Sanskrit name: Shweta hurhur, Suryavartha, ravipritha
Botanical name: Gynandropis pentaphylla
Family name: Capparidaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/228
Vernacular names
Hindi name– Huhur saphed, chamni, karaila
English name– Shona cabbage, spiderwisp, cat’s whiskers, Bastard-mustard
Bengali name– Hurhuriya
Gujarati name- Dholi talvarna
Marathi name- Tilvan, Matvan, Malli
Tamil name– kadugu, velai
Telugu Name – Vaminta, Vamitam
Kannada Name – Shrikala
Synonyms-
सुवर्चला सूर्यभक्ता वरदा बदराऽपि । सूर्यावर्त्ता रविप्रीताऽपरा ब्रह्मसुदुर्लभा ॥२८४॥ सुवर्चला हिमा रूक्षा स्वादुपाका सरा गुरुः । अपित्तला कटुः क्षारा विष्टम्भकफवातजित् ॥ २८५॥ अन्या तिक्ता कषायोष्णा सरा रुक्षा लघुः कटुः । निहन्ति कफपित्तास्त्रश्वासकासारुचिज्वरान् ॥ विस्फोटकुष्ठमेहास्त्रयोनिरुक्कृमिपाण्डुताः ॥२८६॥
Classification
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyaadi Varga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi Varga
Habitat & Distribution: Gynandropis pentaphylla is found in hot areas throughout India.
Morphology- Gynandropis pentaphylla grows up to 1 – 3 feet tall small annual herb. Leaves digitate, hairy. Leaflets webbed, 2 – 10 cm long, subsessile, obovate-elliptic to oblanceolate. Flowers are white, have long stalks. Fruit capsule, long-stalked, spindle-shape, 12 cm long.
Varieties: Controversy, Safed Hur hur – Shwet Hurhur (white variety) – Gynanadropis pentaphylla, Pith Hurhur (yellow variety) – Cleome viscosa
Gynandropis pentaphylla is also considered as Ajagandha and Tilaparni.
In Raja Nighantu, Suvarchal is mentioned as the synonym of Brahmi and Mandukaparni. Dhanvantari Nighantu and Shodalal Nighantu has also mentioned suvarchal as one of the synonyms of Mandukarparni herb.
Substitute/ Adulterant: Cleome viscosa,
Phytochemicals: Seeds extract contain alkaloids, flavones, sugar, phenolic group, saponin, amino acid and essential oil.
Raspanchaka– Rasa– Katu; Guna- Guru, Ruksha; Virya– Ushna; Vipaka– Madhura, Prabhava- Saraka, dosha shamakta– Kaphavata shamak
Karma– Saraka, Rogaghnata– Kasa, Swasa, Aruchi, Jawra, kushtha, Prehmah, Krimi, Raktavikara, Panduroga, Yoniroga
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
External: 1) Leaf juice is also used as eye wash.
2) Leaf paste applied over forehead also helps in headache.
3) Plant has insecticidal, antifeedant and repellent properties.
4) Leaves act as disinfectants and has anti-tick properties
Internal: 1) To relieve weakness in fever, juice of whole plant is given in 5-10 ml dose.
2) Leaf juice is used as ear drops in earache and ear discharge. Leaf oil is also used in earache.
3) In headache, inhalation of leaves helps to relieve headache.
Part used: Whole plant
Dose: Decoction-10-20 ml
Juice 5-10 ml
Seed powder 1 – 3 grams
Yoga/Formulations: Agurvadi taila
IUCN Status: Not mentioned
Research updates
1. Antimicrobial Activity – The study proved the significant antimicrobial activity of extracts of Gynandropis pentaphylla and thus justified its traditional medicinal use of this plant.
2. Anti diabetic Activity – A study conducted to evaluate hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic activity of aqueous extract of root of Gynandropsis gynandra herb has revealed hypoglycaemic action of Gynandropsis gynandra.
