Operculina turpethum (Root)

TRIVRT (Root)
Trivrt consists of dried root of Operculina turpethum (Linn.) Silva Manso Syn. Ipomoea turpethum R. Br. (Fam. Convolvulaceae); a large perennial twiner with milky juice and fleshy roots, found growing wild nearly throughout the country, ascending to 900 m, also occasionally grown in gardens; the roots being fleshy, care is taken in drying as they decay easily; roots therefore cut into pieces and the cut portions are exposed to sun for a day or so, after which it is finally dried in shade.

SYNONYMS –
Sansk. : syama, Tribhandi
Assam. : —
Beng. : Teudi, Tvuri, Dhdhakalami
Eng. : Terpeth Root, Indian Jalap
Guj. : Kala Nasottara
Hindi. : Nishothra
Kan. : Vili Tigade
Kash. : —
Mal. : Trikolpokanna
Mar. : Nisottar
Ori. : Dudholomo
Punj. : Nisoth
Tam. : Karum Sivadai
Tel. : Tella, Tegada
Urdu. : Turbud, Nishoth

DESCRIPTION –

a) Macroscopic:
Roots occur in pieces, 1.5-15 cm long, 1-5 cm dia., usually unbranched, cylindrical, elongated, bearing thin rootlets; thicker pieces, occasionally split and show central wood portion; surface dull grey, reddish-grey to light brown, showing deep furrows or longitudinal wrinkles giving a rope-like or columnar appearance; transversely cut surface shows thick, whitish bark and light yellow centre; fracture in bark, short; in wood, fibrous; odour, indistinct; taste, slightly acrid and nauseating when kept in mouth for some time

b) Microscopic:
Mature root shows thin cork, consisting of3-5 rows of brown cells; secondary cortex 4-6 layered, composed of tangential elongated, thin-walled cells; some of the cortical cells become thick-walled appearing as isolated, oval to subrectangular sclerenchymatous cells having wide lumen; secretory cavities surrounded by subsidiary cells and resin canals found scattered in secondary cortex; secondary phloem, a wide zone, consisting of sieve elements and phloem parenchyma; vascular bundles arranged in a continuous and a discontinuous ring, traversed by uni and biseriate medullary rays; numerous resin cells also seen in phloem in longitudinal rows; xylem shows 3-5 radiating arms; small patches of intraxylary phloem often formed; xylem vessels in singles or 2-3 in groups, having simple pits on their walls; calcium oxalate crystals as prisms and rosettes found scattered in cortex, phloem parenchyma, xylem parenchyma and medullary ray cells; starch grains, both simple .and compound, simple ones elliptical to spherical with central cleft hilum, compound grains consisting of 2-4 components, size vary from 5-44 µ in dia., found scattered in cortex, phloem parenchyma, xylem parenchyma and medullary ray cells.
Powder – Greyish to light brown; shows parenchymatous cells, cellulosic fibres with pointed tips, vessels with simple pits, simple and compound starch grains elliptical to spherical with central cleft, measuring 5-44 µ in dia., having 2-4 components, rosette and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate.

CONSTITUENTS – Resinous Glycosides.

PROPERTIES AND ACTION –
Rasa : Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphapittahara, Pittahara, Vatala, Virecana, Sukhavirecanaka, Jvarahara

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Hrdyavirecana Leha, Asvagandharishta, Avipattikara Churna, Manibhadra Guda

THERAPEUTIC USES – Malabandha, Gulma, Udara Roga, Jvara, sopha Pandu, Pliha, Vrana, Krimi, Kushtha, Kandu

DOSE – 1-3 g of the drug in powder form.