Pashanbheda

Biological Source

Pasanabheda consists of rhizomes of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb., Syn. Bergenia ligulata (Wall.) Engl. (Family - Saxifragaceae), a small perennial herb found throughout temperate Himalayas from Bhutan to Kashmir at an altitude between 2000-3000 m and in Khasia hills upto 1200 m altitude..

Synonyms

Sanskrit :- Asmabhedaka, Silabheda

Assam :- Patharkuchi

Bengali :- Patharkuchi, Himasagara, Patrankur

English :- -----------------

Gujrati :- Pashanbheda, Pakhanbheda

Hindi :- Pakhanabheda, Silphara, Patharcua, Pakhanabhed, Silpbheda

Kannada :- Alepgaya, Pahanbhedi, Hittaga, Pasanaberu, Hittulaka

Kashmiri :- Pashanbhed

Malayalam :- Kallurvanchi, Kallurvanni, Kallorvanchi

Marathi :- Pashanbheda

Oriya :- Pasanbhedi, Pashanabheda

Punjabi :- Kachalu, Pashanbhed

Tamil :- Sirupilai

Telugu :- Kondapindi

Urdu :- ------------

Description

A) Macroscopic

Rhizome, solid, barrel shaped, cylindrical, 1.5-3 cm long and 1-2 cm in diameter with small roots, ridges, furrows and root scars distinct, tranversely cut surface shows outer ring of brown coloured cork, short middle cortex, vascular bundles and large central pith, odour, aromatic, taste, astringent.

B) Microscopic

Transverse section of rhizome shows cork divided into two zones, outer a few layers of slightly compressed and brown coloured cells, inner zone multilayered consisting of thin-walled tangentially elongatd and colourless cells, followed by a single layered cork cambium and 2-3 layers of secondary cortex composed of thick-walled, tangentially elongated, rectangular cells with intercellular spaces, some cells contain rosette crystals of calcium oxalate and simple starch grains cortex a narrow-zone of parenchymatous cells containing a number of simple starch grains, most of cortical cells also contain large rosette crystals of calcium oxalate, endoderm is and pericycle absent. vascular bundles, arranged in a ring, collateral, conjoint and open, phloem tissues cornposed of sieve elements and parenchyma, in outer region found as compressed masses while in inner region intact. a number of rosette crystals of calcium oxalate also found as crystal fibres, cambium present as continuous ring composed of 2-3 layers of thinwalled, tangentially elongated cells, xylem consist of fibres, tracheids, vessels and parenchyma, with centre occupied by large pith composed of circular to oval, parenchymatous cells, varying in size and containing starch grains with crystals of calcium oxalate similar to those found in cortical region.

Identity, Purity and Strength

Foreign matter :- Not more than 2 per cent,

Total Ash :- Not more than 13 per cent,

Acid-insoluble ash :- Not more than 0.5 per cent,

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

Water-soluble extractive :- Not less than 15 per cent,

Active Constituents

Tannic acid, gallic acid and glucose

Properties and Action

Rasa :- Tikta, Kasaya

Guna :- Laghu

Virya :- Sita

Vipaka :- Katu

Karma :- Bhedana, Vastisodhana, Asmarighna, Mutravirecaniya

Important Formulations

Asmarihara Kasaya Churna, Mutravirechaniya Kasaya Churna

Therapeutic Uses

Asmari, Meha, Mutrakicchra

Dose

3-6 g of the drug in powder form

20-30 g of the drug for decoction