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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713

Kaur Amrinder,, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2


2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS

CUSCUTA REFLEXA ROXB. A PARASITIC PLANT IN AYURVEDA

SHARMA SHIKHA1, KAUR AMRINDER2

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1. Post Graduation Scholar, Lovely School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ayurveda), Lovely


Professional University, Punjab, India
India.
2. Assistant Professor, Lovely School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ayurveda), Lovely
Professional University, Punjab, India
India.

Abstract
Accepted Date:
17/04/2013 Parasitic plants obtain their nutrients from another plant by penetrating

Publish Date: to their host xylem and as well as formulations can be brought into market

27/04/2013 to the host phloem. They absorb water and food stuffs such as sugar and
amino acid
id from their host plant. There are number of parasitic plants
Keywords
which are medicinally important and one among them is Cuscuta reflexa
Cuscuta reflexa,
(Convolvulaceae). It is commonly known as Akashvalli, Amarvalli and
Akashvalli,
Akashvel in Sanskrit. The written evidence of Cuscuta reflexa is available
Parasitic plants,
since medieval period in various Nighantu like Raj Nighantu, Bhavprakash
Amarvel,
Nighantu, Nighantu Adarsh and Shankar Nighantu. The herb has only one
Cuscutin,
formulation, Akashvalli Arka besides having good therapeutic effect. The
Dodder.
present work reviews the information of the plant so that more research
Corresponding Author can be carried out and effective
Ms. Kaur Amrinder

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
INTRODUCTION then it produces a haustorium that insert
themselves into the vascular system of the
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. is a rootless, leafless
host and then its original root will die. It can
perennial parasitic twining herb of
grow and attach itself to multiple plants2.
Convolvulaceae family, commonly known as
The Cuscuta reflexa is investigated for
Akashvalli or Dodder. The plant is
antitumor1, antimicrobial3,
distributed worldwide and in India about 6
hepatoprotective4, anticonvulsant5,
species are found. It has no chlorophyll and
antioxidant6, induced alopecia7 activities.
cannot make its own food by
Many chemical constituents have been
photosynthesis. It grows on thorny or other
isolated from Cuscuta reflexa such as
shrubs, sometimes completely covering the
cuscutin, amarbelin, beta-sterol,
bushes and trees [1]. It spread from one host
stigmasterol, myricetin, qurecetin,
to another, and on each victim, they twine
cuscutamine, luteolin, bergenin8etc.
and cling tightly with special branching
organs called haustorium. Haustorium LITERATURE SURVEY
penetrate the host and connect to the host
Cuscuta reflexa has no reference in Vedic
xylem as well as to the host phloem and
and Samhita kala. It was originated from
absorb from it both water and elaborated
Nighantus.
food stuffs such as sugar and amino acid. It
lives its entire life without attachment to Raj Nighantu
the ground and grows with the help of
The synonyms akashvalli, khavalli, asprsha,
seeds which are minute and produced in
vyomvallika are mentioned. The synonym of
large quantities. Seeds have hard coating,
Akash co-joint with valli (climber) word
and survive in the soil for 5-10 years or
makes the synonym akashavalli.
more. They sprout at or near the surface of
Akashvalli has madhur rasa (sweet taste). It
the soil. The germination of seeds can occur
is pittashamak (cholagogue), rasayana
without a host and for this it has to reach a
(rejuvenative), balavardhak (strengthen
green plant quickly. The herb grows
body) and has the proper;es of divya-
towards the smell of nearby plants. If the
ausadhies9.
host contains food which is beneficial for it,

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
Bhavprakash Nighantu jathragnibardhak (appetizer) and hridya
(cardiotonic). It spreads over Ber and Aadu
Saints says that synonyms of Aakashballi is
trees. It is a rootless climber so it is called as
Amarballri, so akashballi, khaballi,
Akashbel12.
amarballri are the names of Amerbel. It is
tikta (bitter) and kashaya (astringent), Controversial Drugs in Indian Medicine
malasangrhahak (stool binder), pischil
Cuscuta reflexa and Cassyatha filiformis is
(sticky), netraroganashak (eye disorders),
not mentioned in the Vrddhatrayi. Later
jathragnibardhak (appetizer), hridya
writers have included it. Both are parasitic,
(cardiotonic) and destroys the pitta (bile),
yellow in color and exactly resemble each
kapha (cough) and aam (undigestive
other and create controversy. But both are
food)10.
belongs to different families and identifies
Nighantu Adarsh with the help of flowers and fruits. Both
plants are separately growing on the fences
The plant is distributed with the name of
or on the trees13.
aakashbel and amarbel. It is found on some
trees and mentioned under karpurtwakadi Taxonomical classification of Cuscuta
varga. Both Cassytha filiformis and Cuscuta reflexa
reflexa are morphologically same and
Kingdom .Plantae
identified only with the help of its fruit. It is
balya (strengthen body), keshya (hair Subkingdom.Tracheobionta

strengthening), vranropan (wound healer)


Superdivision...Spermatophyta
and vrishya (aphrodisiac)11.
DivisionAngiospermes
Shankar Nighantu
Class.Eudicots
The synonyms are akasvalli, amerbel,
akashbel and aaloklata. Its taste is bitter, SubclassAsterids

yellow colored with white flower. The dose


OrderSolanales
is 1 to12 masa. The properties are pichil
(sticky), netrarog nashak (eye disorders),

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
Family..Cuscutaceae alternate 3mm long, slightly unequal, broadly ovate,
Convolvulaceae obtuse, glabrous and fleshy. Corolla white,
tube 6-8 by 4mm, almost cylindrical, lobes
Genus...Cuscuta
2.5-3mm. long, deltoid, acute, reflexed,
14
Species.reflexa Roxb . scale almost at the base of the corolla, tube
large, oblong, subquadrate or somewhat
Synonyms
ovate, fimbriate and in curved at the apex.
There are many of the synonyms that Stamens in the throat of the corolla tube,
create the controversy in this plant that are filaments scarcely any, anther about
1[15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21]
listed in Table- exserted beyond the top of corolla tube.
Ovary is ovoid; style simple, very short and
Habitat
thick; stigma 2, distinct, large, thick and
This parasitic herbaceous plant climbs over fleshy, 1.5 mm long, ovoid. Capsules 6-8
the shrubs and trees. It is common mm in diameter, depressed-globose,
throughout India, abundant in Bengal glabrous, circumscissile near the base.
plains. It has no root under the ground, but
Seed: - Seeds 2-4, large, black and
only grows as a parasitic twinner on other
glabrous17.
plants, and hence called akaswel (sky-
twinner)20,21. Microscopical Characters

Morphological characters The diagrammatic TS of stem is circular in


outline with narrow depression at places.
Stem: - It is very long, rather stout, closely
Cortex parenchymatous, traversed with few
twining, branched, glabrous, pale greenish
resion cell, pith very wide, parenchymatous,
yellow, sometimes dotted with red.
encircled by a ring of ill developed, conjoint,
Flower: - Solitary or in umbellate clusters of bio-collateral, vascular bundles. The
2-4 or in short racemes, pedicels short,
parenchymatous tissue highly loaded with
glabrous, usually curved (rarely 0), bracts
starch grains.
1.5 mm. long ovate, oblong, obtuse, fleshy.
The detailed TS of stem shows a layer of
Calyx divided almost to the base. Lobes are
epidermis covered with cuticle, occasionally
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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
traversed with stomata, especially at the fimbricate appendages of corolla lobes,
base of notched margin, underneath this epidermal cells of stem of surface view,
line hypodermis consist of a row of fibrous layer of the anther with papillose
parenchymatous cell, almost identical with epidermis , lignified fragments of pericarp,
the cell of the epidermis. Cortex is yellowish coloured spherical pollen grains,
composed of 8 to 15 rows of parenchyma papillose epidermis of corolla, fragments of
cell traversed with few resin ducts. The the testa exhibiting elongated thick walled,
stellar region is composed of a ring of 10 to non-lignified and lignified palisade like cells
15 co-joints, bicollateral, ill developed and hexagonal to rectangular lignified inner
vascular bundles connected with intra- cells of the testa of the seed, fragments of
fascicular band of 4 to 6 rows of thin walled fibers and vessels19.
fibers. Xylem is composed of 2 to 10 vessels
Chemical Constituents
in each of the bundle, phloem tissue not
always associated with xylem but at places Cuscutin10,16,18,19,20,24, amarbelin18,20,
seen above the fibrous band. Pith is wide, cuscutalin10,16,18,19,20, mangiferineS20,25,26,
parenchymatous,cells located in the centre quersetic16, kuskutin16, lactone10, reducing
being bigger than surrounding cells and are sugar10, quercetin22, resins and cuscutine
arranged in the circular fashion. Starch slightly bitter and soluble in ether and

grains plenty, minute, simple, spherical but chloroform22, seed contain fixed oil

few of larger in sizes also are embedded in (3%)10,19, colouring matter (amarbelin)10,19,
the parenchymatous cells of the whole wax19, dulcitol15, laurotetanine (alkaloid) it
section19. create convulsion, if used in large quantity
then cause death15, scoparone, melanettin,
Powder characters
hyperoside, aromadendrin, taxifolin,
Shows plenty of globular to irregular shaped astragalin, myricetin, kaempferol, apigenin
resin masses and starch grains, scattered as 7-O- glucoside, luteolin, quercetin, 6,7
such or embedded in the parenchymatous dimethoxy -2H-1 benzopyran -2-one, 3-(3,4-
cell, elongated resin ducts filled with dihydroxyphenyl) -2- propen- 1- ethanoate,
granular contents in surface view, 6,7,8- trimethoxy- 2H- benzopyran- 2- one,

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
3-(4- O- - D- glucopyranoside- 3,5- Panchang15,16 (whole plant), Lata11 (stem),
dimethoxyphenyl)- 2- propen- 1 ol - Beej11 (seed)
sitosterol, - amyrin, - amyrin, - amyrin
Identity, Purity and Strength
acetate, - amyrin acetate, oleanolic
acetate, oleanolic acetate, oleanolic acid, The Standard values for the quantitative

lupeol, 3- hydroxyolean- 12(13)- ene estimation of constituents in Cuscuta

tridecanoate and heptadecanoate, reflexa are given in Table- 2[18].


coumarin, 3,4-O- dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-
Uses
caffeoylquinic acid, D- mannitol, dulcitol,
myricetin 3- O- - rhamnoside18. Amavata (rheumatic arthritis), grahani
(dysentery), agnimandya (loss of appetite),
Ayurvedic properties
krimighan (anti-microbial), keshya (hair
Rasa (taste):- Kashaya15,16,20 (astringent), strengthening), pittasarak (cholagogue),
Tikta15,16,20 (bitter), Katu11 (pungent), mutrakrish (urine disorder),

Madhur11 (sweet); gandmalanashak (used in cervical


lymphadenitis), plihodar (spleenomagely),
Guna (property):- Pishchil15,16,20 (sticky),
balya (strengthen body), kphapitahara
Ruksha16 (dry), Laghu16 (light);
(reduce kapha and pitta)15,20
15,16, 20
Virya (potency):- Sheeta (cold),
It can also be classified according to part
Ushna11 (hot);
used19
Vipak (metabolic action):- Katu11,15,20
Whole plant: - Infusion is used as a wash
(pungent);
for sores.
Doshakarma:- Kapha-pittahara15,16,20
Stem: - Useful in bilious disorders.
(reduce kapha and pitta), Hridya15,20
(cardiac tonic), Krimighan15,20 (anti- Fruit: - Used in fever and cough.
helmentic)
Seed: - Cold infusion is given as a
depurative and carminative in pains and
stomach-aches.
Part used

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
Another classification according to mode of known as Akashballi, Amarballi and
action16 Akashbel. The plant is astringent and bitter
taste. It has the properties of pishchil
Internally useful in appetizer, digestive,
(sticky), ruksha (dry) and laghu (light). So
liver stimulant, anthelmentic and
the potency according to the properties can
reduces intestinal motility.
be sheeta (cold). The whole plant and stem
Externally useful in inflammation, pain, are generally used for curing diseases like
hair disorder, conjunctivitis and also amavata (rheumatic arthritis), grahani
used against itch and other skin (dysentery), agnimandya (loss of appetite),
.
diseases krimighan (anti-microbial), keshya (hair
strengthening), mutrakrish (urine disorder),
Formulation
gandmalanashak (used in cervical
23
Akashvalli arka lymphadenitis), balya (strengthen body) etc.
The plant need to be explored more so that
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
more formulations can be proposed and
The extensive literature survey reveals that used practically for the treatment of various
Cuscuta reflexa is a medicinally important disorders.
parasitic climbing herb. It is commonly

Table 1: Synonyms of Cuscuta reflexa roxb.

Sanskrit Akashballi, Amarballi, Khaballi, Dusparsha, Swarnalata, Akashbel

Hindi Amerbel, Akashbel, Antarbel, Akasbel, Aftimum, Kasus

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Research Article ISSN: 2277-8713
Kaur Amrinder, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(2): 180-190 IJPRBS
Beng Swarnalata, Aloklata, Algusi, Haldi-algusilata, Haldi-algusi-lutta

Guj. Akasbel ,Amarbel, Antarbel, Akaswel, Amar

Tel. Nulu tega, Sitama purgonalu, Sitamma pogu nalu, Sitama purgonalu

Mal. Akashballi, Mutillattali, Akasagarudakkoti

Farsi Aphtimoon

Marathi Nirmuli, Akashbel, Akashbelya, Antarbelya

Punj. Nirabar, Niradhar, Nilathari, Viradhar, Amil, Zarbuti, Niradhara

Eng. Dordar, Dodder, Dordara vela

Yunani Aphtimoon

Gwalior Amarbel

Duk. Akas-pawan, Amlawel

Pers. Tukhm-i-Kasusa

Table:-2 (Identity, Purity and Strength)

Foreign matter Not more than 2.0 %

Total Ash Not more than 5.0 %

Acid insoluble ash Not more than 1.8 %

Ethanol soluble extractive Not less than 8.0 %

Water soluble extractive Not less than 25.0 %

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