SUDARSHANA

Botanical Source

Sudarshana consists of dried bulbs and roots of Crinum asiaticum Linn.

Family Amaryllidaceae

Common Names

Hindi : Sudarshana/ Chinder/ Chintaara/ Badakanvar

Bengali : Sukhadarshana/ Banakanur

Oriya : Arsa/ Arisa/ Hatikanda

Tamil :Vishapungila

Telagu : Kesarchettu/ Vishamugali

Kannada : Vishamugali

Unani : Sukhdarshan

English : Poison bulb/ Crinum Lily/ Spider Lily.

Distribution

It is found throughout tropical Indian subcontinent, Ceylon as wild or cultivated. It is distributed also South China, Java, Timor and other areas of Malayan Islands, Pacific regions and extends to N. and E. Australia. It is native to tropical Asia and now it is a favorite landscape / ornamental plant.

Botanical Description

Habitat : Habit: An ornamental tuberous, perennial herb, root stock bulbous, bulb extended as neck to, or above ground level as pseudostem.

Bulb (pseudostem) : gowning upto 1.2 m., the bulb it self is unusual because there is not much to it. From the basal plate the stout leaves make a pseudostem that can reach a foot or more above ground.

Leaves : Inflorescence: Many flowered (20-50), umbellate cyme on a stout scape and subtended by 2- large spathaceous bracts.

 

 

Chemical Constituents

Crinamine, lycoricidine, hamayne (bulbispermine, demethylcrinamine), isocraugsodine, palmilycorine, lycoriside, ambelline, crinasiatin, hippadine, bakonine, pratorimine, crinine, powelline, ungeremine, criabetaine, criasbetaine, crinasiadine, crinasiatine, phenanthridine II and others. Lycorine and related phenanthridine alkaloids. Root contains alkaloid narcissine (lycorine) & bulb contains lignanophenanthridine alkaloid - crinasiatine and crinasidadine.

Properties and Action 

Rasa: Madhura, Tikta

Guna: Ruksha, Teekshna

Veerya: Ushna

Vipaaka: Madhura

Karma: Kaphavaatashamaka.

Pharmacological Activities

Emetic, diaphoretic, purgative, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antitumour, mast cell degranulation, antimitotic and membrane stabilizing.

Therapeutic Uses for Bulb/ Root stock/ Tuber (pseudostem):

Biliousness, diaphoretic, earache, elephantiasis, expectorant, stranguary, tonic, urinary troubles, thermogenic, expectorant, vulnerary, laxative, carminative, anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, nauseant, emetic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and useful in vitiated conditions of pitta and kapha, cough, bronchitis, tumours, wounds, dyspepsia, flatulence, urinary troubles, strangury, intermittent fever and general debility.

The bulb of the so called Crinum asiaticum Linn. is made official as an emetic, nausent and diaphoretic. Roasted bulb is externally used as rubefacient in rheumatism13. For internal use bulb bruised in to a paste, and juice which proves emetic after a few minutes; in smaller quantities it is nauseant and diaphoretic. The fresh root is nauseant and emetic, and acts without causing gripping or purging. It is also diaphoretic. Bulb in full doses possesses emetic properties and in small doses it is nauseant and diaphoretic. The powdered bulb is commonly used as an alexipharmic.

Part Used : Bulb, rootstock, tuber (pseudostem).

Formulation : Sudarshana ghana vati

Dose :

• Bulb Powder : 1-2 gm
• Juice of bulb:   56-112ml (as emetic)
• Leaves Juice : 5 to 10ml