66. Sankha pushpin (W.P.) SANKHAPUSPI (Whole Plant) Saikhapuspi consists of whole plant of Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy (Fam. Convolvulaceae); a prostrate, sub-erect, spreading, hairy, perennial herb with a woody root stock, found throughout the country SYNONYMS Sanskrit Sankhpuspa, Saikhahva Assamese: - Bengali : Sankhapuspi English, : - Gujrati : Shankhavali Hindi Shankhapushpi Kannada: ~—_Bilikantisoppu, Shankhapushpi, Shankhauli Kashmiri - Malayalam: - Marathi Sankhahuli, Shankhavela, Sankhapuspi Oriya : Sankhapuspi Punjabi : Ksirapuspi, Sankhapuspi, Sankhabuli Tamil : Kakattam, Kakkanangudi, Karakhuratt, Sanghupushpam Telugu : Shankhapushpi Urdu - DESCRIPTION ) Macroscopic Root - Usually branched, cylindrical, ribbed having some rough stem nodules and small secondary roots, 1-5 em long, 0.1-0.4 cm thick, yellowish-brown to light brown. Stem - Slender, cylindrical, about 0.1 cm or less in thickness with clear hairy nodes and internodes; light green. Leaf - Shortly petiolate, linear-lanceolate, acute, hairy on both surfaces; 0.5-2 em long and 0.1-0.5 cm broad; light green. Flower - White or pinkish; solitary or in pairs sessile or sub-sessile in the leaf axis; sepals narrowly, linear-lanceolate, sparsely hairy; corolla shortly discoid; stamen 5, free, cpipetalous, alternate with the petals, inserted decp in the corolla tube; ovary superior and bicarpellary. 155Fruit - Capsule, oblong globose with coriaceous, pale brown pericarp. Seed - Brown; minutely puberulous. b) Microscopic Root - Appears nearly circular in outline; cork composed of 10-15 layers of tangentially elongated, thick-walled cells; cortex composed of 6-10 layers of oval to elongated, elliptical, parenchymatous cells and yellowish-brown, tanniniferous, secretory cells present in this region; phloem composed of sieve elements, phloem parenchyma and phloem rays; xylem consisting of usual elements; vessels solitary or in groups of two with simple pits; fibres and tracheids aseptate and pitted; medullary rays 1-3 cells wide and multicellular in length; starch grains solitary or in groups, simple and composed of 2-3 components, round to oval in shape, measuring 3-8 t in dia., present in cortex, phloem, xylem rays and parenchyma. Stem - Shows single layered epidermis, covered with thick cuticle; at places unicellular hairs present; cortex differentiated in two zones, 2-3 upper collenchymatous and 1-2 lower parenchymatous layers, both having round to oval, elongated, thin- walled cells; endoderrnis single layered; pericycle present in the form of single strand of fibres; phloem a narrow zone, mostly composed of sieve elements and parenchyma; xylem consists of vessels, fibres and parenchyma; medullary rays and tracheids not distinct, vessels mostly solitary with spiral thickening; fibres aseptate having pointed ends and narrow lumen; strand of internal phloem present around the slightly lignified pith. Leaf- Midrib - appears convex in lower and concave in upper side; epidermis single layered, covered with thick cuticle; lower epidermis followed by 2-3 layers of chlorenchymatous cells; vascular bundle bicollateral, composed of usual elements of phloem and xylem; rest of tissue between chlorenchyrna and vascular bundles composed of 4-5 layers of parenchymatous cells. Lamina - shows epidermis on both surfaces covered with thick cuticle; hairs unicellular, present on both surfaces, palisade two layered, spongy parenchyma 4-5 layered; a few bicollateral vascular bundles present in spongy parenchyma; palisade ratio 6-9; vein islet number 21-25 per sq. mm. , stomatal index in lower surface 17-20 and in upper surface, 13.8-17.0; stomatal number in lower surface 184-248, and in upper surface 202-238 per sq. mm. Powder - Light yellowish-green; shows groups of vessels with sprial thickening and simple pits, fibres and tracheids, simple and compound starch grains, measuring 3 - 8 jt in dia., unicellular hairs, mesophyll cells and gives positive test for tannin. 156IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH Foreign matter Not more than 2 percent, Appendix 2.2.2. Total Ash, Not more than 17 percent, Appendix 2.2.3 Acidcinsoluble ash Not more than 8 percent, Appendix 2.2.4. Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 6 percent, Appendix 2.2.6, Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 percent, Appendix 2.2.7. CONSTITUENTS - Alkaloid PROPERTIES AND ACTION Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasiya Guns Sara Virya : Sita Vipaka 2 Katu Karma : Balya, Ayusya, Kaphahara, Medhya, Pittahara, Rasayana, Mohanasaka IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS - Brahmi Ghrta, Agastyaharitaki, Rasfyana, Manasmitra Vataka, Gorocanidi Vati, Brahi i Rasayana, Brahma, THERAPEUTIC USES - Manasaroga, Apasmara DOSE - 3-8 g. of the drug in powder form ‘Note: In certain parts of India, Clitoria ternatea Linn. and Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. are used as Saiikhapuspi 157