KARANJWA

I NFORMATION OF KARANJWA (CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA) AND IT'S UNANI USES

INTRODUCTION

Plants have played a significant role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life for thousands of years and have served humans well as valuable components of medicines, seasonings, beverages, cosmetics and dyes.

Bonducella” the name of the species is derived from the Arabic word “Bonduce” meaning a “little ball” which indicated the globular shape of the seed

The seeds are grey coloured and resemble eyeballs, which explains the Sanskrit name kuberakshi, meaning eyes of kubera, the Hindu God of wealth and also medicine system of Pakistan

Caesalpinia bonducella is an Indian herb, commonly called as Karanjwa.

It is a well known herb of Unani system of medicine

 TAXONOMIC POSITION

 Kingdom : Plantae Phylum : Magnoliophyta Division : Magnoliopsida Class : Angiospermae Order : Fabales Family : Fabaceae / Caesalpiniaceae Genus : Caesalpinia Species : bonducella

REGIONAL / VERNACULAR NAME

Tamil Name According to Singh and Raghav  following regional and vernacular names have been used to describe this plant.

Hindi Name : Kantkarej, Kantikaranja, Sagar Gota.

English Name : Fever nut, bonduc nut, nicker nut, nicker seed

Sanskrit Name : Kakachika, Kantakikaranja, Kantakini, Karanja, Krakachika, Kuberaksah, Kuberakshi, Kuberaksi, Latakaranja, Prakirnah, Tirini, Valli, Varini, Vitapakaranja. Manikandaselvi

Urdu Name : Akitmakit Persian Name: Khayahe-i-iblas

Bengali Name : Nata

Marathi Name : Gajaga

Kannada Name : Gajjiga, Kirigejjuga, Gajikekayi

Malayalam Name: Ban-karetti, Kaka-moullou, Kazhanji, Kalanci, Kajanchikkur

French Name : Bois

Telugu Name : Mulluthige, Gaccakayai: Kalarciver,

HABIT AND HABITAT

 Generally found up to an altitude of 1,000 m in Himalaya and wild throughout the plains on waste lands or coastal areas of India. It is also found in deltaic region of western, eastern and southern India. Found particularly in the seacoast throughout the hotter parts of India, Burma and Sri Lanka and tropical countries of the World. 

MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

 Fatty oil yields glycerides of palmitic, stearic, lignoceric, oleic, and linoleic acids, two phytosterols and a hydrocarbon similar to heptacosane.Study isolated four known cassane-type diterpenes and three new norcassane-type diterpenes Study yielded ten new furanocassane-type diterpenes, caesalpinins H-P and norcaesalpinin F36 from seed kernels, together with 13 known diterpenes.37Seeds contain stearic, palmitic, octadeca -4, octadeca-2, ligoceric, linolenic and oleic acids. They also contain bonducellin, arginine, citrulline and aspartic acid.The seed

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES

Although a lot of pharmacological investigations have been carried out based on the ingredients presence a lot more can still be explored, exploited and utilized

ANTIPYRETIC PROPERTY

Bonduc fruit is also known as a fever nut due to its antipyretic property it is also useful for chest complaints, chronic fevers, earache, hydrocele,  it is also considered a good substitute for quinine

 ANTIDIABETIC / HYPOGLYCEMIC

 Seed extract of Caesalpinia bonducella were subjected to screening of antidiabetic activity in alloxan induced hyperglycemia. The antihyperglycemic action of the extract may be due to blocking of glucose absorption. The drug has the potential to act as antidiabetic as well as antihyperlipidemic activity. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed potent hypoglycemic activity in chronic type 2diabetic model. Both fractions could increase secretion of insulin from isolated islet. Antidiabetic study of ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed significant blood sugar lowering effect of C. bonducella in the type 2 diabetic 

ADAPTOGENIC ACTIVITY

 Caesalpinia bonducella seed coat as well as kernel extracts showed significant antistress activity when administered orally at a dose of 300 mg / kg b.wt.

 ANTIFILARIAL ACTIVITY

Caesalpinia bonducella seed kernel extract and fractions indicating the potential of this plant in providing a lead for new antifilarial drug development.

ANTIESTROGENIC ACTIVITY

 Alcohol seed extract of Caesalpinia bonducella has antiestrogenic property, possibly acting via inhibition of estrogen secretion.

ANTI -INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

The anti-inflammatory activity was studied in rats using the formalin arthritis and granuloma pouch methods. At a dose of 250 mg/kg the extract was found to be effective in the granuloma pouch model and compared favourably with phenylbutazone. The seeds showed a 50% inhibitory activity against carrageenan-induced edema

.Seed oil of karanjwa for massage over pain full joint

.Bandage leaves of karanjwa is useful for inflamed area

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT C.BONDUCELL

--It is very bitter in taste that is why it is colloquially called karwa badam in hindi

 --C. bonducella is used by traditional Siddha practitioners in Malabar regions 

      for psoriasis treatment

 --Flower of c.bonduce is used for treatment of ascitis

 --Root of c.bonduc is used for ulcers take c.bonduc (karanjwa) root

   bark grind add water to make paste apply over ulcers                                   

 -- seeds of karanjwa with a glass of goat milk is useful for liver  

   disease

 --Extract or karanjwa or seed oil of karanjwa with lukewarm oil is

   usefull of paralysis

-- The oil is popular in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of  biliousness.

 --Karanjwa is used to promote wound healing and is traditionally 

   applied as an efficacious remedy for rheumatic joints, scurvy

 --Diseases of the scalp, and psoriasis.

Dr. SYED ABDUL RASHEED
BUMS (INDORE)