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Shankapushpi

Botanical names: Various species are cited in various texts for Shankapushpi, including Convolvulus pluricaulis, C. microphyllus and Evolvulus alsinoides (Convolvulaceae), and Clitoria ternatea (Papilionaceae).

Other names:

  • Canscora decussata: Shankhini (S), Kalameg, Shankhauli, Shamkhaphuli (H)

  • Convolvulus pluricaulis, C. microphyllus: Shankhava, Mangalyakusuma (S), Sankhahuli (H)

  • Evolvulus alsinoides: Vishnukranta (S), Shyamakranta (H), Vishnukiranti (T)

  • Clitoria ternatea: Girikarnika, Aparajita (S), Aparjit (H), Kannikkoti, Girikanni (T)

ShankapushpiBotany:

Canscora decussata is an erect branching annual attaining a height of up 60 cm, the stems four-winged with decussate branches. The leaves are simple, ovate or lanceolate, sessile, and oppositely arranged. The flowers are pink or white, cylindrical and tubular with four lobes, giving rise to cylindrical membranous capsules containing numerous small brown seeds. C. decussata is found in moist areas up to 1500 m in elevation, throughout tropical India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Africa (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1659; Warrier et al 1994a, 361).

Convolvulus pluricaulis is a prostrate or suberect spreading hairy perrenial shrub. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate to linear, and the flowers are white or pinkish, solitary or paired. The fruit capsules are oblong-globose, pale brown, containing tiny brown seeds. C. pluricaulis is common in dry, rocky or sandy locations (Mahashwari 1963, 239).

Evolvulus alsinoides (pictured above) is a small, pubescent procumbent perennial with a small woody root stock, with simple elliptic-oblong or oblong-ovate leaves, alternately arranged. The flowers are light blue in color, solitary or in pairs, borne in the leaf axils, giving rise to globose four-valved capsules. E. alsinoides is found throughout India in exposed areas up to 1800 meters in elevation (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1738-9; Warrier 1995, 11)

Clitoria ternatea is a perennial climber with cylindrical stems and branches, with compound leaves, imparipinnate, with 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are blue or white with an orange center, solitary or axillary, followed by flattened pods containing 6-10 yellowish-brown seeds. C. ternatea is found throughout India and SE Asia (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 803; Warrier 1994b, 129).

Part used: Root.

Dravyaguna: Canscora decussata

  • Rasa: tikta, katu, kashaya

  • Vipaka: guru

  • Virya: ushna

  • Karma: dipana, bhedana, krimiaghna, raktaprasadana, varnya, sandhaniya, kushtaghna, vishaghna, medhya, vajikarana, rasayana, Kaphahara, tridoshahara (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1659; Warrier et al 1994a, 361).

Dravyaguna: Convolvulus pluricaulis, C. microphyllus

  • Rasa: tikta, kashaya

  • Vipaka: guru

  • Virya: ushna

  • Karma: dipana, bhedana, krimiaghna, varnya, kushtaghna, sandhaniya, kushtaghna, vishaghna, medhya, vajikarana, rasayana, tridoshahara (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 272).

Dravyaguna: Evolvulus alsinoides

  • Rasa: tikta, katu

  • Vipaka: guru

  • Virya: shita

  • Karma: grahi, jvaraghna, krimiaghna, chedana, varnya, vishaghna, medhya, vajikarana, Pittahara, tridoshahara (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1738-9; Warrier et al 1995, 11).

Dravyaguna: Clitoria ternatea (blue-flowered variety)

  • Rasa: tikta

  • Vipaka: katu

  • Virya: shita

  • Karma: bhedana, krimiaghna, kasahara, svasahara, shotahara, vishaghna, medhya, vajikarana, chakshushya, Pittahara, tridoshaghna (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 802; Warrier et al 1994b, 129).

Constituents:

  • Canscora decussata: Among the limited number of constituents described for C. decussata are xanthones, loliolide, gluanone, canscoradione, friedelin and sterols (Yoganarasimhan 2000, 100; Ghosal et al 1978; Ghosal et al 1976).

  • Convolvulus pluricaulis: no data found.

  • Evolvulus alsinoides: alkaloids (Yoganarasimhan 2000, 223).

  • Clitoria ternatea: The blue-flowered variety contains malonylated flavonol glycosides such as kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin. Unlike the white-flowered variety the blue-flowered Clitoria contains anthocyanins ternatins C1-C5, D3 and preternatins A3 and C4) in the flowers. The seeds are stated to contain high levels of oligosaccharides (Kazuma et al 2003; Terahara et al 1996; Revilleza et al 1990)

Medical research:

Immunity: An aqueous extract prepared from Canscora decussata was found to promote the adhesion of peripheral neutrophils to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, an experimental model of immune surveillance. The increased adhesion was found to be a result of the induction of the expression of cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells (Madan and Ghosh 2002). The immunomodulatory properties of Evolvulus alsinoides were evaluated in adjuvant induced arthritic rats. The crude extract was administered intraperitonially and the anti-inflammatory response was determined by lymphocyte proliferation and the severity of synovial hyperplasia. Evolvulus alsinoides demonstrated a marked reduction in inflammation and edema, and decreasing the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (Ganju et al 2003).

Antimycobacterial: Researchers report that xanthones isolated from Canscora decussata demonstrate an antimycobacterial activity (Ghosal et al 1978).

Anticonvulsant: Researchers report an anticonvulsant activity for Canscora decussata (Dikshit et al 1972).

Nootropic and memory enhancing: A methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea was studied for its effect on cognitive behavior, anxiety, depression, stress and convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximum electroshock (MES) in experimental animals. The effect of the extract was also studied on behavior mediated by dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and acetylcholine. Clitoria ternatea was found to demonstrate nootropic and anxiolytic activity in behavioural studies, and reduced stress-induced ulcers and the convulsant activity of PTZ and MES. Clitoria ternatea was also found to reduce the intensity of behavior mediated via serotonin and acetylcholine, although the effects upon dopamine and noradrenaline-mediated behavior was not significant (Jain et al 2003). A methanolic extract of the roots of Clitoria ternatea given orally to rats was found to inhibit paw edema caused by carrageenan, and vascular permeability and writhing induced by acetic acid. The extract also exhibited a significant inhibitory activity in yeast-induced pyrexia in rats (Devi et al 2003). An aqueous extract of Clitoria ternatea given to neonatal and young adult rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 30 days significantly increased acetylcholine content in their hippocampi as compared to age matched controls. Researchers theorized that this activity may be the neurochemical basis for the nootropic and memory-enhancing property Clitoria ternatea (Rai et al 2002). Neonatal rats were intubated with either 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of an aqueous root extract of Clitoria ternatea for 30 days, and then subjected to open field, two compartment passive avoidance and spatial learning tests, immediately after the treatment and 30 days after the treatment, and were compared with age matched normal and saline control rats. Results showed no change in open field behaviour, but showed improved retention and spatial learning performance at both points in the behavioural tests, validating the memory-enhancing property of Clitoria ternatea (Rai et al 2001).

Antiulcerogenic: Researchers evaluated the antiulcerogenic activity of the fresh juice from Convolvulus pluricaulis against experimental gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, two hour cold restraint stress and four hour pyloric ligation in rats. The extract was given orally twice daily for five days at doses of 375 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg. The fresh juice demonstrated anti-ulcerogenic effects at both doses in all the experimental gastric ulcer models, comparable to the reference drug sucralfate. Further research indicated that the mechanism of actions is due to augmentation of mucosal defensive factors such as mucin secretion, and increasing the lifespan of mucosal cells and glycoprotiens (Sairam et al 2001).

Toxicity: No data found for any of the species described.

Indications:

  • Canscora decussata: Intestinal parasites, fever, tuberculosis, ascites, leucoderma, leprosy, poor memory, epilepsy, psychosis, unconsciousness, spiritual possession, nervous exhaustion, wounds, ulceration.

  • Convolvulus pluricaulis: Poor digestion, intestinal parasites, skin diseases, poisoning, epilepsy, poor memory, spiritual possession, witchcraft.

  • Evolvulus alsinoides: Diarrhea, dysentery, fever, bronchitis, asthma, hemorrhage, poor memory, epilepsy, alopecia, premature graying, debility.

  • Clitoria ternatea: Colic, hepatosplenomegaly, intestinal parasites, fever, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, stranguary, ascites, skin diseases, skin eruptions, burning sensations, poor memory, headache, otalgia.

Contraindications: All species of Shankapushpi may interact with antidepressant, antipsychotic and antiseizure medication.

Medicinal uses: Shankapushpi provides an interesting challenge for the herbalist given that at least four different species are called such. Although the reasons for this variability aren’t entirely known, it is likely that these different species are a manifestation of regional availability, and the fact that the term Shankapushpi is a more or less general term that is synonymous with plants that have a medhya property, in much the same way that the term Brahmi is used to denote the same. In the state of Kerala for example, local vaidyas make use of Clitoria terneata as Shankapushpi, even though it also known by other names such as Girikarnika and Aparajita (Warrier et al 1994b, 129). In contrast, it is Convovulus pluricaulis that is listed as officinal in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (1978), with Evolvulus alsinoides and Clitoria terneata listed as alternatives. Both Warrier et al and Kirtikar and Basu indicate however that only Canscora decussata is properly called Shankapushpi (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1659; Warrier et al 1994a, 361). And, given the etiology of Shankapushpi, which means “conch-flower,” a comparison of the various flowers would indicate that Clitoria terneata is the only one that perhaps looks like a conch. These inconsistencies are not simply the result of academic error however, but are a reflection of actual usage and thus Shankapushpi will probably continue to mean several different species of plants among Ayurvedic physicians. In one recent study of Shankapushpi found in the market place in northern India, nine samples were found to be Convolvulus microphyllus, one was Evolvulus alsinoides, one sample was a mixture of three different species including E. alsinoides, C. microphyllus and Amberboa divaricata, and two samples were Indigofera cordifolia (Singh and Viswanathan 2000). Although each plant is listed for Shankapushpi has medhya rasayana properties under their own names, including Nilini (Indigofera cordifolia), they also contain different secondary indications and may not necessarily be interchangeable. Thus a little caution is recommended when using Shankapushpi, and to ensure strict quality control a botanical voucher should be included with any order. In the Chakradatta the fresh juice of Shankapushpi is mixed with the juices of Brahmi, Kushmanda, Vacha, and Kushta, mixed with honey and used in the treatment of unmada (psychosis) (Sharma 2002, 184). In the treatment of apasmara (epilepsy) the Chakradatta recommends Brahmighrita, prepared by cooking one part aged ghee in four parts fresh juice of Brahmi, mixed with the powders of Vacha, Kushta and Shankapushpi (Sharma 2002, 194). The Chakradatta also singles out a paste of Shankapushpi as a particularly potent medhya rasayana, to enhance the intellect and promote long life, to improve digestion and enhance physical strength, and to improve the voice and luster of the skin, along with other herbs such as Mandukaparni, Guduchi, Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) (Sharma 2002, 625). Shankapushpi combined with equal parts powders of Udichya (Coleus vettiveroides), Aparmarga (Achyranthes aspera), Vidanga, Vacha, Haritaki, Kushta and Shatavari, is stated by the Chakradatta of making one capable of “…memorizing one thousand stanzas in only three days” (Sharma 2002, 626). Kirtikar and Basu state that the fresh juice of Canscora decussata is used “…in all cases of insanity, in doses of about one ounce” (1935, 1660). Both the root and herb of Evolvulus alsinoides is considered to be an important remedy for diarrhea, the leaf used as an infusion in doses of about 100 mL (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1738). The leaf of E. alsinoides can also be smoked (duma) in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and asthma (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1738). Kirtikar and Basu state that the blue-flowered Clitoria ternatea displays all the medicinal properties as the white-flowered variety, but is also vajikarana (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 803). The root of C. ternatea is stated to be diuretic and laxative, the root juice used in chronic bronchitis, as nasya in headache, and as a decoction in irritation of the bladder and urethra (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 803). The warmed juice of the leaves of C. ternatea mixed with salt is used as analgesic in otalgia and lymphadenopathy, and the seeds are stated to be cathartic and can cause griping, attributed to the oligosaccharides (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 803).

Dosage: general guidelines for the root of all four species

• Churna: 3-5 g b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Kvatha: 30-90 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Tincture: dried root, 1:3, 45%; 2-5 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.

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