Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Citrullus colocynthis & its Pharmacognocy
1. Classical categorization :-
Birechan, mulini.(c.) adhovag-
har, shyamadi.(su.) shyamadi.(v.)
Latin Name:- Citrullus colocynthis
Family Name:- Cucurbitaceae.-sf]zftsL s'n
_
Sanskrit Name:-
Indravaruni, gawakshi, chitra.
Nepali Name:- OGb|]0fL
English Name:- Colocynth or bitter apple.
2. It is a perennial scabrid prostrate herb or
climbing herb with angular stems and bified
tendrils. Leaves sinuately pinnatifid. Flowers
nomoecious, solitary, axillary, yellow. Fruit
globose pepo, 3.5-10.5 cm in
diameter, smooth, green mottled with yellow
blotches, pulp spongy, bitter. Seeds
many, white or light brown.
Flowering in november & Fruiting in jan.
3. Dhanwantri nighantu: three types---
1) Indravaruni (c. colocynthis)
2) Visala (Trichosanthes palmata)
3) Swet pushpi (cucumis trigonus)
How ever he specially mentioned former two as
“Indravarunidayam”.
Bhav Prakash: two types—
1) Indravaruni (c. colocynthis)
2) Mahendravaruni (T. bracteata)
Bapalal vaidya: four types—
1) C. colocynthis
2) Cucumis prophetorum
3) C. trigonous
4) T. palmata
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. 1200-2300mt east to west.
Major chemical constituents:-
colocynthin, cucurbitane, hexanorcucurbitane
, citrullol, citrulluin, etc.
11. Effect on Doshas : - kaph-pitt har.
Systemic:
External: Root- bran-soth har, bransodhan.
Seed oil- keshya, bishghna.
Internal:
DS: Fruit-bark is vamak, fruit-mazza & root
are rechan and krimighna, pitt srawak.
CS: Rakt-sodhak, soth-har.
RS: Fruit-bark is expectorant.
US: Root is prameghna.
Rep.S: Root tibra garvasya sankochak.
Tem. Root-Jwarghna .
12. It is used in pittaj & raktaj
bikar, aamvatt, jalodar, yakrittudar, plihodar, apasmar,
khalitya, idralupta, palitya, prameh, kustha, kash, swash
, gandmala.
Classical therapeutic uses:-
Indralupta: indralupta root is soaked in cow’s urine for
three days and then applied on the scalp after mixing
with cow’s dung and ghee.(G.N)
Unmad: juice from ripen fruit of indravaruni and cow’s
urine are given as nasya.(C.D)
Kamla: powder of indravaruni root may be taken with
jaggery.(su.ut.44)
Sandhivatt: daily use of indravaruni root , pippali &
jaggery 1/1 tola is effective.(B.P)
Gandamala: indravaruni root mixed in cow’s urine is
administered.(C.D)
13. Dosage:- Fruit powder 125mg-500mg.
Root powder 1-3gm.
Important preparation:- Narayan
churna, Indravarunakadi churna.
Contraindication:- it should not be
used in gestational period, children, lean
& thin person & in sprue disease.