Talk:Varuna
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Varuna |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Crataeva religiosa Forst. f. |
| Family | Capparidaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Crataeva religiosa Forst. f., popularly known as Varuna, is a moderate-sized deciduous tree native to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. It is widely revered in Ayurveda as the premier lithotriptic and diuretic drug of choice for managing urinary calculi (renal stones), dysuria, and inflammatory conditions. It has long been described as the Ayurvedic drug of choice in urinary disorders.[1]
Note on nomenclature: most of the experimental studies cited below were carried out on Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham., which is treated in the literature as Crateva magna (Lour.) DC., one of the names listed under "Other botanical names". The Varuna of the classical texts is traditionally taken to be the same drug, but readers should note that the research species name differs from the name used in this page's title.
English name
Three leaved caper
Therapeutic Uses
Renal stone (ashmari), Dysuria (mutrakrichhra), Abdominal lump (gulma), Abscess (vidradhi).[2]
Other Varieties / Other Botanical names
- Crateva magna (Lour.) DC
- Capparis magna Lour.
- Crateva lophosperma Kurz
- Triclanthera corymbosa Raf.
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Varuna, Tikta saka (leaves of varuna are bitter in taste).
Additional Synonyms in Bhavprakasha Nighantu
Varana, Kumaraka (leaves of varuna remain tender for many days).[3]
Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Hot (ushna) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify Kapha and Vata |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/31 | Dravya for Nadi Sweda (fomentation) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/33 | Prajata stree paricharya |
| 3 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/267 | As an ingredient of Agurvadi taila |
| 4 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/165 | Pathya Diet in Gulma (abdominal lump) |
| 5 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/45 | Used in swedana kriya (fomentation therapy) |
Dose
- Kwatha (Decoction): 20–30 g.[2]
Important Formulations
As per A.P.I.[2]
- Varunadi kwatha churna
Current Availability
Available
- In India: Commonly grows along riverbanks, marshy lands, and waterlogged areas. States include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan (moist regions), Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Out of India: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Oceania.
Phytoconstituents
Triterpenoids and sterols
The chloroform fraction of a crude rectified-spirit extract of the stem bark yielded four compounds: the triterpenoids betulinic acid and lupeol, and the sterols β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Their structures were established by 1H NMR spectroscopy and comparison with authentic specimens.[4]
Lupeol: the principal bioactive triterpene
Fractionation of the antiurolithiatic crude extract led to the isolation of lupeol (lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol) as the active constituent. In rats, lupeol not only prevented the formation of bladder stones but also reduced the size of stones that had already formed.[5]
Therapeutic Efficacy: Pharmacological Evidence
The evidence summarised below is from animal and in vitro studies. No controlled human clinical trial of Varuna alone was verified during the preparation of this monograph.
Lithotriptic and anti-urolithiatic activity (Ashmari)
The effect of oral administration of Crataeva nurvala bark decoction on calcium oxalate lithiasis was studied in rats. This is the experimental basis usually cited for the classical use of Varuna in urinary stones.[6]
Diuretic activity (Mutrakrichhra)
Antiurolithiatic and diuretic activity were reported for lupeol, the constituent isolated from the plant. This is consistent with the traditional use of Varuna in dysuria.[7]
Anti-inflammatory activity (Vidradhi, Shotha)
In rats with adjuvant arthritis, lupeol and lupeol linoleate reduced paw swelling by 39% and 58% respectively, compared with 35% for indomethacin. Unlike indomethacin, the two triterpenes showed no antinociceptive, antipyretic or ulcerogenic action, which suggests a different mechanism of action.[8]
Immunomodulatory activity
In Balb/c mice, oral lupeol isolated from Crataeva religiosa (12.5–200 mg/kg) reduced CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts and the cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ (Th1) and IL-4 (Th2). The authors linked this immune suppression to possible anti-arthritic activity.[9]
Antioxidant and nephroprotective activity
In two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) rats, an ethanol extract of the bark (100 mg/kg, orally, for four weeks) prevented kidney dysfunction. It normalised raised uric acid and creatinine, reduced oxidative stress markers, increased antioxidant gene expression in the kidney and suppressed several anti-inflammatory genes.[10]
Safety, Toxicity, and Precautions
- Toxicity: No formal toxicity or human safety data for Varuna bark itself were verified during the preparation of this monograph. For lupeol, its isolated constituent, the oral LD0 in mice was reported as more than 2 g/kg body weight.[9]
- Precautions (inference, not from a cited study): Because Varuna is a diuretic drug, caution is reasonable in severe dehydration or acute renal failure. Because lupeol suppressed T-cell activity in mice, caution is also reasonable in patients taking immunosuppressant drugs. Use under professional guidance is advisable.
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Experimental finding | Type of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Renal stones (Ashmari) | Bark decoction studied in calcium oxalate lithiasis; lupeol prevented bladder stones and reduced preformed stones | Rat models |
| Dysuria (Mutrakrichhra) | Diuretic activity of lupeol | Rat model |
| Inflammation, abscess (Vidradhi) | Reduced paw swelling in adjuvant arthritis (lupeol, lupeol linoleate); suppression of T-cell counts and Th1/Th2 cytokines by lupeol | Rat and mouse models |
| Kidney injury | Prevention of kidney dysfunction and oxidative stress by bark extract | Rat model (2K1C) |
References
- ↑ Deshpande PJ, Sahu M, Kumar P. Crataeva nurvala Hook and Forst (Varuna) the Ayurvedic drug of choice in urinary disorders. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 1982;76(Suppl):46–53.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:75.
- ↑ Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Vatadi Varga, verse no. 65, p. 530.
- ↑ Parvin S, et al. Triterpenoids and phytosteroids from stem bark of Crataeva nurvala Buch. Ham. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2011;1(9):47–50.
- ↑ Anand R, Patnaik GK, Kulshreshtha DK, Dhawan BN. Antiurolithiatic activity of lupeol, the active constituent isolated from Crataeva nurvala. Phytotherapy Research. 1994;8(7):417–421. doi:10.1002/ptr.2650080708
- ↑ Varalakshmi P, Shamila Y, Latha E. Effect of Crataeva nurvala in experimental urolithiasis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1990;28(3):313–321. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(90)90082-5
- ↑ Anand R, Patnaik GK, Kulshreshtha DK, Dhawan BN. Antiurolithiatic and diuretic activity of lupeol, the active constituent isolated from Crateva nurvala (Buch. Ham). Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 1992;24:48–49.
- ↑ Geetha T, Varalakshmi P. Anti-inflammatory activity of lupeol and lupeol linoleate in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2001;76(1):77–80. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00175-1. PMID: 11378285
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bani S, Kaul A, Khan B, Ahmad SF, Suri KA, Gupta BD, Satti NK, Qazi GN. Suppression of T lymphocyte activity by lupeol isolated from Crataeva religiosa. Phytotherapy Research. 2006;20(4):279–287. doi:10.1002/ptr.1852. PMID: 16557610
- ↑ Jahan I, Saha P, Eysha Chisty TT, Mitu KF, Chowdhury FI, Ahmed KS, Hossain H, Khan F, Subhan N, Alam MA. Crataeva nurvala bark (Capparidaceae) extract modulates oxidative stress-related gene expression, restores antioxidant enzymes, and prevents oxidative stress in the kidney and heart of 2K1C rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2023;2023:4720727. doi:10.1155/2023/4720727. PMID: 37593003