Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameKarada eta
Formal nameKaranja
Other names   

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Karanda, Magulkaranda (Sin), Karanj (B), Karanj (H), Hongemara (K), Ungu (M), Kanugacettu (Te), Pongmaram (Ta)
English nameIndian Beech
Original plant namePongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (= Pongamia glabra Vent.), Indian Beech
Family nameLeguminosae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification seed
Collection informationDemocratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa
Collection date1980/01/27
CollectorTsuneo Namba, et al.
TMPW No.6378

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative  
location of its administrative area is indicated.  
Production area information
https://ethmed.toyama-wakan.net/img/pin_san.png
7.940338400000001
81.01879839999992
Collection information
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,Polonnaruwa
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name
Karanja (Seeds), Indian Beech
SynonymsManjaripuspa, Lajapuspa, Prakiryaka, Chayapriya, Naktamala, Prakirya, Udakiryaka, Udakirya, Kiryaka, Kacchudara, Gucchaka, Guccha, Gajakaranja, Karaja, Ciravilvaka, Gucchapuspaka, Ghrtapura, Snigdhapatra, Putikarna, Prakirna, Matrinanadana, Putikaranja, Putika, Kaidarya.
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Original plant namePongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (= Pongamia glabra Vent.)
Family nameLeguminosae
Used partRoot, Bark, Leaves, flowers, Seeds, Oil.
Distribution areaOccurs in India, Ceylon, Malaya, Australia, Polynesia and Philippine islands. It is common in the low country in Ceylon on banks of streams and rivers, especially near the coast.
Common usesSeeds are anthelmintic, haematinic/hematinic, febrifuge, tonic and carminative and are useful in the treatment of inflammations, otalgia, lumbago, pectoral diseases, chronic fevers, bronchitis, whooping cough, hydrocele, haemorrhoids/hemorrhoids and anaemia. Seeds crushed to paste are used for leprous sores, skin diseases, and painful rheumatic joints. Oil obtained from the seeds is antiseptic, anthelmintic, styptic, depurative and a parasiticidal and is useful in chronic eczema, psoriasis, scabies, ringworm, pityriasis, herpes, leprosy and ulcers. Internally the oil is used as stomachic and cholagogue in cases of dyspepsia with sluggish liver. Stem bark is acrid and hot and cures vaginal diseases, intestinal obstruction, phantom tumour/tumor, piles, abdominal and splenic enlargement. Roots are good for cleaning foul ulcers, cleaning teeth, strengthening gums and gonorrhoea/gonorrhea. Root paste is used for local application in scrofulous enlargements.
Therapeutic usesUdavarta (disorders due to suppression of urges), Bhutaghna (removes the ill effects of invisible forces), Gulma (phantom tumour/tumor), Vrana (ulcer), Krmi (worm infestation), Vatarsa (haemorrhoids/hemorrhoids due to Vata dosa), Visa (poisoning), Vicarcika (a kind of skin disease), Nayana puspa (eye disease), Vistambha (constipation), Vatarti (disorders of Vata).
Pharmacological effectExperiments conducted on Swiss albino rats with sterile aqueous extract of the seeds and roots showed that the plant extracts are non-toxic and safe for systemic use. The seed extract also showed significant antiviral property against herpes simplex viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2 cell lines at a concentration of 1mg./ml (w/v) and 20mg/ml (w/v) respectively. Albino rats treated with aqueous extract of the seeds recovered faster from induced infection and skin burn than the untreated ones. Karanjin is the active principle responsible for the curative effect of the oil in skin diseases. Chemical experiments indicate that it is free from the highly irritating and inflammatory effects of coumarin compounds. Oil and its active component Karanjin possess insecticidal and antibacterial properties. Karanjin is highly toxic to fish. Pongamol exhibits comparatively mild toxicity. Alcoholic extracts of oil showed activity against both gram positive and gram negative organisms such as Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, M. pyogenes var. albus, M. pyogenes var. citreus, Bacillus subtilis, corynibacterium diphtheriae, Salmonella typhosa, S. paratyphi A and B and Escherichia coli. Karanjin suppressed the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (in dilutions of 10-5) H37Rv.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent), Kasaya (Astringent)
Virya (Potency)Usna (Hot)
Guna (Quality)Laghu (Light), Tiksna (Sharp)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)
Katu (Pungent)
Karma
(General action)
Bhedana (purgative), Bhutaghna (eradicates the ill effects of unseen forces), Diptida (improves digestive fire), Pacaka (improves digestion), Caksusya (good for eyes).
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)
Decreases Kapha Vata, increases Pitta
Avayava
(Action on organ)
Good for eye
Traditional usage1. Water mixed with the ash of blue lotus and honey, Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) with honey and ghee, checks intrinsic haemorrhage/hemorrhage.

2. One suffering from intrinsic haemorrhage should take warm salt and Karanja with curd for three days.

3. For washing decoction of Karanja, Nimba (neem), Jati (Jasminum officinale) and Pilu (Salvadora persica) should be used in sinus.

4. Decoction of Karanja, Nimba and Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) kills organisms in the wounds.

5. Seeds of Karanja are powdered after removing the outer layer. It is impregnated with juice of Snuhi (Euphorbia spp.) and dried in sun. Oil extracted from this is used for external and internal use. It alleviates abscess.

6. Intake of Karanja seed, Sunthi (dry ginger) pounded with decoction of Karanja alleviates abscess.

7. Karanja seeds mixed with sesamum and mustard and Dugdhika (Euphorbia thymifolia) mixed with castor seeds alleviates "Visphota" (eruptive boils).

8. Kasisa (iron sulphate) and tender leaves of Karanja are taken and pounded with the juice of Kapittha (Limonia acidissima). It is used as re-pilatory agent.

9. Pippali (Piper longum), Karanja fruit mixed with Vidanga (Embelia ribes) is useful as snuff in worms, skin diseases and vitiation of Kapha.

10. Kustha (Saussurea lappa), Karanja and Cakramarda (Cassia occidentalis) make good paste for "Mahakushta" (a kind of skin disease).

11. In Vata covered with fat, paste of Karanja and mustard mixed with cow's urine should be applied.

12. In pterygium after removing the bandage on the third day it should be sprinkled with milk processed with Karanja seed.

13. Flowers of Karanja, Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Slesmataka (Cordia dichotoma), Katabhi (Albizzia lucida) mixed with curd are applied as paste on the affected area in scorpion sting.

14. In "Urustambha" (a vatika disorder), Agnimantha (Premna mucronata) and Karanja should be decocted in water and the affected part should be sprinkled there with or they should be pounded with urine and used as paste.

15. Hot paste of dried radish or Karanja bark should be applied in "Granthi visarpa" (a kind of skin disease).
FormulationKaranjadya ghrta, Karanjadya curna, Karanjadi taila.
CommentsIn the nighantus three varieties of Karanja are described. They are Karanja, putika and cirabilva. Leaves of Karanja is said to be light, hot in quality, pungent in taste. It is bhedana (purgative) and removes krmi (worm infestation). It pacifies Kapha and Vata. It is said to be pittala (aggravates Pitta). Fruit is said to be kaphavatahara (pacifies Kapha and Vata). It reduces arsas (haemorrhoids/hemorrhoids) and krmi (worm infestation). Tender leaf bud is said to be pungent in taste and post digestive effect. It is said to be very good dipana (increases digestive fire) and pacana (digestive). It pacifies kapha and vata. It removes visa (poisoning) and arsas (haemorrhoids). Oil of karanja is said to be sharp and hot in quality. It removes krmi (worm infestation). It aggravates blood and Pitta. It helps in vatarti (disorders of Vata).

Karanja is included in virecana, katukaskandha, tiktaskandha gana by Caraka. Susruta includes it in aragvadhadi, varanadi, syamadi, sirovirecana gana.

The name Karanja means that which colours water. Gucchapuspaka means its flowers are in bunches. Manjaripuspa means it has inflorescence. Naktamala means it looks beautiful in the night. Snigdhapatraka means its leaves are smooth.
ReferencesReference book 

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[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 4 (Repr.1997), pp 339-344.

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. 3, p 229.

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, p 144.

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 81.

Last renewal date2023/12/21