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| Latin |
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Crocus sativus
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| Sankrit |
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Kumkuma, Kesara
a |
| Hindi |
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Kesar, Saphran
a |
| Gujarati |
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Kesar
a |
| Tamil |
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Kunkumappu
a |
| Malayalam |
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Kunkumappuvu, Kesaram, Kunkumam
a |
| Telugu |
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Kunkuma puvvu
a |
| Kannad |
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Kunkumakesari
aa
a |
| English |
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Saffron
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FAMILY : Iridaceae
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DISTRIBUTION & PROPAGATION :
Cultivated in Kashmir &Jammu and also cultivated in Spain, U.S.A. & Iran. It is cultivated by bulbs and seeds.
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DISCRIPTION:
A small bulbous perennial, 15-25 cm high, leaves radical, narrowly linear, channeled, leaf sheaths closely reticulate; flowers blue, scented, appearing with leaves, throat of perianth bearded, anthers yellow; ovary three-celled, stigmas orange coloured, trifid on filiform style tops; fruits loculicidal capsules.
The saffron of commerce is the dried style tops with orange coloured stigmas. They are marketed in a loosely matted mass of dark reddish brown flattened stigmas with characteristic aroma and bitter taste. Flowering - fruiting August to November.
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CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS :
Stigmas contain major volatile components of oil are safranul, isophorene, glucoside, corcin, crocetin, picro-crocrn. etc. Essential oil also contains 13 & R carotene & Iycopene.
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PROPERTIES : Dried stigmas - bitter, acrid, fragrant, stimulant, tonic, stomachic, aphrodisiac, anodyne, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, diuretic, laxative, and galactagogue.
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Parts
Used: Dried stigmas.
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USAGES :
Dried stigmas - are useful in bronchitis, pharyngopathy, anaemia, asthma, leucorrhoea, coughs, sexual debility, cephalalgia, vomiting, fever, melancholia, hepatomegaly, vitiated conditions of Kapha in children, amenorrhoea, epilepsy, inflammations, vitiated conditions of Vata and Pitta, nephropathy, splenopathy and skin diseases. As a facial cream it is very specific for decolouration of the skin.
Saffron marketed as a powder or as "hay", performs the function of a spice by adding its faint, delicate and pleasing flavour to foods, such as cream, cottage cheese, rice, cakes, chicken, meat, liqueurs and cordials. Dose Dried stigmas 2 to 4 only.
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DOSE :
Dried stigmas 2 to 4 only.
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FORMULATIONS :
Kumkumadi ghrita, Kumkumadi taila, Kesaradi vati, Tincture of saffron, Essence, Chyavanprash, sweets, ice'cream, syrup, sex tonic pills.
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Note
: Three varieties of kunkumam, namely, Kashmir, Baluchistan, and Persian are mentioned in 'Bhavaprakasam', The best quality will have no styles and stamens, while the lower grades contain them in plenty. Besides, dried and dyed petals of Chrysanthemum, Calendula ssp., Carthamus tinctorius are used for adulterating the lower grades. When kunkumam is kept in water for some time, the water gradually turns yellow and the stigma becomes pink in colour, of course maintaining its shape and form. A microscopic examination of the stigma will reveal the pollen grains sticking to its hair. On treating lower grades with warm water, the petals re-expand and regain the original shape discolouring the water with the dye used.
A good sample of the drug will easily transfer its colour & smell to sandal wood (Santalum album) paste when embedded in it for some time. It is widely used for making various sweets as condiment. It is very good sex tonic, It is also employed in Homoeopathy.
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