Classical categorization :- Birechan, mulini.(c.) adhovag-har, shyamadi.(su.) shyamadi.(v.)

Latin Name:- Citrullus colocynthis Family Name:- Cucurbitaceae.-sf]zftsL s'n _ Sanskrit Name:- Indravaruni, gawakshi,

chitra. Nepali Name:- OGb|]0fL English Name:- Colocynth or bitter apple.

Citrullus colocynthis-OGb|jf?0fL_

It is a perennial scabrid prostrate herb or climbing herb with angular stems and bified tendrils. Leaves sinuately pinnatifid. Flowers nomoecious, solitary, axillary, yellow. Fruit globose pepo, 3.5-10.5 cm in diameter, smooth, green mottled with yellow blotches, pulp spongy, bitter. Seeds many, white or light brown.

Flowering in november & Fruiting in jan.

Botanical description:-

Dhanwantri nighantu: three types---1) Indravaruni (c. colocynthis)2) Visala (Trichosanthes palmata)3) Swet pushpi (cucumis trigonus) How ever he specially mentioned former two as

“Indravarunidayam”.Bhav Prakash: two types—4) Indravaruni (c. colocynthis)5) Mahendravaruni (T. bracteata)Bapalal vaidya: four types—6) C. colocynthis7) Cucumis prophetorum8) C. trigonous9) T. palmata

Varieties:

1200-2300mt east to west.

Major chemical constituents:- colocynthin, cucurbitane,

hexanorcucurbitane, citrullol, citrulluin, etc.

Distribution in Nepal:-

Guna: laghu, ruksha, tikshna. Rasa: tikta Vipak: katu. Virya: ushna.

Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Indravaruni(Guna):-

Effect on Doshas : - kaph-pitt har. Systemic: External: Root- bran-soth har, bransodhan. Seed

oil- keshya, bishghna. Internal: DS: Fruit-bark is vamak, fruit-mazza & root are

rechan and krimighna, pitt srawak. CS: Rakt-sodhak, soth-har. RS: Fruit-bark is expectorant. US: Root is prameghna. Rep.S: Root tibra garvasya sankochak. Tem. Root-Jwarghna .

Actions (Karma)

It is used in pittaj & raktaj bikar, aamvatt, jalodar, yakrittudar, plihodar, apasmar, khalitya, idralupta, palitya, prameh, kustha, kash, swash, gandmala.

Classical therapeutic uses:- Indralupta: indralupta root is soaked in cow’s urine for three

days and then applied on the scalp after mixing with cow’s dung and ghee.(G.N)

Unmad: juice from ripen fruit of indravaruni and cow’s urine are given as nasya.(C.D)

Kamla: powder of indravaruni root may be taken with jaggery.(su.ut.44)

Sandhivatt: daily use of indravaruni root , pippali & jaggery 1/1 tola is effective.(B.P)

Gandamala: indravaruni root mixed in cow’s urine is administered.(C.D)

Indication/Uses:-

Dosage:- Fruit powder 125mg-500mg. Root powder 1-3gm.

Important preparation:- Narayan churna, Indravarunakadi churna.

Contraindication:- it should not be used in gestational period, children, lean & thin person & in sprue disease.

Parts used:- Fruit & Root.