SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA AYURVEDIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Arishtaka

Botanical Name : Sapindus laurifolius Vahl.

Family : Sapindaceae

Introduction :

Sapindaceae (a group from which soap is derived).

Latin name : Sapindus = which yields soap; trifoliate = having three leaves,

Soapberry, common name for a medium-size family of mostly woody flowering plants widely distributed in tropical areas, and for its representative genus.

The soapberry family includes important tropical timber, such as akee, native to West Africa. This species has been introduced in the West Indies, where the ripe fruit is fried and eaten with fish (the unripe fruit is highly toxic). Several tropical fruits, such as the litchi, are members of the soapberry family. The representative genus contains about 13 species; 2 occur in the United States, and the fruits of both are poisonous.

Flowers of the order to which the soapberry family belongs are characteristically functionally unisexual, small, and insect pollinated. The order contains about 5400 species placed in 15 families; the two largest are the rue family, with about 1700 species, and the soapberry

Names in different Indian languages :

English: Soapnut tree of South India.

Hindi: Reethaa

Kannada: Kugatemara, antawala

Malayalam: Urunci, uruvanchi

Sanskrit: Arishtaka, phenilah

Tamil: Puvamkottai, Mani pungu.

Telugu: Kunkutikaya, kumkuticettu, phenilamu

Unani: Reethaa

Synonyms :

Arishtaka, Phenila, Raktabeeja, Reethaakaranja, Garbhapaatana.

Sapindus trifoliatus auct. non Linn.

Morphology :

This tree is 8 to 10 mtrs. high and has many branches with leaves and leaflets- 2, 3 pair-oblong-lanceolate,

Flowers are white. Fruits are round, t occur in spring.

Distribution & Habitat :

Throughout India

Chemical constituents :

Saponin , genins, methylhedragenate, sapindic acid ,methyl oleanolate

Properties :

Guns: laghu, snigdha, tikshna;

Rasa : katu, tikta;

Vipaka katu;

Veerya: ushna;

Prabhav : vamak (emetic);

Karma :

Garba padi, vamanakam, lekhana

astringent, emetic, detergent, anthelmintic

Indication :

Kushta, kandu, visha

migraine, epilepsy , hysteria,  gout, rheumatism and paralysis

Part used :

Whole plant

Dosage :

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

External use : Anti-inflammatory.

Internal uses : It purifies vitiated kapha and pittá by emetic and purgative actions whereas alleviates vata by snigdha and ushna properties. Seed is intoxicant, while fruit rind has oxytropic action. In migraine, its water or powder is used as a nasya. In morphine poisoning, it is given orally to induce emesis.