Indravaruni

गवादनीद्वं तिक्तं पाके कटु सरं लघु Ι

विर्योष्णं कामलापित्तकफ़प्लीहोदरापहम ΙΙ

श्वासकासापाहं कुष्टगुल्मग्रन्थिव्रप्रनुत Ι

प्रमेहमुढगर्भामगंडामयविषापहम  ΙΙ भ. प्र

Botanical Name :     Citrullus colocynthis.

·        Classification:

§  According To Modern

o   Kingdom –  Plantae

o   Order – Passiflorales

o   Family     – Cucurbitaceae

 According To Ayurveda

• Charak- Mulini, Virechana dravya
• Sushruta- Syamadi gana
• Bhavprakash- Guducyadi varga
• Vagbhata-Shyamadi gana

  Other Names :

Hindi name: Indrayan, Indrayan ki jad (root)
Telugu name: Chedu Puccha, Cinna Papara, Kuturu budama
Malayalam and Tamil name: Pikkumutti.
Kannada name: Tamate Kayi, Tamte Kai
Bengali name: Rakhale Shasa
Punjabi name: kaudatumma
Telugu name: paparabudam
English name: Colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, vine of Sodom

Gujarati : Indrayan

Marathi : kadu – indravani

Spanish : manzana amarga

Arabic : hanthal, hanzal

Sanskrit Name-

Indravallari,Indri-Creeper which is liked by Indra

Gavakshi-which spreads well on the ground

Peetapushpi-flowers are yellow in colour

Marusambhava-can survive on deserts

Varuni-Eliminates Aap Mahabhuta in recana form

Vishaghni-eliminates poisonous substance in body.But it poisonous when excess

Vishala-cures Kamala

Chitra,Gavadani,Mrugadani,Hemapushpi

• General Information :

Habit – a perennial twining herb or climber . usually spreads on the  ground. Stem- slender with bifid hairy tendrils. Root- Goes deep, branched, stout, dull yellowish in colour and cylindrical. Leaves- 4 to 10 cm long, 1.5 to 9 cm wide, deeply 3 to 7 lobed, are densely hirsute. Flowers- Monoecious, pale yellow, axillary and solitary. Fruits- Globose, 5 to 7 cm in diameter, variegated green and pale white, glabrous, turns to yellow on ripening, pulp is very bitter, numerous white or light brown coloured seeds are present.

• Types Of Plant’s
• There are 3 varieties of Indravaruni which was explained in Dhanvantari Nighantu.

1.Indravaruni-Citrullus colocynthis Linn

2.Vishala-Trichosanthes palmata Roxb

3.Shwetapushpi-Cucumis trigonus Roxb

However the former 2 are escribed as ‘Indravarunidwayam.’

While Bhavmishra explained 2 varieties of Indravaruni-

Indravaruni-Citrullus colocynthis Linn

Mahendravaruni-Trichosanthes bracteata Lam

Bapalal Vaidya explaine 4 varieties.these are-

Citrullus colocynthis Linn

Cucumis prophetorum linn

Cucumis trigonus Roxb

Trichosanthes palmata Roxb

• Properties (Gunadharma)
  • Rasa- Tikta, Katu
  • Vipak- Katu
  • Virya- Ushna
  • Guna-Laghu , Ruksa, Tiksna

• Specific Parts

Fruit, root

• Doshaghnata

Kaphapitta samaka, kaphahara

• Shloka’s

गवादनीद्वं तिक्तं पाके कटु सरं लघु Ι

विर्योष्णं कामलापित्तकफ़प्लीहोदरापहम ΙΙ

श्वासकासापाहं कुष्टगुल्मग्रन्थिव्रप्रनुत Ι

प्रमेहमुढगर्भामगंडामयविषापहम  ΙΙ भ. प्र

• Benefits

Pimples :

root and fruit extracts juice used to cure pimples, acne and boils.

Cold and  cough :

It is very effectivel to cure cold and cough.

Hypolipidemic :

The seeds of Citrullus colocynthis can lower the triglyceride and  cholesterol  levels in non-deabetic hyperlipidemic patients.

Kamala ( Jaundice )

In kamala ( jaundice )  indravaruni ( Citrullus colocynthis ) juice mixed  with jaggery is used.

Sandhavata ( Arthritis )

10 gm of mixture of indravaruni ( Citrulluus colocynthis ) root, pippali ( Piper Longum ) and  jaggery is very useful in Sandhivata ( Arthritis ).

Indralupta-

Paste of indravaruni root is prepared by soaking it in cow’s urine for 3 days.This paste is applied over scalp after mixing cowdung and ghee.

Unmada-

Nasya of ripened fruit juice of Indravaruni nd cow’s urine is advisiable in Unmada

Kamala-

To treat the Kamala Indravaruni juice with Jaggery is given

To treat the varicose vein and piles,pulp of Indravaruni should be eaten.

Paste of Indravaruni root is applied over enlarged abdomen of children.

Indravaruni root decoction is given in the treatment of ascites and piles.

To treat the constipation-fruit extract of indravaruni is used.

Seed extract of Indravaruni or immature fruit of Indravaruni has anti-inflammatory and analgesic property.

Indravaruni plant hows great effect on growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer cells.

Oil prepared from dried seeds of Indravaruni(50gm) with 400ml of coconut oil and water is used in Andra pradesh and Tamil nadu in premature greying of hair.

Decoction prepared from fresh Indravaruni plantr is used to treat constipation,abdominal distension and menstrual pain.Dose-5-10ml

Seed powderIndravaruni in a dose of 2-3gram  is administered twice or thrice through out the day to treat food poisoning.This helps in inducing vomiting.

Decoction prepared from Indravaruni seed is used for washing the foot in case of foot ulcers which fromed due to rainy season.

• Formulation (Kalp)

Narayana choorna

Indravaruni moola churna

Mahamanjishtadi Kashayam

Abhayarishta

Mahavishgarbh tail

Mrit Saneevani Sura

• Dosage

Phala Choorna – 125 to 500 mg.

Mula Choorna – 1 to 3 g.

fruit juice-10-20ml

• Chemical Composition :

Its fruit pulp contains cholecynthene, cholecynthetin and a resin which cause purgation. It contains eletin, hentriacotine, phytosterol and a fatty acid  and the root contains saponin.

• Research Corner

The antimicrobial activities of Citrullus colocynthis fruits and 4-methylquinoline analogues were investigated to develop natural preservatives against food borne bacteria. Antimicrobial activities of the  methanol extract and five fractions derived from citrullus colocynthis fruits were evaluated against five food borne bacteria. The chloroform fraction possessed strong activities against five  food borne bacteria.

Side effects-

It should not be used in pregnant women,childrens and seak person