kancanara rakta :

Kancanara consists of the dried, stem bark of Bauhinia variegata Blume (Fam. Leguminosae):

a medium sized tree occurring in sub-Himalayan tract

extending eastwards to Assam, Eastern, Central and South India.

HISTORICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL REVIEW:

Vedic Period

 During vedic and samhita period, Kanchanara was originally named as Kovidara.

 Literatures of kodivara flowers are observed in ayodhyakanda, sundara kanda, yuddakanda of Valmiki Ramayana of the Rig Veda.

 In Varivamsa kodivara, is described as a Bauhinia variegata tree with beautiful flowers.

 Vedic literature considers it is a stem as forbidden for rituals.

Charaka samhita

 Kodivara was mentioned in vamanapoga desaimani, in sutrastana.

 Kodivara is also mentioned in samhitas and chakrapani. It was quoted that kodivara flowering occurs in sarat rutu.

Susruta samhita

 Kodivara was mentioned in kashaya varga and urdwa bhagaharangana.

 Kodivara leaves are used in raktapitta chikitsa.

 In kalpastana, devakanchanara was mentioned for sarpa visha chikitsa. He also prescribed kodivara flowers for internal hemorrhage.

 Dalhana treated karbudhara as a variety of kanchanara or slesmataka.

 Leaves and flowers of Karbudhara i.e. kanchanara and kodivara are used as vegetables.

Astanga hrudaya

 Root powder of kovidara was used for arsha chikitsa.

 Rectal prolapsed was treated by Kovidara picchabasti.

 The decoction of kovidara flowers was utilized for the treatment of fever, anorexia, goiter, malignant tumors and enlargement of abdomen.

Sarangadara samhita

 Kanchanara guggulu was indicated for treating diseases like apachi, grandhi, gulma, kushta.

Nigantu period

 Dhanvantari nigantu, raja nigantu, bhavaprakasa nigantu, kaiyadeva nigantu illustrated in detail about the guna karmas of kanchanara.

Dhanvantari nigantu

 Svetapushpa was said as kanchanara and rakta pushpa as kovidara.

Bhavaprakasa nigantu

 Bhavamisra has described this in guduchyadivarga and described kanchanara and kovidara.

Modern period

 Kanchanara is found in many books of this period.

Botanists studied the chemical nature of the various compounds present in the drug.

 Ayurveda acharya of 20 century Yadavji, Trikamji, th Viswanath Dwivedi, Priyavarat Sharma etc. has discussed this drug in various books.  In modern days, kanchanara is not only used for therapeutic purposes, but also for various domestic purposes. 

 Ayurveda, allopathic, unani, siddha systems of medicine are using either the raw drug or its extracts for various therapeutic purposes.

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Bauhinia
Species: Bauhinia variegata

Allied species:

-The botanical name of white flower bearing species is Bauhinia variegata and for purple/pink flower is Bauhinia purpurea (Lal Kachnar). Botanical name of yellow flower bearing species is Bauhinia tomentosa and in India, it is distributed in Southern India, Assam and Bihar. Yellow Kachnar or Yellow Bauhinia is small tree with large yellow flowers.

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: kancanara, kancan, pakari, kovidara, dalak, canari, pitpushpa, girij, yugmaputra, mahapushpa, karbudara
English: mountain ebony , Butterfly ash, Camels foot tree
Hindi: Kachnar , Kachanar, Kanchanar
Urdu: Kachnal
Telugu: Devakanchanamu
Bengali: Kachnar
Marathi: Kovidara, Kanchana , Raktakancana
Konkani: Kudo, Tembri, Kanchan, Kotra, Kachnal
Oriya: Borodu ,Kachana, Kaniara
Gujarathi: Champakati, Kanchnar, Kachnar
Tamil: Mantharai , Sigappu mandarai, Sihappu mantarai
Malayalam: Koral, Kanchan , Chuvanna Mandharam
Kannada: Basavanpada , Keyumandar, Kanchavala
Punjabi: Kanchnar
Sindhi: باونيا وياريگاتا
Munda: Burju, Buruju
Santal: Zinjar, Jingya, Burujudare, Kouar
Arabic: بوهينيا ملونه
Spanish: - (flamboyán orquídea,palo de orquídeas)
Assamese: Kancan, Kanchan
Japanese: -youtheibok (Mt. yotei wood
Chinese: -Yang ti jia.
French: Arbe de saint Thomas
German: - Bunte Bauhinie, Buntfarbene Vauhinie.
Burma: Bwechin
Nepal: Koiralo.
Persian: -bauhinia variegata به
Sinhalese: -Koboleela

Varities:

Kula: Shimbikula; Upakula: Putikaranja

Varga/Classification

Charaka Samhita- Vamanopaga varga, Shaka varga;

Susruta Samhita- Urdhvabhagahara,Pushpa varga, Kashayamadhura shaka varga.

Bhavmishra described Kovidara & Kanchanarnas two varieties. But Dhanvantari & Raj Nighantu

mention the two names synonymous. However Tamrapushpa synonym is given to Kovidara by

bhavmishra. In Shivadatta Kosha, it is described that Kanchanara possess red flowers & grown to

limited height, on the other hand, kovidara possess the white flowers, strong branches.

Kovidara & Karbudara are described in the samhitas. Chakrapani quoted that the flowering of Kovidar & Karbudara occurs in Sharada & Vasant rutu respectively. (C.S.K.2)

Definition

काञ्चनारः काञ्चनको गण्डारिः शोणपुष्पकः |

कोविदारश्चमरिकः कुद्दालो युगपत्रकः |

कुण्डली ताम्रपुष्पश्चाश्मन्तकः स्वल्पकेशरी ||८८||

काञ्चनारो हिमो ग्राही तुवरः श्लेष्मपित्तनुत् |

कृमिकुष्ठगुदभ्रंशगण्डमालाव्रणापहः ||८९||

कोविदारोऽपि तद्वत्स्यात्तयोः पुष्पं लघु स्मृतम् |

रूक्षं संग्राहि पित्तास्रप्रदरक्षयकासनुत् ||९०||

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: kancanara, kancan, pakari, kovidara, dalak, canari, pitpushpa, girij, yugmaputra, mahapushpa, karbudara

-Butterfly tree, derived from the "butterfly" shape of the leaves common to many Bauhinia species, is a common name shared by many Bauhinia species, among them: B. purpurea, B. monandra, B. variegata.
Rasa: Kashaya
Guna: Laghu Ruksha
Veerya: Sheetha
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Kaphapittasamaka

Kachnar bark is used in disorders like Gandamala (Lymphadenopathy), Galaganda (Goitre), Arbuda (Tumor), Ashthila (BPH) and Kapha-Pitta dosha disorders while flowers have Pittaghna (Pacify pitta dosha), Rakta Pradaraghna (Cures Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding), Kaasghna (Curing cough) and Kshyaghna (Anti tubercular) properties. In some parts of country (Himachal Pradesh, Northeast States), its buds and flowers are used as vegetable and various dishes like chutney and pickles.

Cultivation:

Mountain ebony is a plant of tropical and subtropical climates with hot, dry summers and mild winters. It grows best at an altitude up to 1,800 metres with a mean maximum temperature in the range 30 - 42°c and a mean minimum temperature in the range 7 - 14°c Plants can experience occasional temperatures down to -2°c in their native range. The mean annual rainfall should be in the range 500 - 2,550mm.
Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, requiring a position in full sun. The tree is fairly resistant to drought but susceptible to fires
Some care should be taken before introducing the plant into new areas because it can become invasive
A fast-growing tree - under ideal conditions one year old seedlings can attain a height of more than 2 metres
The tree starts flowering at a very early age of 2 - 3 years
The tree coppices well and can stand heavy lopping fairly well
There are some named varieties
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen

Propogation:

The ornamental plant is propagated with seeds, strump planting and branch cuttings.

Propagation: by seeds and by air layering.

Harvesting:

Seeds are sown in March-April. The seedlings are then transplanted in July-August.

Flowering season: March – May (spring)

Fruiting season: April – June (Stage by beginning of summer).

STANDARDIZATION:

Kanchanara twaka are available in small cut flat pieces, edges blunted and the centre portion grooved, the surface of the bark brownish ash coloured and rough in touch with longitudinal striations.

Phytochemistry:

beflavone, flavonolglycoside, triterpine, saponin, phenanthraquninone and flavonoids.

Tannins

PHARMACOLOGY:

IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS

Asava and arista :

Usirasava, chandanasava, Vidangarista, Kanchanararishta

Bhasma : Kanchara drava

Guggulu : Kanchanara Guggulu, triphaladi guggulu, Vyoshadi guggulu

Guti : Kanchana gutika

Kvatha : Kanchanaradi kvath

Rasayoga : Gandamala kandan rasa

Sneha: Ajamodadhya tail, chandanadya taila,Amrita ghrita, Mahamayura ghrita

Kanchanara Ghana

Gulakanda Kanchanara.

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Bark, Flower, Leaves, Seed, Stem, ,

Dosage:

Twakchurnam- 4 grams
Pushpachurnam- 2 grams
Decoction- 50-100 ml (Chandra et al., 2007).
Stem bark powder- 3-6 grams
Decoction- 40-80 ml
Flower juice- 10-20 ml
Flower juice for decoction- 20-30 ml (Chandra et al., 2007).
Kanchanara guggulu- ½ Tula (Khare, 2007).
Bark powder- 2-4 masha.
Pushpa powder- 1-2 masha (Kumar, 2013)

Substitute:

Bauhinia purpurea
Bauhinia tomentosa
Bauhinia racemosa

Adultrants:

The commercial samples are often adulterated with the stem having brown colour.

Controversy:

-There is some controversy in the identity of Karbuudarasince Dalhana treated it as a variety of Kanchanara or as Shleshmantaka (Bahuvara). In one content it is described along with Selu (S.S.Su. 46/249). Selu is the synonym of Shleshmantaka. Thakurji consider it as B. Variegata Linn. He opines that it may be another plant since a plant Rajjudara described in the Vedic literature is identified by the commentators with Karbudara. It is described as possessing a fruit resembling penis (Shishna) in appearance. This plant may be Olare sccindes Roxb. In general B. Purpura is less available when compared with B. Variegata. In my opinion that another species B. Tomentosa possessing yellow flowers & yellowish bark is Kanchanar. Since it is traditionally used by some vaidyas.

Commercial value:

Retail market price : Stem bark – Rs. 150 per kg

Morphology:

Bark, dark brown, sometimes with silvery patches,

rough, compact, exfoliating in woody strips and scales,

outer surface with small transverse and longitudinal cracks,

internal surface white, taste, astringent

Histology:

Transverse section of mature stem bark shows a wide stratified cork,

outer cork composed of thin-wailed, slightly compressed, yellow brown cells followed by a number

of layers of brown coloured cells,

inner cork composed of transversely elongated orange brown cells, cork interrupted at certain places due to formation of rhytidoma,

some secondary cortex composed or 15 or more rows or transversely elongated to circular,

thin-walled, parenchymatous cells,

some secondary cortex cells contain orange brown contents: groups of stone cells found scattered in this region occasionally arranged in 1-7

or more tangential rows, pericyclic fibres, thick-walled with narrow lumen, scattered in

secondary cortex in singles or in groups,

secondary phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma and fibres traversed by funnel shaped medullary rays ,

phloem fibres arranged in radial rows throughout phloem region, prismatic and rhomboidal crystals or calcium, oxalate abundantly found in phloem and

secondary cortex regions, very rarely found in cork cells,

cluster crystals also present in secondary

cortex and secondary phloem, crystal fibres also found in secondary phloem

Geographical distribution:

E. Asia - Southern China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Found wild in the sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalaya upto 1300 m.; in Punjab, dry deciduous forests, especially on rocky hiils throughout India. Common in Eastern, and South India, Assam, Sikkim, Chota Nagapur, Western Peninsula, Kumaon. Also distributed in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Myanmar and China. Also cultivated largely as a garden and roadside ornamental

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

Shelf life Period:- Bark - 3 to 6 month.

Plant conservation:

Storage and Preservation:- Collected bark completely dried and stored in airtight jars, keep in dry place.

General Use:

Kachnar corrects the imbalance in hormones and helps in relieving menstrual disorders like anovulation and amenorrhea. Kachnar is also very beneficial for the overall female reproductive system and it is very beneficial in various diseases like PCOD, hypothyroidism, endometriosis, and fibroids in females.
Kachnar is anti-microbial in action and it is very effective in reducing the size of enlarged lymph nodes on neck and groin region.
This herb is also beneficial in nasal polyps as it reduces the size of polyp and helps in easy breathing.
A decoction of this bark is very effective in tonsillitis and thyroid related problems.
Extract of kachnar leaves improves the liver functioning and gives wonderful results in jaundice. It is used to maintain proper metabolism and functioning of the liver.
Bark decoction acts as an appetizer and is used for gargle for mouth ulcers and bad breath and this herb is also best used in skin disorders.
It is also used as a scrapping herb to reduce extra fat in obese people.
It is used to relieve painful urination and other infections related to the urinary tract.
Kachnar is also very effective for the sufferers of hemorrhoids.
Bitter taste flowers of this miraculous tree are a natural blood purifier and help to expel out extra toxins and waste from the blood.
Bark juice of this herb is used to cure amoebic dysentery, diarrhea and other infections of the digestive system.
Kachnar is anti-diabetic herb for the sufferers of diabetes with good hypoglycemic activities.
It helps in pacifying kapha and pitta dosha.

Therapeutic Uses:

very effective in worm infestation, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, cervical lymphadenitis, and wounds. Both varieties have equal action and properties.

Systemic Use:

External uses : It helps in wound cleaning and healing properties,. It cures skin disorders and inflammations.
The bark ground in a paste is useful in lymphadenitis. Decoction made from its bark, pods of babool (Acacia) tree and flowers of pomegranate is used for gargles in oral disorders. Decoction is used for fomentation in rectal prolapsed.
Leaves ground in paste are applied over the wound. Paste of the seeds is applied in migraine.

Paste of bark is applied on Gandamala.

Internal uses:

Digestive system :
- It has astringent and anthelmintic properties but it causes vomiting in excess dose. It enhances emetic action when used in conjuction with emetic drugs.
- Being sweet, flowers are mild laxative. Gulakand prepared from the flowers is used in constipation.
- Having astringent Property it is useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, rectal prolapse, haemorrhoids, and helminthiasis.
Circulatory system :
- Paste of stem bark, roots and flowers is used in haemorrhagic disorders.
- It acts as haemostatic and reduces the inflammation of the lymph nodes(lymphadenitis).
Respiratory system :
- Used in cough.
Urinary system :
- Controls polyurea in diabetes.
Reproductive system :
- In menorrhagia, it acts as a haemostatic by astringent property.
Skin :
- Used in skin diseases.
- Mixture of Kanchanara bark, rice water, and ginger is effective in osteoporosis(asthikshata).

Administration:

Bark Churna
Bark Kwatha
Flower Swarasa
For Decoction

Pharmacological:

Galaganda, Gandamala, Granthishotha, Vrana, Lasika, Granthi-Arbuda, Kustha, Charmavikara, Dadru, Mukhapaka, Atisara, Pravahika, Arsha, Gudabhramsha, Parikartika, Krimi, Vibandha, Rakta-pitta, Prameha, Rakta pradara, Medoroga.

Bahya (External):- Vranashodhana, Vranaropana, Kushthaghna,Shothahara
Abhyantar(Internal):- Stambhaka, Grahi, Arshoghna, Kushthaghna, Shothahara, Stambhana, Krimighna, Vamaka, Rakta stambhana, Lasikagranthishothahara, Kasahara, Mutrasangrahaniya, Artavasravahrasaka, Lekhana-Medapanayana

Clinical trials:

Evaluation of the immunomodulatory activity of ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Bauhinia variegata Linn

Research:

The alcoholic extract of B.variegata (bark) showed CNS activity. Besides producing hypothermia in mice, it is also responded to amphetamine test.(Bhakuni et al., 1969).
The alcoholic extract of B.racemosa (bark) was found to have anti-cancer activity against human epidermal carcinoma of the nasopharynx in tissue culture. (Dhar et al., 1968).
The clinical studies have revealed that preparations of stem bark of Kanchanara enhance the effect of anti-tuberculous drugs used in cases of tubercular cervical lymphadenitis.(Dixit, 1967)
Its used in the treatment of experimental goitre in rats has been reported.( Veena et al., 1975).

Use in other system of medicine:

Culinary
- In India, flower buds used as a vegetable dish.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines. infusion of new flowers used for dysentery.
- Elsewhere the bark is used for the treatment of skin diseases, scrofula and ulcers.
- Bark used to treat and diarrhea.
- The dried buds are used in the treatment of piles, dysentery, diarrhea and worms.
- Root is used as an antidote to snake poison.
- Decoction of the root used for dyspepsia.
- In India, powdered bark used as tonic, for strains, ulcers, skin disease. Also, extracts of bark used for treatment of cancer. Roots used for dyspepsia and as antidote for snake bites.
- In India, Mundas women use flower decoction as galactagogue. Dried flower buds in water used as vermifuge. Santals women use dried flower buds with paste of black pepper to regular vaginal discharge. Andh and Bhil use the leaves as laxative.
- In Konkan, fresh bark juice used as expectorant. Bark used with dried ginger as internal remedy for scrofula. South Indians used leaf decoction to relieve headaches in malarial fever.
- In Ayurveda, plant pacifies vitiated kapha. Used to treat , diarrhea, goiter, jaundice, Baskin diseases, rectal prolapse, diabetes, inflammation, worms, tumors, piles, menorrhagia, hemoptysis, and cervical lymphadenopathy.
- Roots used as antidote to snake poison.

Others
- Dye: Bark reported to be used in dyeing, yielded various fast shades of brown color.

CONCLUSION:

Kanchnara (Bauhinia variegata Linn.) is the medicinal plant with a potential to cure various diseases. We have discussed about the pharmacological activities, traditional, medicinal uses, cultivation, collection, chemical constituents and history of . The Bauhinia variegata important chemical constituents present in it are flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids which are responsible for different pharmacological properties of Linn. Bauhinia variegata Bauhinia variegata Linn. act as anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-ulcer, nephroprotective, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anticancer and hepatoprotective agent. Further studies on Bauhinia variegata should be done for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of action of various phytoprinciples present in it. A wide variety of biological potential of has been proved by the Bauhinia variegata scientific research. This plant can be used in the preparation of various medicines due to its phytochemical and pharmacological properties.

KEY WORDS: kancanara rakta Bauhinia variegata Linn.