Ashoka is the dried stem bark of the Saraca indica Linn plant. It contains condensed tannins, which lack sugar and do not hydrolyze. The bark is collected through incisions from trees found in South and Southeast Asia up to elevations of 750m. Microscopically, the bark shows stone cells and sclerenchymatous patches. Chemically, it contains condensed tannins, hematoxylin, ketosterol, saponin, and calcium compounds. Ashoka has uses as a uterine tonic to stimulate contractions and is used to treat uterine bleeding and menorrhagia.
2. It is the type of Condensed tannin.
Synonyms:
The another name is Ashoka, Ashoka bark.
Biological source:
It is obtained from dried stem bark of the plant
Saraca indica Linn.
Family:
It belongs to the family Leguminosae.
3. WHAT IS CONDENSED TANNIN?
It is also known as CATECHOL TANNIN.
They lack sugar in their structures.
It do not hydrolysed as it is less soluble in water.
On dry distillation they give catechol.
Their structures are similar to Flavonoid.
It is present in cinnamon, cinchona and tea.
5. Geographical
Source:
It is distributed in
South Asia i.e. in
Malaysia, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka and India.
In India mainly found in
central and eastern
Himalaya.
6. CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION
It is found at an altitude of 750m in the Himalayas, Khasi,
Garo and Lushai hills.
It thrives in shady locations, especially near water in semi-
dry to wet areas in tropical and subtropical climates.
It is an evergreen tree of height 9m.
It can be easily propagated from seeds.
It bear dark red colored flowers.
The bark is marked by bluish and ash white patches of
Lichens.
Bark is collected from the plant by making transverse and
longitudinal incisions.
9. MACROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
Colour :Outer side is dark brown or almost black with warty
surface. Internally, it is reddish-brown with fine longitudinal
striation.
Odour :None
Taste :Astringent and bitter
Size :Length is up to 50 cm and thickness is 1 cm.
Shape :Occurs in form of channels.
11. MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
Phloem(cork) and
phelloderm form the
outer most layers.
Cortex shows the
presence of stone
cells.
Sclerenchymatous
patches are found in
phloem.
Medullar rays are
multisteriate.
12. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
It contains
• Condensed tannin(6%)
• Haemotoxylin
• Ketosterol(androgenic in nature)
• Saponin
• Calcium
• Iron compounds
• Glycoside P2
The activity of drug is due to the presence of steroidal
component and calcium salt.
13. USES:
Uterine tonic and it stimulate the uterus by prolonged and
frequent uterine contraction.
It is used in uterine bleeding.
Useful in menorrhagia.
Sedative
Oxytocic