Daruharidra
Berberis aristata (Berberidaceae)
Sanskrit Names: Daruharidra
English Name: Indian berberry
Hindu Name: chitra, dar-hald, rasaut, kashmal
Botanical Name: Daruharidra
Synonyms:
Family: Berberis aristata
Description
Darharidra is an erect spinous shrub, often found in small patches on the bill slopes. It is one of very important medicinal plants. Almost every part of this plant has some medicinal value. Its roots, stem, bark and fruits are used in many ayurvedic preparations.
It is found growing wild in the sub-Himalayan tract at altitude ranging from 850-2,500 metres. It also grows in the Nilgiris and in Ceylon.
Morphology
An erect spiny shrub, ranging between 2 and 3 metres in height wood, hard and yellow; bark, yellow to brown from outside and deep yellow from inside, removable in longitudinal strips by hand; spines (which, in fact, are modified leaves), three-branched and 1.5 cm long.
Leaves, in tufts of 5 to 8, phyllotaxy verticillate, lanceolate, simple spiny, toothed, leathery, sessile, acuminate, with reticulate pinnate venation, 4.9 cm. long, 1.8 cm. broad, deep green on the dorsal surface and light green on the ventral surface.
Flowers, stalked, yellow, complete, hermaphrodite, cyclic, actinomorphic, perigynous, the average diameter of a fully opened flower being 12.5 mm; inflorescence, a simple to corymbose raceme, with 11 to 16 flowers per cluster; calyx, yellow, polysepalous, with 6 sepals (3 small, 3 large), yellow, actinomorphic caducous, 4 to 5 mm long; corolla, polypetalous, with 6 petals, yellow, actinomorphic, 4 to 5 mm long; androecium, polyandrous, with 6 stamens, adnate, 5 to 6 mm long; gynoecium, one, 4 to 5 mm long, with a short style and a broad stigma.
Fruits, globose to ovoid, usually covered with bloom as in plums, 7 mm long, 4 mm in diameter, weighing 227 mg, 237 microlitres in volume; fruit colour, aconite violet 937; colour of pulp and juice, plum purple 934/3.
Seeds, 2 to 5, varying in colour from yellow to pink, each weighing 25 mg and being 29 microlitres in volume.
Flowering and fruiting season
Flowering in Berberis aristata DC. starts from the first fortnight of March and remains in progress up to the end of April. The peak flowering season under Solan conditions was recorded to be from 8-25 April. The fruits start ripening from the second week of May and continue to do so throughout June. They can be retained on the shrub after ripening for quite a long period, but they fall off soon after the onset of rains. The fruiting season, therefore, ends abruptly with the commencement of the rainy season.
Principle Constituents
Classical Categories (Gana)
This herb belongs to the following classical groups:
Energetics
Chemical Constituents
Berberine, oxycanthine, roots and bark contain yellow alkaloid berboine. Fruit contains citric and
malic acids.
Ayurveda Actions
Important Actions
Excellent in jaundice. Increases bile secretion. Good for healing wounds. Main action is anti-inflammatory.
Indications
Diseases: liver disorders, bleeding piles, pandu, kamala – jaundice, agnimandya, pravahika, aroochi – loss of taste, bleeding disorders, rakta pitta, rakta pradara – menorrhagia, shweta pradara, umada – insanity, kustha, kandu, jwara, general weakness.
External: inflammatory and painful disorders, netra vikara – eyes, conjunctivitis, swelling on eyes, karna roga, karna shula, putikarna – puss formation, STDs, ganda mala cervical and lymph systems, bhagandara – fistula, visarpa, mukharoga, vrana and nadi vrana – deep sinus wounds.
Therapeutic uses: root-bark used for various skin disorders, menorrhagia, diarrhoea, eye infections. Decoctions of root bark given in malarial fever, leucorrhea, ophthalmic, jaundice, fevers. Satva of daruharidra known as rasanjana. Great for malaria. Take one capsule before going into malaria territory and use for malaria fever.
Precautions
Pregnancy; disorders of Vāta and nervous system.
Safety
No known drug/herb interactions.
Parts Used
Parts used: Root, stem, fruit.
Dosage: Root bark juice: 12-24gm; decoction 50-100ml, extract 0.5-1gm or 1-2gms (for severe symptoms. Fruit 6-12gms.
Important Combinations
Preparations: Darvyadi kwatha – deva daryadi kwatha, leha, taila, rasanjana churna, chandraprabha vati-weight and diabetes for excess meda and kapha, chandanadi vati – skin herbs, khadiri arista, phalatrikadi kwatha, vishagarbha taila. Tumeric 1⁄4 tsp with warm water for losing weight add honey.
Research
