Talk:Bijaka
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Bijaka |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., popularly known as Bijaka, Malabar Kino, or Indian Kino Tree, is a large, deciduous tree native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In Ayurveda, it is highly revered for its anti-diabetic (Prameha), skin-protective (Kustha), and Kapha-Vata pacifying properties.[1]
English Name
Malabar kino, Indian kino
Therapeutic Use
Worms infestation (Krimiroga), Psoriasis (Kustha), Diabetes mellitus (Prameha), Anaemia (Pandu), Obesity (Medodosa)[1]
Other Varieties / Other Botanical names
- Pterocarpus marsupium f. acuminata (Prain)
- Pterocarpus marsupium f. acuta Prain
- Pterocarpus marsupium f. biloba (Roxb. ex G. Don)
Identification Characters
- Pivara – Trunk of Bijaka is very large.
- Mahasarja – Bijaka is big tree like that of Sarja (Vateria indica).
- Tishya – Bijaka blossoms in Pushya masa (Late winter).
- Sugandhi – Flowers are aromatic.
- Pitasara – Heart wood of Bijaka is yellow in colour.
- Pitashalaka – Heart wood is yellow in colour and resemble heart wood of Sala (Shorea robusta).
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
- Pitasara – Heart wood of Bijaka is yellow in colour.
- Pitashaalaka – Heart wood is yellow in colour and resemble heart wood of saala (Shorea robusta).
- Bandhukpushpa
- Priyaka
- Sarjaka
- Asana
Synonyms in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
- Bijaka
- Pitasara
- Pitashalaka
- Bandhukapushpa
- Priyaka
- Sarjaka
- Asana[2]
Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties
According to classical Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics (Rasa Panchaka), Bijaka has the following properties:[1]
| Sr. No. | Pharmacological Criteria | Properties (Ayurvedic Attributes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (Rasa) | Astringent (Kasaya) |
| 2 | Potency (Veerya) | Hot (Ushna) |
| 3 | Post-digestion Effect (Vipaka) | Pungent (Katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (Guna) | Dry (Ruksa), Light (Laghu) |
| 5 | Dosha Action (Karma) | Pacifies Kapha and Vata dosha |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its Actions
Bijaka is documented across therapeutic chapters of the Charaka Samhita:
| Sr. No. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity / Formulation / Therapeutic Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 16/106 | As an ingredient of Bijakarishta |
| 2 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/56 | As an ingredient of Shyonakadi Parisheka and Pralepa |
Dose
- Decoction (Kwatha): 50 – 100 gm of the drug.[1]
Important Formulations
As per A.P.I.[1]
- Nyagrodhadi Churna
- Asanabilvadi Taila
Current Availability
Available
- In India: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha.
- Out of India: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Taiwan.
Major Phytoconstituents
The heartwood and bark of Pterocarpus marsupium are rich in phenolic constituents.[3]
- Stilbenes and benzofuran derivatives (heartwood): Pterostilbene, marsupsin and pterosupin.
- Flavan-3-ols (bark): (−)-Epicatechin.
- C-glycosides: Phenolic C-glycosides have also been isolated from the heartwood.
Therapeutic Efficacy & Modern Scientific Research
Modern pharmacological and clinical investigations have examined several traditional claims associated with Pterocarpus marsupium. Each activity below is supported by one primary study. Most of the evidence is preclinical (animal models); human evidence is limited to an open-label trial in diabetes.
1. Anti-diabetic and Hypoglycemic Activity (Prameha)
- Traditional Use: Highly indicated in Prameha (diabetes mellitus) and metabolic disorders.
- Scientific Evidence: Three phenolic constituents of the heartwood – marsupsin, pterosupin and pterostilbene – were tested intraperitoneally in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats; marsupsin and pterostilbene significantly lowered blood glucose, with an effect comparable to metformin.[4]
2. Pancreatic Beta-cell Regeneration
- Traditional Use: Bark and heartwood preparations used for Madhumeha.
- Scientific Evidence: (−)-Epicatechin (30 mg/kg, i.p., twice daily for 4–5 days) restored normal blood glucose in alloxan-diabetic albino rats; histology showed regeneration of the islet beta-cells destroyed by alloxan, and immunoreactive insulin studies indicated the regenerated cells were functional.[5]
3. Clinical Evidence in Type 2 Diabetes
- Traditional Use: Prameha (diabetes mellitus); the heartwood (Vijaysar) is the part commonly used.
- Scientific Evidence: In a flexible-dose, open-label ICMR trial in 97 newly diagnosed or untreated type 2 diabetes patients, 69% achieved blood glucose control by 12 weeks (mostly with 2 g of the extract); fasting and postprandial glucose fell by 32 and 45 mg/dl, HbA1c fell from 9.8% to 9.4%, lipids did not change significantly, and no side effects were reported.[6]
4. Antihyperlipidemic Activity (Medodosa)
- Traditional Use: Medodosa (obesity and lipid dysregulation).
- Scientific Evidence: Flavonoids isolated from the plant showed an antihyperlipidemic effect in experimental animals.[7]
5. Cardiotonic Activity
- Traditional Use: Not a classical indication; reported in experimental research only.
- Scientific Evidence: Aqueous extract of the heartwood showed cardiotonic activity in experimental models.[8]
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Compound / Extract studied | Primary Pharmacological Action | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (Prameha) | Marsupsin, Pterostilbene | Hypoglycemic action | Preclinical (animal) |
| Diabetes (Prameha) | (−)-Epicatechin | Beta-cell regeneration | Preclinical (animal) |
| Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes | Heartwood extract (Vijayasar) | Lowering of fasting and postprandial glucose, HbA1c | Human, open-label trial |
| Lipid Disorders (Medodosa) | Flavonoids | Antihyperlipidemic | Preclinical (animal) |
| Cardiac function | Aqueous heartwood extract | Cardiotonic | Preclinical (animal) |
Safety, Toxicity, and Dosage
- Precautions: Use within therapeutic limits; avoid excessive dosages without professional supervision. Patients taking anti-diabetic medicines should be monitored for hypoglycemia.
- Clinical tolerability: No side effects were reported in the 12-week open-label trial in type 2 diabetes.[6]
- Standard Therapeutic Dosage:
- Decoction (Kwatha): 50–100 gm.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:8
- ↑ Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Vatadi Varga, Verse no. 25 - 26, Edited by Padmashree Prof. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015.
- ↑ Maurya R, Singh R, Deepak M, Handa SS, Yadav PP, Mishra PK. Constituents of Pterocarpus marsupium: an ayurvedic crude drug. Phytochemistry. 2004;65(7):915-20.
- ↑ Manickam M, Ramanathan M, Jahromi MAF, Chansouria JPN, Ray AB. Antihyperglycemic activity of phenolics from Pterocarpus marsupium. J Nat Prod. 1997;60(6):609-10. doi:10.1021/np9607013.
- ↑ Chakravarthy BK, Gupta S, Gode KD. Functional beta cell regeneration in the islets of pancreas in alloxan induced diabetic rats by (-)-epicatechin. Life Sci. 1982;31(24):2693-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Collaborating Centres, New Delhi. Flexible dose open trial of Vijayasar in cases of newly-diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Indian J Med Res. 1998;108:24-9.
- ↑ Jahromi MAF, Ray AB, Chansouria JPN. Antihyperlipidemic effect of flavonoids from Pterocarpus marsupium. J Nat Prod. 1993;56(7):989-94.
- ↑ Mohire NC, Salunkhe VR, Bhise SB, Yadav AV. Cardiotonic activity of aqueous extract of heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium. Indian J Exp Biol. 2007;45(6):532-7.
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