Agnimantha

Botanical name: Premna integrifolia, P. obtusifolia, P. corymbosa, Verbenaceae

Other names: Arni (H), Munnai (T)

Botany: Agnimantha is a large shrub or tree attaining a height of up to nine meters, with yellowish bark, dotted with lenticels, the branches sometimes spiny. The leaves are broadly elliptic, obtuse, acuminate, and glabrous, margins entire or upper portions dentate, and give off an offensive odor when crushed. The flowers are small, greenish yellow to greenish white, borne in terminal paniculate corymbose cymes, similarly offensive in odor as the leaves, giving way to globose black drupes with a persistent saucer-shaped calyx when mature. Agnimantha is found widespread throughout India, along the coastal regions into the plains and hills (Warrier et al 1995, 348; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1929-30).

Part used: Leaves and root.

Dravyaguna:

• Rasa: kashaya, tikta, katu, madhura

• Vipaka: katu

• Virya: ushna

• Karma: dipanapachana, bhedana, jvaraghna, chedana, raktaprasadana, kusthaghna, mutravirechana, shothahara, medohara, vedanasthapana, Kaphavatahara (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 231; Warrier et al 1995, 348)

Constituents: The limited amount of chemical research on Agnimantha has yielded the alkaloids premnine, ganiarine, premnazole and aphelandrine, the pentacyclic terpene betulin, the flavone lutiolin, beta-sitosterol, a polyisoprenoid, resin and tannin (Yoganarasimhan 2000, 440; Barik et al 1993; Kapoor 1990, 271).

Medical research:

Antiinflammatory: An alcoholic extract of the roots of Premna herbacea (Bhumjambu) demonstrated a significant antipyretic effect in experimental animals, and an anti-inflammatory effect in chronic inflammation (Narayanan et al 2000). Kapoor reports that a decoction of Agnimantha exhibited a marked anti-inflammatory effect in acute, subacute and chronic inflammation induced by immunological and nonimmunological experimental models (1990, 271).

Hypoglycemia: Kapoor reports that an extract of the stem bark of P. integrifolia demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect in rats (1990, 271).

Hypotensive: Kapoor reports that an extract of the stem bark of P. integrifolia demonstrated a hypotensive effect in cats and dogs (1990, 271).

Toxicity: An alcoholic extract of Premna herbacea was found to be safe up to a dose of 8.0 g/kg when administered orally to mice (Narayanan et al 2000).

Indications: Dyspepsia, flatulent colic, hemorrhoids, constipation, fever, catarrh, cough, bronchitis, asthma, skin diseases, edema, diabetes, anemia, neuralgia, insufficient lactation, inflammatory joint disease, tumours.

Contraindications: Pregnancy; Pittakopa.

Medicinal uses: Agnimantha is an important herb for edema, diseases of the urinary tract and diabetes. In the treatment of edema Agnimantha churna is combined with Dhanyaka (Coriandrum sativum seed) (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1929-30). In the treatment of diabetes Agnimantha churna can be combined with Shilajitu and Guggulu. In the treatment of urinary tract disorders Agnimantha may be of benefit when combined with Gokshura, or when taken alone as the fresh juice (svarasa). The fresh juice can also be used along with the svarasa of Amalaki and Guduchi in the treatment of diabetes, and with Shilajitu in the treatment of obesity (Sharma 2002, 336). Nadkarni recommends an infusion of the leaves in fever, colic and flatulence (1954, 1010). The Chakradatta recommends a formula called Shunthyadi in the treatment of urinary calculi, prepared by decocting equal parts Agnimantha, Shunthi, Gokshura, Haritaki, Pashanabheda (Bergenia ligulata), Shigru (Moringa pterygosperma), Varuna (Crateva nurvala), and Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), taken with Hingu, Yavakshara (barley ash) and salt as anupana (Sharma 2002, 318). Agnimantha root is an important constituent of the famed Chyavanaprasha fomulation.

Dosage:

• Svarasa: fresh leaves, 10-25 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Churna: dried root or leaves, 3-5 g b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Phanta: dried leaves, 1:4, 30-90 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Kvatha: dried root, 1:4, 30-90 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Tincture: dried root, 1:3, 50% alcohol, 3-5 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.