a fascicle of 2-5 (-8) flowers, antiphyllous, very shortly pedunculate. Flowers yellow, 5-6 mm across; bracts minute. Sepals linear-oblong, c. 1.5-2.5 mm long, apiculate. Petals oblong-obovate, as long as sepals. Stamens as many as or twice the number of petals, filaments c. 1.5-2 mm long. Carpels 3; ovary oblong-ovate to linear, 3-loculed, hairy; style short, stigma capitate. Capsules 2-5(-8) in each fascicle, sessile, 1-1.5 cm long, with 1-2 mm long entire beak, somewhat triangular, pubescent, 3-loculed, locules without transverse septa. Seeds wedge shaped, c. 1.5 mm long, angular, black, obliquely truncate at both ends. Distribution: Pakistan, India (Rajputana, Utter Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Behar, Peninsula), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Burma, North Australia, Arabia and tropical Africa.
Major Chemical Constituents–
The leaves are rich in betacarotene, iron, calcium, and Vitamin C. The plant has an antioxidant activity with a significant α-tocopherol equivalent Vitamin E.
Part Used– Whole plant, fruit
Dosage– Decoction 20-30 ml.
Research –
Flavonoid glycoside was spasmolytic to guinea pig ileum smooth muscle against acetylcholine, bradykinin and histamine-induced contractions (Ind. J. Fxp. Biol. 1973,11,248).
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.