Saptaparna – (Alstonia scholaris R.br)

Saptaparna

(Alstonia scholaris R.br)

INTRODUCTION

 

In keshava padhati saptaparna garland is described (ke.pa38/21).

Pathanjala bhashya described it as a tree possessing seven leaves at each node(pa/ma/2/3/1).

 

Dalhana also provides its morphological description mentioning that its leaves are like those of shalmali(Dalhana-s.s.su.36).

Shiva dutta mentioned it as bahuguchha ie with multiple inflorescence .Charaka quoted its flowers under Sirovirecana dravyas,

 

Susrutha delineated it under Adhobhagahara dravyas¹.

 

Mentioning of this plant under Kushtagna and Udardaprashamana groups indicates about its utility in skin disorders. It is also used as anti- malarial drug and is one of the ingredients of Ayush-64(Anti-malarial drug) developed by CCRAS in 1978².

 

SYNONYMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

 

 

Grahanasana :– Relieves Grahas or bad Omen.

 

Vishamacchada :– The plant provides a potent drug for vishama jwara and also means odd number of leaves.

 

Saptaparna :– Generally seven leaves arranged in whorals.

 

Ayugmapatra :– It does not have even number of leaves at each node.

 

Shalmali patraka :– Petioles are like shalmali patraka.

 

Saptadala :– As there is 7 dalas.

 

Saptah :– Having seven leaves arranged in whorals.

 

Chakraparna :– Whoral arrangement looks like an umbrella.

 

Shuktiparna :– Shape of the leaf likes Oyester.

 

Gandhapuspa :– Flowers are having strong odour.

 

Sharadi :–As flower bearing time of plant is sharad rtu.

 

Gucchapuspa :– flowers occurs in clusters.

 

Madaganda :– The flowers have intense odour.

 

Shiroruk :– Smell of the flower causes headache.

 

Vishala :– The bark is vey thick.

 

 

 

Sharada :– Signifies the name of goddess of learning, also plant bears flowers at sharad rtu.

 

Visalatwak :– The bark is very thick.

 

Saptacchada.

Suparnaka.

Bahutwak.

Shalmalicchada.

Uccavrksa.

Gajamada.

VERNACULAR NAMES

 

 

 

English :- Dita ,Devil’s Tree.

 

Hindi :- Satouna , Shaithan , Chithavan , Chativan , Sativan.

 

Telugu :- Edakulla ponna , Edakuliriti.

 

Bengali :- Chatim

 

Punjabi :- Satouna

 

Marathi :- Satvina

 

Kannada :- Maddale ,Elelaga ,Haalemma

 

Tamil :- Palai , Ezhilam palai

 

Malayalam :- Pala , Daiva phala , Ezhilam pala.

 

Gujarat :- Satavana¹⁰.

 

VARIETIES

 

 

 

Another species named Alstonia Macrosperma is there, which is used as a substitute for Alstonia Scholaris¹.

 

 

 

GANA – GROUP

 

 

 

Charaka Samhitha :- Thikthaskanda , Kashayaskanda , Kushtagna , Udardaprashamana , Shirovirechana.

 

Susrutha Samhitha :- Aragvadhi , Adhobhagahara , Lakshadi.

 

Vagbhatta :- Aragvadhi¹.

 

According to ayurveda :- Aragvadhi , Kushtagna , Thikthaskanda , Udardaprashamana¹¹.

 

 

 

 

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

 

 

 

Akuammidine(rhazine);Picrinine;Atrictamine,Tetrahydroalstone;Angustilabine,B,6,7-Seco-6-NorangustilobineB,Losbabine,Alschomine,Isoaslschomine,Alstomine Scholarine,Detemine,Picrocine,Echytenine

 

The total alkaloid content of Indian Bark is reported to be 0.16-0.27% and 0.8-0.10% of the Hydroxide of chief alkaloid Echitamine,but higher values have been reported (0.5%) of Echitamine in bark from Mysore¹.

 

Among Non-alkaloidal constituents two isomeric actones were isolated .Bark is also rich in Sterols. Bark also contains Echicerine ,Echitine ,Echiretive and other constituents.

 

Latex is found to contain 2.8-7.9% Caoutchouc.The coagulum contains Caoutchouc. 12.9-26.5 and resins 69.0-78.7%.

 

The presence of blood sugar reducing principle in bark and acids like Sistesterol,Butylene and Arsolic acid etc also has been reported¹⁰.

 

 

 

 

PROPERTIES AND DOSHAGNATHA

 

 

Rasa: – Thiktha , Kashaya.

 

Guna :– Laghu , Snigdha.

 

Virya :– Ushna.

 

Vipaka :– Katu.

 

Trodoshahara , Dipana , Hrdya¹⁴ .

 

KARMA

 

 

1. Tridoshahara
2. Dipana
3. Hrdya
4. Vishamajwaraghna
5. Rakthashodhaka
6. Kandughna
7. Kushtagna
8. Vrnashodhana
9. Vrnaropana

10.Dipana – Anulomana-Sara

11.Yakrdhalya , Krimighna

12Hrdya , Pramehaghna

13.Katupoustika

14.Kaphagna¹⁰.

 

PRAYOGA

 

 

 

Hrdroga , Vishamajwara , Kandu , Kushta , Krimi ,Amavatha , Svasa , Gulma, Sula , Rakta Vikara , Kasa , Sutiroga , Agnivardhaka – Balya – Stanyajanana , Agni mandhya , Pravahika , Vrna , Dipana – Anulomana-Sara , Yakrdhourbalya , Krimighna , Hrdya , Prameha , Katupoustika , Kaphagna , Krimiroga , Udarda , Jirnajwara , Jwarajanya dhourbalya , Danta krimi¹.

 

• Its Decoction is used in Jwara , Shula and Gulma.
• Its Powder should be given with Vidanga powder in Krimi Rogas.
• Its Decoction is useful in Visamajwara and in case of Svasa².

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THERAPEUTIC USES

 

• Krimi Danta :- Dental caries should be filled with latex of Saptaparna and Arkaksira(A.H.U22/20)
• Svasa :- Juice of Saptaparna flowers is mixed with pippali and taken with honey (C.S.CI.17/114).
• Sandrameha :- Saptaparna decoction is useful ( S.S.CI 11/9)¹.

 

The drug is anti-pyretic , anti – septic ,carminative , cardiotonic and vermifuge. It is used in abdominal pain ,. Fever , resoiratory disease , and in skin diseases.The drug is very much used in traditional medicine against Malarial fever.

The bark is very effective drug internally used in Visamajwara as an Anti – malarial herbal agent without any side-effects.Bark is also very useful in debility caused by fever as a good bitter tonic. Bark in the form of powder , decoction ,extract,others (as single drug and an ingredient of compound formulation)is commonly prescribed in malarial fever and allied ailing conditions¹⁰ ; for purification of breast milk decoction of Guduchi and Saptaparn bark mixed with Shunti should be given¹⁴.

 

Saptaparna bark is taken in perpural stage to Prasoota mothers ; it is also a Galactogogue besides other beneficial actions for allaying certain disorders of this stage.

 

The bark is taken in Rakta vikara and Hrdroga , It is given in Cough , Asthma , Prameha , Skin Disorders , Dermatitis , Kushta , Udarda , Worms , Liver Dysfunction ,Abdominal colic , Dyspepsia , Gulma and Dysentery.

Externally the bark is applied on Chronic Ulcers and Kushta ; it is wound healing.

Internal Uses :-

 

ANNA and PURISHAVAHA

 

Agni Deepana :- Due to Thiktharasa , Katuvipaka , Usnavirya.

 

Vatanulomana :- Being Snigdha and Ushna.

 

Can also be used in Agnimandya ,Shula , Gulma , Liver Debility as it is Liver stimulant due to presence of Kashaya rasa.

 

Krimighna :- Since thiktharasa eliminates Kapha Decoction with honey can be used in Chardi(Kaphaja).

 

 

PRANAVAHA

 

Its Decoction should be given with honey and pippali powder in Kapha – Pittaja Svasa and Hikka . It liquefies Kapha and excretes Kapha and Pitha.

 

RASA RAKTAVAHA

Can be used in Hrdrogas , Thiktharasa stimulates Agni and acts as Rasayana of Rasadhathu.

MAMSAVAHA

Its decoction or Sidha Ghritha can be used in Kushta to absord Kledha¹⁰.

FOLKLORE USES

 

• 2ml latex if boiled in sufficient quantity of water and if in taken in the morning will act as a Purgative.

 

• For Chronic Headache, Running Nose, Expectorant etc the flower of Saptaparna is grinded and boiled in water, this water is filtered and Nasya is done.

 

• Saptaparna latex is used for curing Vrna¹⁵.

 

PARTS USED

 

• Stem Bark

• Latex

• Flowers¹.

 

 

DOSAGE

 

 

 

Decoction :- 5-100ml (Thwak Kwatha)

4-8gms(Thwak Churna)

40-80ml(Decoction) ¹⁴

5-10ml(Decoction)¹¹.

 

 

 

 

FORMULATIONS

 

 

 

• Saptacchadi Tailam – Mukha Roga

• Saptacchadi Kwatha – Mukha Roga

• TriphalaGritha – Sarvakshi Roga,Cataract,ComputerEye Syndrome.

• Saptaparna Satvati Vati¹⁰.

• Saptaparn Ghana Vati¹¹.

 

RESEARCH

 

• Picrinine showed CNS depressant activity (Planta med.1976,30,86)

 

• Strichtamine showed Monamine Oxidase Inhibitory activity both in vivo mice and in vitro in rat bairn Mitochondria. It lso showed Anti-depressant activity(Ind .jExpbiol.1979,17,598).

 

• Alcoholic extract of bark showed Anti – Microbial activity against Salm . Partyphi-B and Aspergillus niger (Comp .Physiol .Ecol.1989,14,1).

 

• The alcoholic extract of stem bark showed significant anti – cancer activity in HS , Human Sarcoma in the embryonated egg (Dhareta;,1968) ¹.

 

• This plant has shown Anti – Coagulant property by increasing the coagulation time , prothrombine time and fibrinolytic activity¹¹.