Lavang, Clove

Biological Source

Lavanga is the dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (Linn.) Merr. & L.M. Perry Syn. Eugenia aromatica Kuntze, Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. (Family - Myrtaceae), a tree. cultivated in many parts of the. world and also to a considerable extent in South India. flower buds collected twice a year, In the months of October and February when they change colour from green to crimson, dried carefully and separated from their peduncles.

Synonyms

Sanskrit :- Devapuspa

Assam :- Lavang, Lan, Long

Bengali :- Lavang

English :- Clove

Gujrati :- Lavang, Laving

Hindi :- Lavanga, Laung

Kannada :- Lavanga

Kashmiri :- Rung

Malayalam :- Karampu, Karayarnpoovu, Grampu

Marathi :- Lavang

Oriya :- Labanga

Punjabi :- Laung, Long

Tamil :- Kirambu, Lavangam

Telugu :- Lavangalu

Urdu :- Qarnful, Laung

Description

A) Macroscopic

Flower bud measuring 10-17.5 mm in length, dark brown or dusty red, consisting of a sub-cylindrical, slightly flattened, four sided hypanthium, readily exuding oil when pressed hypanthium containing in its upper portion a two celled inferior ovary with numerous ovules attached to a axile placenta, surmounted by four thick, divergent sepals and covered by unopened corolla consisting of four membranous imbricate petals, frequently detached, enclosing numerous incurved stamens and one erect-style, odour, strongly aromatic, taste, pungent, aromatic followed by slight tingling of the tongue.

B) Microscopic

Transverse section of hypanthium shows epidermis and calyx teeth composed of straight walled cells, With thick cuticle having large anomocytic stomata, hypanthium tissue spongy, clusters of calcium oxalate crystals varying in size from 6-20 μ in diameter, small number of stone cells and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate present in stalk, stamens, each with an oil gland in the apex of the connective, triangularly centricular pollen grains, 15-20 μ in diameter anther walls showing a typical fibrous layer, schizolysigenous glands found in all parts of clove, occasional isolate pericyclic fibres present.

Powder - Dark brown, fragments of parenchyma showing large oval, schizolysigenous oil cavities, spiral tracheids and a few rather thick-walled, spindle shaped fibres, calcium oxalate crystals in rosette aggregates, 10-15 μ in diameter, fragments of anther walls with characteristic reticulated cells pollen grains numerous, tetrahedral, 15-20μ. in diameter.

Identity, Purity and Strength

Foreign matter :- Not more than 2 per cent,

Total Ash :- Not more than 7 per cent,

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

Alcohol-soluble extractive :- Not less than 3 per cent,

Water-soluble extractive :- Not less than 9 per cent,

Volatile oil :- Not less than 15 per cent,

Active Constituents

Essential oils (Eugenalacetate and Caryophyllene)

Properties and Action

Rasa :- Katu, Tikta

Guna :- Laghu, Tiksna

Virya :- Sita

Vipaka :- Katu

Karma :- Sulahara, Dipana, Kasahara, Kaphapittasamaka, Pacana, Rucya.

Important Formulations

Lavangadi Vati, Lavangadi Churna

Therapeutic Uses

Amlapitta, Svasa, Chardi, Adhmana, Hikka, Kasa, Ksaya, Trsna

Dose

0.5-2.0 g of the drug in powder form