BOTANICAL NAME- Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois
FAMILY- Convolvulaceae
NAMES IN DIFFERENT INDIAN LANGUAGES-
English → Speed wheel
Hindi → Shankhahuli
Kannada → Vishnukranti
Malayalam → Vishnukranti
Marathi → Shankhavali
SYNONYMS- Bhulagna, supushpi
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO CHARAK AND SUSHRUT-
Caraka- Not included
Suśruta- Not included
CONTROVERSY–
1. Convolvulus pluricaulis chois Convolvulaceae
2. Evolvlulus alsinoides Linn. Convolvulaceae
3. Canscora diffusa R.Br. Gentianaceae
4.Clitoria ternatea Linn Papilionaceae
5. Lavendula bipinnata Okze Lamiaceae
MORPHOLOGY-Perennial prostate herb.
Root-Tap root, branched
Stem-Prostrate, aerial, herbaceous, weak, branched, cylindrical, solid, hairy and green.
Leaf-Simple, alternate, sub-sessile, exstipulate, oblong or oblanceolate, entire, hairy, acute,
coriaceous with unicostate reticulate venation.
Inflorescence- Dichasial cyme.
Flowers-Pedicellate, actinomorphic, regular, bisexual, complete, pentamerous, hypogynous and light
purple in colour. Sepals are 5, polysepalous, hairy and green. Petals are 5, gamo- petalous,
infundibuliform. Andorecium contains 5 stamens, polyandrous and epipetalous. Gynoecium is
bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary.
Fruit- A capsule
Seed-Endospermic
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS-Sankhapuspi has Carbohydrate-D-Glucose, Maltose, Rhamnose, Glacial acetic acid, Scopoletin, Bsitosterol, Tropane alkaloids. Kaemferol, Convoline, Convolidine, Convolvine, Confoline, Convosine
and tetratriacontanoic acid.
PROPERTIES-Rasa- Kashaya, Katu, Tikta
Guna- Snigdha, Pichila, Guru, Sara
Vipäka- Madhura
Virya- Sheeta
Prabhava- Medhya
KARMA-
Vātasämaka, Medhya, Vrisya, Rasayana, Smriti- Vardhaka, Kantivardhaka, Balya, Kusthaghna,
Krimighna, Visaghna, Kasahara, Swarya.
Anti-depressant, Neuroprotective, Antioxidant, Anti- Ulcerogenic
INDICATIONSManasika Vikāras, Unmada, Apasmāra, Dourbalya, Kuştha, Krimi, Viṣavikāra, Kasa, Swarabheda.
PART USED- Whole Herb
DOSAGE- Curna (Powder)- 3 to 5 g, Swarasa (Juice)- 10 to 20 ml, Phanta (Hot infusion)- 40 to 80 ml
IMPORTANT YOGAS OR FORMULATIONSSankhapuspi taila, Manasa mitra vaṭaka, Brahma Rasayana, Aindri Rasayana, Saraswata curna
THERAPEUTIC USES- 1. Medhya Rasayana (Intellect promoter)
a) Different preparations of Sañhapuspi, (Convolvulus pluricaculis) helps in promoting memory.
b) Ghee processed with juice of Sankhapuşpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) if used regularly improves
intellect.
Unmada (Insanity) and Apasmāra (Epilepsy)
Puranaghrita processed with juice of Brahmi, Powder of Vaca & Kuştha and paste of Sankhapuspi is
efficacious in alleviating insanity and epilepsy.
