Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameChuttulo
Formal nameRasanjana
Other names   

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Darhaldi (B), Dar hald, Rasaut (H), Kerpak (N), Rasandun (Sin)
English nameOphthalmic Burbery, Tree Turmeric
Original plant nameBerberis aristata DC., Ophthalmic Burbery, Tree Turmeric
Family nameBerberidaceae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification bark
Collection informationKingdom of Nepal, Kathmandu
Collection date1963/11/25
TMPW No.8785

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative  
location of its administrative area is indicated.  
Production area information
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27.7172453
85.3239605
Collection information
Kingdom of Nepal,Kathmandu
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name
Rasanjana, Ophthalmic Burbery, Tree Turmeric
SynonymsTarksyasailam, Rasajatam, Rasodbhavam, Rasagarbham, Rasagrya, Rasodbhutam, Rasagrajam, Krtaka, Varyanjana, Rasanabha, Agnisaram.
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Original plant nameBerberis aristata DC.
Family nameBerberidaceae
Used partRoot extract
Distribution areaGrows in the Himalayan regions and Nilgiris, above 6000 feet altitude in India and in the Upper Mountain range in Ceylon. It is very common in open busy places at Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains and Hakgala.
Common usesThe crude extract prepared from the root bark known as 'Rasaut' (in Hindi, Rasanjana in Sanskrit), is used as a local application in affections of the eyelids and in chronic ophthalmia. Often it is combined with opium, rock salt and alum. In bleeding piles it is administered internally with butter. Its decoction is also used as a wash for piles. Its ointment made with camphor and butter is applied to pimples and boils. A simple decoction of it with honey is given in jaundice. With the addition of Phyllanthus emblica, the decoction is useful in painful micturition from bilious or acrid urine. Externally decoction of the root bark is used as a wash for unhealthy ulcers to improve their appearance and promote cicatrization. Rasaut mixed with honey is useful application to aphthous sores, abrasions and ulcerations of the skin. In Ceylon a decoction with the root and bark of Berberis aristata is used for dysentery, abdominal colic, nervous diseases, blood and skin diseases and menorrhagia with copious discharge from the womb.
Therapeutic usesVisa (poisoning), Vrana (ulcers), Hiddhma (hiccough), Svasa (asthmatic conditions), Kustha (skin diseases), Chardi (vomiting), Atisara (diarrhoea/diarrhea), Raktapitta (vitiated blood by Pitta), Slesmaroga (disorders of Kapha).
Pharmacological effectBerberine inhibited by c 70% the secretary responses of the heat labile enterotoxins of Vibrio Cholerae Pacini and Escherishia in experimental animals. It produced long lasting, dose related fall in blood pressure when administered into an ear of anaesthetised rabbits. Berberine inhibits the promastigate form of Leishmania donovani. The alkaloid Berberine possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. It also exhibits antineoplastic properties. Berberine has been found to inhibit, in vitro trypsin and chemotrypsin and Shegella boydi, Pseudomonas pyocyanea, E. coli and Proteus Spp.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
Virya (Potency)Sita (Cold)
Guna (Quality)Tiksna (Sharp)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)
Katu (Pungent)
Karma
(General action)
Chedana (piercing), Varnya (improves complexion), Caksusya (good for eyes), Rasayana (rejuvenative), Vrsya (aphrodisiac).
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)
Decreases Pitta Kapha
Traditional usage1. In bleeding piles, Rasanjana (extract of Berberis) boiled with milk until it becomes semisolid. Then one fourth powder of Nimba (neem) leaves is added to it and made into pills.

2. In obesity, Rasanjana, Brhat pancamula* (a group of five roots), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Silajatu (asphalt), and decoction of Agnimantha (Premna mucronata) are useful.

3. Darvi (Berberis aristata) or Rasanjana with cow's urine checks leprosy. Rasanjana should be taken internally for a month and also applied as paste externally.

4. In soft chancre, Rasanjana mixed with Sirisa (Albizia lebbeck) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and also honey should be applied externally. It destroys "Upadamsa" (a genital condition).

5. Rasanjana, Haridra (turmeric), Darvi, Manjista (Rubia cordifolia), Nimba leaves, Trivrt (Operculina turpethum), Tejovati (Zanthoxylum armatum) and Danti (Baliospermum montanum) paste of these drugs destroys sinus. Oil cooked with Rasanjana, Ativisa (Aconitum heterophyllum), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) should be used as snuff.

6. Rasanjana rubbed with breast milk and mixed with honey is useful even in chronic ears with discharge.

7. In eye diseases, Rasanjana with honey or Kasisa (Ferous sulphate) with rocksalt should be applied.

8. Rasanjana with honey is used as collyrium for eye diseases.

9. Rasanjana with honey is applied on the wound.

10. By application of the ash of elephant tusk and Rasanjana hairs grow even on palms.

11. Rasanjana with Laksa (lac) should be taken with goat's milk for meno-metrorrhagia.

12. Rasanjana and Tanduliyaka (Amaranthus spinosus) root mixed with honey and taken with rice water checks all types of uterine bleeding. Similarly Bharngi (Clerodendron serratum) with Sunthi (dry ginger) alleviates bronchial asthma.

13. In Proctitis, Rasanjana is specifically efficacious as intake and paste.

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Brhat pancamula* contains five roots of trees i.e., Bilva, Agnimantha, Syonaka, Patala, and Gambhari.
It pacifies Vata Dosa and Kapha Dosa. It improves appetite and digestion. It is used for the treatment of the diseases related to the digestive and musculoskeletal systems.
Related drugsRasanjan or Rasaut is also prepared from the extract of root bark of other species of Berberis like B. asiatica, B. lycium.
CommentsRasanjana should be purified before using.
ReferencesReference book 

Tips!

[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 2 (Repr.1997), pp 194-196

Indian Materia Medica, Vols. 1-2, 1976 (Repr. 1989). Nadkarni, A.K., Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Bombay
pp 187-189

Medicinal plants (Indigenous and exotic) used in Ceylon, Vols. 1-5, 1982. Jayaweera, D.M.A., The National Science Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo
Vol. 1, p 18

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, p 537

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 192

Last renewal date2024/01/15