Kapila, Kampillaka

Biological Source

Kampilla consists of glands and hairs of fruit of Mallotus philippinensis Muell . Arg. (Family - Euphorbiaceae), a very common perennial shrub or small tree found in outer Himalayas ascending to 1500 m, mature fruits collected in February-March, reddish brown powder collected in cloth by shaking and rubbing the fruits with hands.

Synonyms

Sanskrit :- Rajanaka, Kampillaka

Assam :- Lochan

Bengali :- Kamlagudi

English :- Kamala

Gujrati :- Kapilo

Hindi :- Kabila

Kannada :- Kapila, Chandrahettu, Kapilathettu

Kashmiri :- Kameelak

Malayalam :- Kampippala, Kampipalu

Marathi :- Shendri, Kapila

Oriya :- Kamalagundi

Punjabi :- Kamila

Tamil :- Kamala, Kampila

Telugu :- Kampillamu

Urdu :- Kamila

Description

A) Macroscopic

Fine, granular powder, dull-red or madder-red coloured, floating on water.

B) Microscopic

Under microscope glands appear depressed and globular, containing deep-red coloured resin, secreted by many club shaped cell radiating from a common centre, a number of stellate trichomes present, trichomes thick-walled, branching lignified with smooth margins, yellow coloured, arranged in small radiating groups.

Identity, Purity and Strength

Foreign matter :- Not more than 2 per cent,

Total Ash :- Not more than 6 per cent,

Acid-insoluble ash :- Not more than 4 per cent,

Alcohol-soluble extractive :- Not less than 50 per cent,

Water-soluble extractive :- Not less than 1.0 per cent,

Active Constituents

Resinous colouring matter (rottlerin)

Properties and Action

Rasa :- Katu

Guna :- Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna

Virya :- Usna

Vipaka :- Katu

Karma :- Krmighna, Vranapaha, Virecana

Important Formulations

Dhanvantara Ghrta, Misraka Sneha

Therapeutic Uses

Adhmana, Gulma, Krmiroga, Vibandha, Vrana

Dose

0.5-1.0 g of the drug in powder form.