GMELINA ARBOREA
INTRODUCTION
Gambhari is considered as Rakshoghna in nature as per ancient text in India. It is important among the true used in Yajna. It is one among the Brihat Panchamoola.
It will be interesting to note that the term Gambhar used routinely now for Kashmari was not mentioned in Brihat trayi. However ,other synonyms Like sriparni and Sadabhara are used by them . Ghambhari is the term actually used by tribal people of Bihar.
Caraka quoted its fruit as best among Rakta. Sangrahaka and Raktapittahara. It’s fruit is one among the madhura Triphala. Gambhari fruit is considered as substitute for Praksha. It is Brmhana vrsya and Rasayana.
Kaiyadeva described its flower as sangrahi and vatavardaka.
SYNONYMS
- Gambhari
- Kashmari
- Shriparni
- Madhuparnika
- Pitharohini
- Hura
- Bhadraparni
- Kashmarya
- Mahakusumika
- Madhu rasa.
CLASSICAL CATEGORIZATION
Acc to caraka – shothahara, Dahaprashamana, virechanopaga.
Acc to sushrutha – sarivadi, Brihat panchamula .
Acc to vagbhata – sarivaadi.
VERNACULAR NAMES
- English – coomb teak
- Hindi – Gambhar
- Bengali – Gamari
- Gujarathi – Shewan
- Bombay – She wan
- Panjabi – Kumhar
- Telugu – Gumar tek
- Tamil – Gumuadu, Gumadi
- Malayalam – Kumbula
- Kannada – Kashmiri mara.
PARTS USED
- Root – root bark
- Bark
- Fruits
- Leaves
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
- Roots contain yellow thick, oil, resin an alkaloid and little benzoic acid.
- Fruits contain butyric , butyric acid and tartaric acids sugar and little tannin.
PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tiktha, Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Guru
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Doshakarma : Tridosha shamaka.
KARMA
- Sothahara
- Hrdya Rathapitta shaamaka.
- Sandhaniya – Balya
- Mutrajanana
- Garbhasthapana- sthanyajanana
- Vrsya
- Jwaragna- Dahaprashamana
- Katu poustica
- Brachmana
- Rasayana
- Vishagna
- Sitala – snehana
- Vedanasthapana
- Keshya, Deepana, Pachana.
- Bhedhana, Arshogna.
PRAYOGA
- Daha – Trishna
- Jvara – Sirasula
- Bhrama – Mastiska dourbalya.
- Vata vikara
- Agnimandya, Vibhanda arsa.
- Sotha – Hridroga, – Raktha pitha.
- Vrakshata – Kshayaroga
- Mutrakrichra – Basthisotha
- Sukrodaurbalya – Garbharava.
- Sutikaroga – Garbhasayasotha.
- Vrschika Damsha – Visha.
PHARMACO-THERAPEUTIC ACTION & USES
- The root and bark of Gmelina arborea are claimed to be stomachic, galactogogue, and anthelmenthic improves appetite , useful in hallucination, piles and abdominal pains.
- The fruits are acrid ,sour bitter, sweet, cooling diuretic, tonic aphrodisiac, alterative, astringent to the bowels.
- They are also useful to promote the growth of hairs.
- The flowers are anti dermatoses, they are useful in leprosy and blood diseases.
THERAPEUTIC USES
- Juice of tender leaves is useful as demulcent . It is given in gonorrhoea and cough etc; They are also used for cleaning ulcers.
- The root acts as stomachic and nerve tonic it is used in insanity and epilepsy. Root decoction is given in fever, indigestion.
- Dry fruit is used in Rajayakshma.
- Decoction of root is used in garbhashaya shotha.
- Fruit helps to relieve the thirst.
- Swarasa of root with cows milk and sugar is given in mutra krcchra.
- Decoction of its roots is given orally in treatment of snake bite.
- Fruits are useful in vitiation of vata , thirst, anaemia.
FOLKLORE USES
- The root decoction is used for abdominal tumours.
- Flowers used for blood disorders and leprosy.
- Root used for abdominal pains, burning sensations.
- Fever, hallucination, thirst.
- It is folklore remedy for anasarca, anthrax, bites, blood disorders, cholera, convulsions, diarrhea, and fever gravel.
- Deeming the fruit is alternative aphrodisiac and diuretic.
RESEARCH
- The alchoholic extract of stem bark and wood of the stem were found to posses hypoglycemic activity in albino rats.
- The stem bark also showed antiviral activity against ranikhet disease virus.
- Premnazole showed anti-inflamatory activity temparable to that of phenyle butasone in reducing cotton pellet induced granuloma formation in rats , it probably acts by regulating activity of ACTH.
DOSE
- Root – bark juice 10 – 20 gms.
- Decoction – 40-80 gms.
FORMULATIONS
- Sriparnyadi kvatha
- Sriparni – taila
- Brihat panchamuladi kwatha.