Adansonia digitata (GORAKSHA) Medicinal uses, Morphology, Images,Side effects, Pharmacology
Botanical Name: Adansonia digitata Linn.
Family: Bombacaceae
Introduction:
Latin name: Adansonia =. after an eminent French scientist and traveller; digitata = finger shaped.
Names in different Indian languages
|
English |
Baobab, Monkey Bread tree, African calabash |
|
Hindi |
|
|
Kannada |
|
|
Malayalam |
|
|
Sanskrit |
GORAKSHA |
|
Tamil |
Papparapuli |
|
Telugu |
|
|
Unani |
Gorakh Imli. |
|
Folk |
Gorakh Imli; Gorakh Chinchaa. |
Synonyms
Sheet-phala, Ravanaamlikaa, Gorakshi, Panchparni
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
|
Charaka |
|
|
Susrutha |
|
|
Vagbhata |
|
Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Morphology
It is a huge tree. Base of the stem is bigger than any other tree, It bears bottle or cucumber shaped fruits which are surrounded by a hard shell and have greenish yellow cilia
Leaves – trifoliate
Flower – yellowish
Distribution & Habitat
Native to tropical Africa; common along the west coast of India.
Chemical constituents:
Vitamin C, B1 , glycoside
Properties:
Kernel of the fruit - cardio tonic, sheeta and laxative. Leaves - astringent. Bark -sheeta, appetizer, astringent and causes lowering of heart rate, Because of their resin ointment, the leaves are used for local application in inflammations
Karma -
antidysenteric, antiseptic, antihistaminic, Cooling, refrigerant
Srotogamitva:
Dhatu: Rakta (alleviates pitta in the blood). rasa (fever).
Male,: Purisha (antidiarrhoeal).
Organs: Respiratory system, heart (reduces the pulse rate).
Indication:
sickle cell anaemia, bronchial asthma, allergic dermatitis , urticaria
Part used:
Bark, leaf, fruit , root
Dosage:
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Uses: Fever - kernel of the fruit in a dose of I to 2 gms. is given in typhoid fever. Juice of the kernel reduces the temperature. Thirst - juice of the kernel along with sugar reduces thirst, Fever - Decoction of the bark is used to reduce the pulse rate.
Juice of the kernel alleviates night sweats. Respiratory tract - A mixture of pulp of the fruit 1.5 gms + dry fig totally cures asthma. Juice of the kernel is given in dysentery, diarrhoea and acid-peptic disorders. Paris used: Fruits, leaves and bark
