Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Saponaria vaccaria L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Saponaria vaccaria L. [Kirtikar,
Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia
Introduction
Based on Ethnobotanical
surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has
documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous
publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj
Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For
complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please
visit pankajoudhia.com
For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt
116. Saponaria Vaccaria., Linn, h.f.b.1.,
i. 217.
Syn. :— ■ S. perfoliata, Roxb. 385.
Vern. :— Musna (Santal. ; H.) ; Sabuni (B.).
Habitat ; — In wheat fields throughout India.
An annual herb, tall robust, simple or sparingly branched,
perfectly glabrous, 12-24 in. high. Leaves 1-3 by -J-f in.,
acute,
cauline, linear-oblong. Radical leaves oblong, cauline
sessile,
base rounded or cordate. Flowers erect in dichotomous cymes.
Pedicels slender, more or less tubular, ^ in., with 5 broad
green
nerves, ventricose in fruit. Calyx-teeth triangular, margins
scarious. Petals short, oborate, rosy. Stamens 10. Styles
two.
Capsule included, broadly ovoid. Seeds large, globose, black,
granulate.
Part used : — The sap. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: All
parts are used both internally as well as externally as medicine.]
Use : — The mucilaginous sap of the plant is used by the
natives in the cure for itch (Murray.)
It is considered by natives to have febrifuge and tonic-
properties in long continued fevers of a low type (S. Arjun.)
The decoction of an allied species, Saponaria officinalis,
has been employed both in France and Germany as an external
application to the itch. It has also been given internally in
gout, rheumatism, and some other disorders.
[Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: Through Ethnobotanical surveys I have collected
information about over 45,000 Herbal Formulations in which Saponaria is added
as secondary and nonary ingredients. In over 7000 Herbal Formulations for skin
diseases Saponaria roots are added as tertiary ingredient. In Traditional
Healing Saponaria is valuable species and there is need to conduct systematic
clinical trials to validate Saponaria based less known but promising Herbal
Formulations. Please see Tables Sapon-1 to Sapon-255 for details.]
Saponaria officinalis contains a principle, called Saponine,
which is
white, amorphous, and has a taste first sweet, then styptic,
and finally acrid.
E-documents on Saponaria
134 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.
It is a powerful sternutatory, and is soluble in water. The
solution froths
when agitated, like soap. When acted on by alkalies, saponine
is converted
into saponic acid. The detergent properties of the plant
appear to depend
on this substance (S'owerby's English Botany).
The Indian species does not seem to have been as yet
chemically
analysed.
Citation
Oudhia, Pankaj (2013).
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Saponaria
vaccaria L.
[Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu.
"Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian
Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com
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