Ativish, Ativisa

Biological Source

Ativisa consists of dried, tuberous roots of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex. Royle (Family - Ranunculaceae), a perennial herb, native of western Himalayas and found in Garhwal, Kumaon and Kashmir at altitude between 2,500-4,000 m.

Synonyms

Sanskrit :- Aruna, Ghunapriya, Visa

Assamese :- Aatich

Bengali :- Ataicha

English :- Atis Root

Gujrati :- Ativishni Kali, Ativikhani Kali

Hindi :- Atis

Kannada :- Ativisha, Athihage

Kashmiri :- Kath

Malayalam :- Atividayam, Ativitayam

Marathi :- Ativisha

Oriya :- Atushi

Punjabi :- Atisa, Atees

Tamil :- Atividayam

Telugu :- Ativasa

Urdu :- Atees

Description

A) Macroscopic

Roots, ovoid-conical, tapering downwards to a print, 2.0-7.5 cm long, 0.4-1.6 cm or more thick at its upper extremity, gradually decreasing in thickness towards tapering end, externally light ash-grey, white or grey-brown, while internally starch white, external surface wrinkled marked with scars of fallen rootlet and with a rosette of scaly rudimentary leaves on top: fracture, short, starchy, showing uniform white surface, marked towards centre by 4-7 concentrically arranged yellowish-brown dots, corresponding to end of fibrovascular bundles traversing root longitudinally taste, bitter with no tingling sensation.

B) Microscopic

Transverse section of mature root shows, single layered epidermis consisting of light brown tabular cells rupturing on formation of cork, cork consists of 5-10 rows of tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, cork cambium single layered consisting of tangentially elongated, thin-walled cells, cortex much wider consisting of tangentially elongated or rounded, thin-walled parenchymatous cells with intercellular spaces, cells fully packed with both simple as well as compound starch grains, compound starch gains composed of 2-4 components of spherical body, endodermis distinct composed of barrelshaped cells, elements of vascular bundles poorly developed, vascular bundles, arranged in a ring, inter-fascicular cambium present in form of a ring composed of few layered thin-walled cells, central core consisting of thin-walled parenchymatous cells, possessing starch grains similar to those found in cortical cells.

C) Powder

Ash coloured to light brown, under microscope shows abundant simple and compound starch grains and parenchymatous cells.

Identity, Purity and Strength

Foreign matter :- Not more than 2 per cent,

Total Ash :- Not more than 4 per cent,

Acid-insoluble ash :- Not more than 1 per cent,

Alcohol-soluble extractive :- Not less than 6 per cent,

Water-soluble extractive :- Not less than 24 per cent,

Active Constituents

Alkaloids (atisine, dihydroatisine, hetisined and heteratisine).

Properties and Action

Rasa :- Katu, Tikta

Guna :- Laghu, Ruksa

Virya :- Usna

Vipaka :- Katu

Karma :- Dipana, Pacana, Samgrahika, Kaphapittahara.

Important Formulations

Mahavisagarbha Taila, Rodhrasava, siva Guika, Lakasminarayana Rasa, Rasnairndadi Kvatha Churna, Sudarsana Churna, Panchatikta Guggul Ghruta, Bala Chaturbhadrika Churna

Therapeutic Uses

Krmiroga, Jvara, Kasa, Chardi, Amatisara

Dose

0.6-2.0 g of the drug in powder form.