kaseru :

Actinoscirpus grossus (L.f.) Goetgh. & D.A.Simpson of Cyperaceae family is popularly known as Kasheruk mentioned in dravyaguna..The tuber of A. grossus was also used traditionally as hepatoprotective agent. A. grossus is principal weed of four South East Asian Countries occuring in swampy and inundated places, pools, ditches and marshses.

HISTORICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL REVIEW:

There are 2 varieties, the bigger one is called Raja kaseruka and the smaller one called chinchodhah (which resembles Musta in shape)

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Scirpus
Species: Scirpus grossus

Allied species:

Actinoscirpus grossus L.f. (1781), Hymenochaete grossa (L.f.) Nees (1834), Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f.) Palla (1911).

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: Kaseruka, gundakanda, kaseru, kaseruh, kaseruka, kasheruka, rajakaseruka
English: Water chestnut
Hindi: Kaseru
Urdu: Kaseru
Telugu: Guntatungagaddi
Bengali: Kesur, keshura
Marathi: Kasara, kachera, kachora
Oriya: Kasaru Maeda, kasai kanda
Gujarathi: Kasela, kasola
Tamil: Gundatigagaddi
Malayalam: Kazhi muthanga
Kannada: Keasure gadd, kaseruva, kothigadde
Punjabi: Kaseru
Assamese: Kaheru
Chinese: Da piao cao.

Varities:

Classical Categorisation

Bhavaprakasha - Shaka Varga

Kaiyyadeva Nighantu - Oushadhi Varga

Raja Nighantu- Shalmalyadi Varga

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: kaseruka, svalpa kanda, brihad raja, kaseruja, kasheruka

Kaseru, kaseruka - the plant needs plenty of water to grow

Sugandhi, Gandhakanda- the tuber has pleasant smell

Shukareshta - liked by pigs

Rasa: Kashaya Madhura
Guna: Guru
Veerya: Sheetha
Vipaka: Maduram
Karma: Pittahara

Anti diarrheal, anti-emetic, non-specifc anti spasmodic, progesterone like activity, and used in digestive disorders. The root is slightly sweet, cooling, laxative, tonic to the liver, diuretic, useful in burning sensations, vomiting, diarrhea and has astringent property

Cultivation:

Actinoscirpus grossus occurs, often abundantly, in swampy or inundated locations, pools, ditches and rice fields, from sea level up to 900 m altitude. It is an important aquatic weed in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, it is considered a weed of minor importance in lowland-irrigated and tidal rice fields, where it can be controlled manually, by deep-ploughing before seed formation, or with herbicides. In Peninsular Malaysia, it is one of the major weeds of transplanted rice.

Propogation:

can be propagated by seed and by stolon parts.

Harvesting:

Collection period - February-March

Phytochemistry:

Study on tubers for total starch, amylose and proximate analysis of starch (S), flour peeled (FP), and flour unpeeled (FU) (g/100 g dry sample) yielded: total starch 87.69 (S), 87.37 (FP), 80.43 (FU); amylose 32.33 (S), 30.44 (FP), 29.49 (FU); protein 0.17 (S), 0.32 (FP), 0.36 (FU); fat (0.06 (S), 0.12 (FP), ).10 (FU); crude fiber 0.08 (S), 1.43 (FP), 2.44 (FU); ash 0.09 (S), 0.34 (FP), 0.48 (FU).

- Ethanolic extract of coarse powder of tuber yielded carbohydrate, coumarins, flavonoids, steroid, tannin and terpenoid.

PHARMACOLOGY:

Important formulations

1. Saubhagya sunti

2. Panchajeeraka huda

3. Gandhi TAila

4. Vastyamayantaka ghrita

5. Shatavaryadi grits

6. Veeratharadi gana kashaya churna

Parts used for medicinal purpose

Leaves, Root, Stem, Underground rhizomes, ,

Dosage:

Rhizome—5–10 g...

Powder - 5- 10 g

external application- 5-10 g

Kwatha - 10 - 20 ml

Controversy:

Kaseruka according to Raja Nighantu is Kshudramusta, a small variety of musta

Commercial value:

Scirpus grossus has phytoremediation and medicinal usage. It has great potential to cure various disorder and disease.

Morphology:

Stoloniferous perennial, to c. 2 m. Stem sharply trigonous, edges scabrous, sides concave. Leaves c. half of stem length; sheaths 14-20 cm, soft, yellowish green, disintegrating into fibres; blades 60-100 cm x 5-27 mm, flat, greyish green, keeled, margins slightly revolute, scabrous. Anthelodium, c. 12 x 10 cm; bracts to 60 x 1.5 cm; primary branches more than 10, up to 60 mm, two from each basal tubular prophyll, tubular prophylls to 12 mm, with spongy basal part, scabrous; secondary anthelodia up to 65 mm, secondary branches up to 35 mm, two from each tubular prophyll, tubular prophylls c. 5 mm; tertiary anthelodia to c. 30 mm, tertiary branches each ending with solitary spike or with additional peduncled spike (occasionally even small quaternary anthelodium is produced), peduncles to 5-12 mm, bracts c. 4 mm, tubular prophyll c. 3 mm; spikes 3-7 x 2-4 mm, ovoid; glumes 2.4-2.7 mm, cymbiform, barbed, apex rounded, with short mucro, sides nerveless, brown, margin narrowly fringed. Perianth bristles slightly longer than fruit; stamens 3, anther c. 1.5 mm. Nut 1.5-1.6 x 1.1-1.2 mm, widely obovoid, apiculate, finely papillose, glossy, pale brown or brown.

Histology:

Tranverse section of rhizome shows epidermis of collapsed and brown coloured

cells: hypodermis, 4-8 cells with thick brown cell walls, followed by a wide zone of

cortical ground tissue of oval to rounded, thin-walled, parenchymatous cells, filled with

oval to spherical starch grains, encircled by sclerenchymatous sheath, vascular bundles,

found scattered throughout cortical ground tissue, endodermis consists of brown

coloured cells with heavy thickenings on thier walls, enclosing a wide central stelar

ground tissue with a number of scattered vascular bundles of closed, collateral type,

encircled by sclerenchymatous sheath, stelar ground tissues of rounded to oval, thin-

walled and parenchymatous cells, containing oval to spherical starch grains, a number of

secretory cell with orange-brown contents found throughout cortical and stelar ground

tissue.

Geographical distribution:

Native to Bangladesh, Nepal, India and other Southeast Asian countries.

- Naturalized in Australia, Borneo, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

In fresh-water swamps, edges of ponds, and in newly opened rice lands at low altitudes from central Luzon to Mindanao in most provinces and islands

Plant conservation:

Least Concerns

General Use:

Swaras of Kaseru is used to jaundice. It cures vomiting and Pitta disorders. Tonic to heart muscles, help in milk secretion and breast development. Skin and eyes disorders.

Therapeutic Uses:

Tuber—nutritious, astringent, antidiarrhoeal, antiemetic, galactagogue, hypoglycaemic, diuretic, urinary antiseptic. Used in prescriptions for dysuria, diabetes, genitourinary affections, dyscrasia and as a spermopoietic and liver tonic.

Systemic Use:

Paste of Kaseru, Shrngaataka (Trapa natans), and lotus root, boiled with milk, was prescribed for treating threatened abortion (Sushruta Samhitaa).

Tonic properties of Kaseru were used for promoting spermatogenesis and lactation. Flowers were prescribed for jaundice; the tuber, pounded with rose-water, for vomiting, diarrhoea, burning sensation and eruptions. (Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Bhaavaprakaasha.

Administration:

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the powder of the rhizome for promoting spermatogensis and development of breast.

Pharmacological:

Root considered sweet, colling, laxative, tonic to the liver, astringent, antidiarrheal, antiemetic.

- Studies have shown antidiabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, antihyperlipidemic, phytoremediative properties.

Clinical trials:

1. A study on Scirpus grossus Linn as an indicator of radioactive pollution in estuaries / Cai Fulong Chen Ying Xu Pian Lai Zhaocai / DOI cnki:ISSN:0253-3219.0.1992-12-009

2. Effectiveness of Scirpus grossus in Treatment of Domestic Wastes in a Constructed Wetland / K. B. S. N. Jinadasaa; Norio Tanakab; M. I. M. Mowjoodc; D. R. I. B. Werellagamad / Journal of Freshwater EcologyVolume 21, Issue 4, December 2006, Pages 603 - 612 / DOI: 10.1080/02705060.2006.9664121

3. Ethno Veterinary practices among the rural people of Ganjam District (Orissa) India: A Case Study On some Common Veterinary Ailments / Dr Dibakar Mishra, Polasara, India

4. Enhancement of Caloric Value of Scirpus grossus After Phytotoxicity Test of Lead (Pb) / Tangahu Bieby Voijant / Revelation and Science, Vol 1, No 02 (2011)

5. Phytotoxicity test of Scirpus grossus on diesel-contaminated water using a subsurface flow system / Israa Abdulwahab Al-Baldawia, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah , Fatihah Suja, Nurina Anuar, Mushrifah Idris / http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.01.016,

Research:

1. Microscopical Evaluation, Phytochemical Analysis and HPTLC Fingerprinting of Tuber of Actinoscirpus grossus (L.f.) Goetgh. & D.A.Simpson / Savin Chanthala Ganapathi, Rajendra Holla, Shivaraja Shankara, Sunil Kumar Koppala Narayana*, Ravi Mundugaru / Pharmacogn J. 2017; 9(5): pp 657-662

2. Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Methanol Extract and Its Fraction from the Root of Schoenoplectus grossus / Nirmal Kumar Subedi, S. M. Abdur Rahman, and Mohammad Ahsanul Akbar / Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2016 (2016) / http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3820704

3. Preliminary Study of Phytoremediation for Sulphide Treatment using Scirpus grossus / Syarifah Abd Rahim*and Nor Azila Ramli / Indian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 10(6) / DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2017/v10i6/111208

4. TREATMENT OF METHYLENE BLUE IN WASTEWATER USING Scirpus grossus / Enas Abdulqader Saeed Almaamary, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah*, Hassimi Abu Hasan, Reehan Adne Ab. Rahim, Mushrifah Idris / Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 21 No 1 (2017): 182 - 187 / DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2017-2101-21

5. Study On Bundung Grass (Scirpus Grossus L.) as The Natural Fibre For Fishing Gear Material With The Sinking Speed and Absorption Test / Andry Zuldry, Irwandy Syofyan, Nofrizal / Journal Online Mahasiswa, Vol 2, No 2 (2015)

6. Nutritive value and safety of greater club rush as livestock feed P. Gayathri Karthikeyan*, Sansamma George and C.R. Chithrima / Indian Journal of Weed Science 49(1): 75–78, 2017 / DOI: 10.5958/0974-8164.2017.00018.1

Precautions:

Habitual abortion

Toxicity studies:

No adverse effects reported

Use in other system of medicine:

Edibility

- Study suggests flours from tubers have potential for use as starchy foods.

Folkloric

- Root is astringent, and is given to check diarrhea and vomiting.

- Roots used against infection, burning sensation, fever and gonorrhea.

- Root of plant used as diuretic.

Others

• Veterinary: In India, sap extracted from leaves and stem of S. grossus is mixed with garlic (Allium sativum), and the paste applied topically for cattle wounds.

• Basketry: Stems, dried and flattened, are used for making mats, baskets, etc.

• Paper: Study suggests a potential for production of moderate quality paper pulp.

CONCLUSION:

Kaseru consists of rhizome of Scirpus kysoor Roxb. (Fam. Cyperaceae), a weed

commonly found on the margins of ponds and swampy places throughout India.

Photos of kaseru -

: Courtesy: https://08511630493324166816.googlegroups.com/attach/997ed0a19e15f717/P1120243.jpg?part=0.7&view=1&vt=ANaJVrFSRmyfLueaaYo4WRDAshSEieEvEb1ok-RFRUkN1sV-hiH-FXskcn_oTZsyQRJLz5Otw-EIn3FfigDJiMofqH2R7s4vz8DN1hAbh7TNNBg_47lS6zs

: Courtesy: https://08511630493324166816.googlegroups.com/attach/997ed0a19e15f717/P1120240.jpg?part=0.5&view=1&vt=ANaJVrHdA_4l7K6G8ZWnoAAlMupod3hEJwLUBKR0bzt9QQ8zbbyvSld2-HSjsKWyUeisBgwXVghaXy0EvpieMK_flDv1tsu90IsTsj12V6m9J2ld5cE8OHc

: Courtesy: https://08511630493324166816.googlegroups.com/attach/997ed0a19e15f717/P1120243.jpg?part=0.7&view=1&vt=ANaJVrFSRmyfLueaaYo4WRDAshSEieEvEb1ok-RFRUkN1sV-hiH-FXskcn_oTZsyQRJLz5Otw-EIn3FfigDJiMofqH2R7s4vz8DN1hAbh7TNNBg_47lS6zs