Vijaysar- Asana: Pterocarpus marsupium Uses, Research Side Effects

Asana, Beejaka, Vijaysar, Indian Kino tree  are different names for Pterocarpus marsupium. It is extensively used for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, diarrhea, vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis etc, in Ayurveda. 

Botanical name- Pterocarpus marsupeum
Family-Fabaceae

Vernacular names

Names in different languages:
Hindi name- Vijayasara, Vijaysar, Beejasaar, Beejsar, Bij Sar
English name- Indian Kino tree, Malabar Kino tree 
Tamil name – Vegai, Venga katal
Telugu name- Vegisa, Peddagi
Malayalam name- Venga
Kannada name- Banga, Bange mara
Bengali name – Peetashal, Piyasal
Marathi name – Vivala, Bibala
Gujarati name – Biyo
Oriya name – Piashala
Urdu name – Bijasar

Properties, part used, dosage

Vijaysar Medicinal Properties:
Guna (qualities) – Laghu – light to digest, Ruksha – dry
Rasa (taste) – Kashaya – astringent, Tikta – bitter
Vipaka- Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
Veerya – Sheeta – Coolant

Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Pitta Dosha.
Part used- Heart-wood, exudate resin
Heart wood is the main usable part of the bark and seeds are also used with little lesser benefits.
Dosage-Decoction 50-100ml; powder 3-6 g

Pharmacological action

Astringent, Anthelmintic, Blood purifier

Home remedies

By Prof. MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD.
Following are few of its simple and effective health remedies-

Inflammatory conditions

1. Leaf paste for inflammatory conditions:
Fresh leaves are collected and fine paste is made. This is warmed a little and applied over the swelling. 3-4 days medication pacifiers the swelling. In petechial hemorrhage also this is beneficial.

Type II Diabetes Mellitus

2. Heart wood decoction for Type II DM:
Heart wood coarse powder is made and kept ready. As per the requirement this is made into decoction and administered. In mild to moderate Type II Diabetes mellitus this is found to be very effective.
General method of preparation of decoction (kashaya) – 1 tablespoon of powder is added with 2 cups of water, boiled and reduced to 1 cup, filtered.
In my clinical practice I have suggested this simple remedy to hundreds together people with significant benefits.

Obesity

3. Hot infusion with honey for obesity:
The bark or heart wood coarse powder is added to hot water and kept for a while. Later it is taken as per requirement or whenever the person feels thirsty this is taken. By adding little honey if it is taken there will not be any fear of getting into fatigue, especially in hefty individuals.

Neuritis, numbness

4. Bark decoction for peripheral neuritis and numbness of the limbs:
The bark decoction is very effective in the conditions of neuritis and numbness of the limbs.
The wood of this is used to prepare the cups and by keeping the water in  such cups for overnight if it is taken it is believed to be good in controlling the sugar.

Most of the time ayurvedic herbs or herbal drugs are inspected or investigated by taking its dominant character or action. Also only its main action is studied or clinically used. In fact, this is not the way of Ayurvedic practice. For example this drug is a good rejuvinative and hair tonic also. But none has proceeded to evaluate its hair tonic effect.Also the drug action will be multi-fold when added with few of its synergetic drugs like Kathaka (Strychnos potatorum) Khadira (Acacia catechu) or turmeric. Instead of imitation(aping),if we adopt the drug with rationality much benefit can be obtained from herbal resources. Or else in few decades herbal drugs too take the shape of modern chemical constituents and true benefit of the classical ayurveda still may remain in disguise or un -utilized.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu)

Sanskrit verse

Uses, indications

Pterocarpus marsupium uses:
Keshya – Improves hair strength, promotes hair growth
Medohara – reduces fat and cholesterol levels
Rasayana – anti ageing, causes cell and tissue rejuvenation

Indicated in –
Raktapitta –Bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, heavy periods, etc
Krumi – worm infestation
Visarpa – herpes
Kushta – skin diseases
Shvitra – leucoderma, vitiligo
Meha – diabetes, urinary tract disorders
Gala Dosha – throat disorders
Raktamandala – ring worm infection

Beejaka Flowers
Madhura – sweet
Tikta – bitter
Pachaniya –digestive
Vatala – increases Vata Dosha

External application:
In cases of inflammation, swelling, herpes, leucoderma, tinea infection etc, the leaves paste is prepared with water and applied over the affected area.
In case of external injury, its heart wood paste is applied to relieve pain and swelling.

The bark and twigs are used as tooth brush. Due to its antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties, it makes a good ingredient in herbal tooth powder.

Effect on digestive system:
Resin and bark are used for the treatment of diarrhoea, IBS with diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis.
In case of intestinal parasites, the bark is made into herbal tea and administered.

Effect on blood: Due to its astringent properties, it balances Pitta, useful in bleeding disorders and gout.
Musculo-skeletal system: It is used both externally and internally to treat rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis. External application relieves pain and inflammation.

Skin disorders:
sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, 6th chapter

For all skin diseases, Kadhira – acacia catechu and Beejaka (Vijaysar) can be used.
Beejaka is used as a general skin tonic for a long periods of 3 – 4 months to treat chronic skin diseases such as vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis etc. Hence, Beejaka is used as an ingredient in many Ayurveda medicines for skin diseases such as – Maha Manjistadi kashayam, Ayaskriti etc.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda medicines

Ayurveda medicines with Beejaka as ingredient:
Click on the medicine name to know more about it. 
Asana manjishtadi taila – It is an Ayurveda medicine, used mainly in the treatment of headache and eye disorders.
Asana eladi taila – a traditional herbal oil, used in the Ayurveda treatment of headache, ear and eye diseases
Asana Vilwadi taila – an Ayurveda oil used in the treatment of diseases related eyes, ear and headache.
Narasimha Rasayan – used for the treatment of weakness, weight gain, hair growth and rejuvenation.

Research

Anti-diabetic activity was evaluated on experimental model by Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR). Type 2 diabetes was induced by administering streptozotocin (90 mg/kg, i.p.) in a neonatal rat model. Aqueous extract of P. marsupium at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg, decreased the fasting and postprandial blood glucose in type 2 diabetic rats.
The 200 mg/kg had more pronounced effect on postprandial hyperglycemia. The herb improved the body weight of diabetic animals. Cytokine TNF-? was found to be elevated in untreated diabetic rats due to chronic systemic inflammation. The aqueous extract at both doses significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the elevated TNF-? level in type 2 diabetic rats. The researchers concluded that modulation of cytokine TNF-? by the rasayana drug P. marsupium is related with its potential anti-diabetic activity.  A clinical study conducted by ICMR on newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus also found to reduce blood sugar levels.

In vitro study of methanol extract of Anti-bacterial activity  was conducted by Molecular Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, M.D.S. University, Ajmer India. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Gram-positive bacteria i.e. Bacillus coagulans and Escherichia coli, gram negative bacteria. Evaluations were based on the inhibition zone using disc diffusion assay. Results showed that Pterocarpus marsupium showed highly significant results against both the bacteria.

Side effects

Because of astringent properties, it is useful in relieving diarrhoea. Hence, it is not indicated during constipation.
People with anti diabetic treatment should take this herb with precaution, as it reduces blood sugar levels.

Vijaysar tumbler

Is Vijaysar tumbler really effective?
In the market, tumbler made of Vijaysar is available. It is known by the names – Diabetic tumbler, Vijaysar tumbler etc.  It is advised to store water in it at night and to drink the water in the morning, on empty stomach.

Does it work?
Yes, but to some extent only. When you take water stored in it, some amount of phyto-chemicals of Vijaysar will surely get into water. So, you will have its health benefits. But diabetes cannot be solely controlled with this tumbler water method. At the best, this can be an adjuvant for your efforts to control blood sugar levels.

Habitat, characteristics

Habitat: Hilly regions of Gujarat, Madhyapradesh, UP, Bihar.
The trees are found in large quantity in South Indian states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu and Odisha. The tree is cultivated in recent years.

Macroscopical characters of Bark:

1. It is a large deciduous tree.
2. Bark is thick, grey with vertical cracks.
3. Wood is very hard, yellowish brown with darker streaks.
4. When wood is soaked in water, water turns in to blue in color.

Microscopical characters:
Vessels are medium in size.
It is diffuse porous wood.
Ray parenchyma cells are uni to triseriate which are very small in size.
Procumbent and upright cells have been observed in R.L.S.

Morphology

Leaves – Compound, impairipinnate, oblong to obtuse glabrous on both surface
Flower – Pale yellow
Fruit – Pod, nearly circular, glabrous

Chemical composition

Pterocaprus marsupium chemical composition: 
Pterocarpol, Marsupol, Maesupin, Carpusin(Marsupsin), (-) epicatechin, Propterol, Pterosupin, Marsupinol, Lupeol.
Resin contains Kino tannic acid, Pyro catechin, epicatechin.
Kino tannic acid is found in heartwood.
Water Soluble Extractive:  Not less than 5.00%

Sanskrit synonyms

Asana, Beejaka,
Pitasara – Heart wood of Bijaka is yellow in colour
Pitasalaka – Heartwood resemble of Sala ( Shorea robusta) heartwood.
Sugandi – Flowers are aromatic
Karsya – Bijaka is emaciating
Kavya, Priya, Bandhukapushpaka, Shouri, Karshya, Sarjaka, Mahasarja, Tishya, Krushnasarjaka, Pushpavruksha, Alakapriya Peetasara, Peetashalaka,
Sugandha Neela niryasa – exudate / heartwood has pleasant odor

Classical Categorisation

Susruta- Salaasaradi gna
Vabhata- Asanadi Gana
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Oshadhi Varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu – Amradi Varga
Bhavaprakasha – Vatadi Varga
Rajanighantu – Prabhadradi Varga