Dhanyaka (Fruit)
Dhanyaka consists of dried ripe fruits of Coriandrum sativum Linn. (Fam. Umbelliferae) , a slender, glabrous, branched, annual herb, cultivated, 30-90 cm high, giving characteristic aroma when rubbed, crop matures in 2-3 months after sowing, herb is pulled out with roots, after drying, fruits threashed out and dried in sun, winnowed, and stored in bags.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Dhanika, Dhinya, Vitunnaka, Kustumburu
Assamese : Dhaniya
Bengali : Dhane, Dhania
English : Coriander fruit
Gujrati : Dhana
Hindi : Dhaniya
Kannada : Havija, Kothambari bija
Kashmiri : Dhaniwal, Dhanawal
Malayalam : Malli, Kothampatayari
Marathi : Dhane, Kothimbir
Oriya : Dhania
Punjabi : Dhania
Tamil : Kottamatli virai, Dhaniya
Telugu : Dhaniyalu
Urdu : Kishneez
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Fruit globular, mericarps usually united by their margins forming a cremocarp about 2-4 mm in diameter, uniformly brownish-yellow or brown, glabrous, sometimes crowned by the remains of sepals and styles, primary ridges 10, wavy and slightly inconspicuous secondary ridges 8, straight, and more prominent, endosperm coelospermous , odour, aromatic, taste, spicy and characteristic.
b) Microscopic
Transverse section of fruit shows pericarp with outer epidermis, when present with slightly thickened anticlinal wall, a few stomata, many cells with small prisms of calcium oxalate, trichomes absent, outer layer of mesocarp parenchymatous with inner cells in wavy longitudinal rows and degenerated vittae as tangentially flattened cavities, middle layer of mesocarp sclerenchymatous forming a thick layer of fusiform, pitted cells in very sinuous rows, layers often crossing at right angles with definite longitudinal strands in the secondary ridges, sinuous primary costae with some spiral vessel: inner cells of mesocarp, large, hexagonal with rather thin, lignified walls, inner epidermis of very narrow thin-walled cells slightly sinuous anticlinal wall showing parquetry arrangement, two or rarely more, normal vittae occurring on commissural side of each mesocarp containing volatile oil, endosperm of thick-walled cellulosic parenchyma containing much fixed oil, numerous aleurone grains, about 4-8 in diameter containing micro-rosettes of calcium oxalate , split carpophore passing at apex of each mericarp into raphe, adjacent to which a large cavity and on inner side of this a flattened vascular strand, carpophore consisting of fibres surrounded by spiral vessels.
Powder– Fawn to brown, epidermal cells of pericarp when present, slightly thick-walled and many containing small prism of calcium oxalate, parenchymatous cells of mesocarp without reticulate thickening, masses of sclerenchymatous cells of mesocarp in sinuous rows, often crossing at right angles, large tubular hexagonal rather thin-walled sclerenchymatous cells of endocarp, cells of inner epidermis with slightly sinnous anticlinal walls, thick-walled polygonal parenchymatous cells of endosperm, containing fixed oil and numerous small aleurone grains, micro-rosettes of calcium oxalate.
CONSTITUENTS – Essential oil (coriandrol).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kashiya
Guna : Laghu, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Cakshushya, Dipana, Grihi, Hridya., Picana, Tridoshanut, Mhutrala
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Dhanya Panchak Kwath
INDICATIONS of Coriandrum sativum
Digestion Coriandrum sativum seed is an excellent remedy for promoting pitta digestion as it enkindles agni but does not aggravate acidity. It can be used safely when there is inflammation in the digestive system and when agni needs strengthening. It is a useful carminative herb prescribed in IBS and colic. Both the leaf and seed are used for digestion to clear flatulence, griping and bloating. The powder of the seed is used for worms in children (Bhavaprakasa).
Urinary A cold infusion of the seeds is very useful for draining heat out of the urinary system. Useful in cystitis, dysuria and cloudy urine (Bhavaprakasa). Also beneficial in the hot type of diabetes (pittaja prameha) and for helping to reduce hot flushes.
Allergies The juice of the leaf is used externally for allergic rashes and internally for allergic rhinitis from pitta (Frawley & Lad 1994). It specifically clears toxins fromthe blood.
Lungs Its antispasmodic and expectorant properties help to clear mucus from the lungs (Paranjpe 2001).
Heavy metals The leaf is used to help facilitate the safe excretion of heavy metals and other environmental toxins including lead, arsenic and mercury. Only use drop-by-drop doses and it must be accompanied by an intestinal heavy metal toxin absorption agent, such as chlorella.
Fever As the seeds are a mild diaphoretic it can help to alleviate a fever by allowing the displaced agni, pitta and ama to be released through the skin and the urine.
COMBINATIONS
* Fennel, cumin, cardamom in digestive upsets.
* Gokshura, manjistha and punarnava for urinary problems, especially stones and burning.
* Sariva, pit shirisha for skin allergies, vasa for respiratory allergies.
* Licorice, pippali for coughs.
* Fresh ginger for fever.
DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.
