BHALLATAKA

Botanical Name- Semecarpus anacardium

Family - Anacardiaceae
Classification of Dravya
Charaka- Dipaniya ,Kusthaghna, Mutra
Sangrahaniya mahakasaya
Susruta- Nyagrodhadi gana , Mustadi gana

Bh.Pr.N. - Haritakyādi varga

Basonym of Drug
भल्ल इवातति, तैक्ष्ण्यात् ।
Bhallataka is very sharp like that of spear.
Synonyms
1. अग्निमुखी:-
अभिवद्रक्तपीतं मुखं
शीर्षभागोऽस्य।
Fruits are attached to the orange coloured fleshy cup.
2. धनुर्बीजः-
धनुरिवबीजमस्य ।
Seeds are obliquely ovoid
3. तैलबीजः-
तैलं बीजेऽस्य ।
Fruit has oily contents
4. अग्निकः–
अग्निवत् दहनस्तापनश्च ।
Bhallataka causes burns and increase temperature.
6. अरुष्करः-
अरुर्वणं करोतीति ।
Bhallataka fruit causes blisters.
7. कृमिघ्नः–
कृमीन् हन्तीति ।
Bhallataka kills Krimi.
8. शोफकृत्-
शोर्फ करोति स्पर्शादिति ।
Bhallataka juice induce swelling if comes in contact with skin.
9. वीरवक्षः
वीर्यवान् वृक्षः।
Bhallatako is very sharp and potent plant.
Regional Names
• English- Markingnut
• Hindi- Bhilawa
• Kannada- Geru, Karigeru
• Malayalam- TenparakaaMarathiBibha
MORPHOLOGY AND HABITATE
1. It is a tree of 25 to 40 feet. hight.
2. Stem bark is brown in colour, on incision there is
black colour exudate came from stembark.
3. Leaves are arranged in group on the end of branch. Leaves
are obovate in shape, leaflets are 9 to 30 inch long and 5 to
12 inch width. Petioles are 1 to 2 inch long.
4. Flowers are small greenish yellow in colour. Mail and
female flower found on different plants.
5. Fruits are 1 inch long heart shaped, green coloured in
unripe condition and black in ripe condition.
• Inside the fruit there is white coloured fluid
that becomes black on drying.
• Basal part of fruit is bulky and orange in colour
that is used for eating.
• There is a single seed like almond inside the
fruit.
• Phytoconstituents
• Nuts contain Bhilawanol, Bioflavanoids A, B
and C., Anacardiac acid.
• Seeds contain- Bhilawanol and Anacordoside,
Anacardic acid, cardol, catechol, Anacardol,
Semecarpol.
• Nut shell contains- Bioflavaone B,
Bioflavonoids, Bhilawanol, Tetrahydroa-
mentoflavone, Tetrahydrorobustaflavone.
 Rasapanchaka

Rasa - Katu, Tikta, Kasaya (B.P.N)

Guna - Laghu, Snigdha,Tikshna
Vipaka - Madhura
Virya - Usna
भल्लातः कटुतिक्तोष्णो मधुरः
कृमिनाशनः । गुरुमाशोंग्रहण
कुष्ठान् इन्ति वातकफामयान् ।।
 DOSHA KARMA

• Kapha vata Samaka → Kapha hara beacause

of Usna virya and Katu rasa. Vatahara because
of Usna virya, Madhura Vipaka and Snigdha
gunaKarma
• (Action)Bhallataka phala-
• Pachana, Chedana, Bhedana, Medhya, Dipana,
Vrnahara, Kustahara, Arsoghna, Iwarahara,
Krmighna, Sukrala, Grahi and balya.
 Amayika Prayoga (Therapeutic
administration)
1. Arsas (Piles)
भल्लातकयुतं वापि प्रदद्यात्तक्रतर्पणम्
। च.चि. १४/७०
Butter milk processed with Bhallataka (Semecarpus
anacardium) is very useful in Arsas (Piles).
2. Apachi (Scrofula)
छागमूत्रेण संपिष्टमपचीप्नं
सर्वपारिष्टपत्राणि दग्ध्वा
भल्लातकैः सह । प्रलेपनम् ।।शा.स.
३.११/९८
The paste prepared by burning the combination of Sarzaj a,
Arista patra (Leaves of Azadirachta indica) and Bhallataka
(Semecarpus anacardium) mixed with goat's urine and applied
over Apaci.
3. Romasatanartha (To remove unwanted hair)
तैलं भल्लातकस्यथ स्नुहिक्षीरं तथैव च।
प्रगृहौकत्र मतिमान् रोमशातनमुत्तमम् ।।
सु.चि. १/१०७
The combination of Taila (Oil) of Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium) and Snuhi
Kshira (Latex of Euphorbia nerifolia) is a very good remedy for removing
unwanted hair.
4. Krimi (Worm infestation)
दिनमारुष्करं तैलं पाने वस्तौ च योजयेत् ।अ.ह.चि.
२०/३२
In case of Krmi (Worms) one has to take Bhallataka taila internally or as a
Basti (Enema).
5. Kustha (Skin diseases)
भल्लातकैः सत्रिफलैः सनिम्बैः युक्तानि चान्यानि
घृतानि चैव ।च.चि. ७/८२
Person has to take the ghee processed with Bhallataka (Semecarpus
anacardium), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis). Haritaki (Terminalia chebula),
Vibhitaki (Terminalia belerica) and Nimba (Azadirachta indica). Which is
very beneficial in curing all the skin diseases.
• Matra (Dose)
Taila: 10-20 drops
Ksirapaka- 30 ml.
• Yoga
Formulation Indications
Bhallataka Curna Granthi
Bhallatakadya Taila Nadivrana , Apachi
Bhallataka Ghrta Grahani, Gulma,Pandu
Kankayana Vați Arsas
Bhallatakavaleha Arsas
Bhallatakadi Kwatha Urustambha
Mahabhallataka Guda Kustha, Switra, Arsas
8.Bhallatakadi Modaka Pittaja Arsas
Adverse effects
In higher doses
Bhallataka will cause
• Blisters on tongue and throat
• Increased thirst and sweat
• Heart burn
• Gastro-intestinal tract irritation
• Oliguria
• Skin eruptions and burning
• Swelling
• Renal failure
Remedial measures
1. If consumed then gastric lavage should be done.
2. In case of dehydration-I V fluid administration.
3. Antacid therapy
4. Jiraka (Cumin seed) and Saindhava lavaņa (Rock salt) to be
given.
5. Coriander leaves paste is applied.
• Antidote
• 1. Coconut oil will be goodent
• 2. Application of Meghanada Rasa [ Juice of Amaranthus
tricolour] with- Navanita (Butter)
• Fatal Dose-More than 10 gm.
• Fatal Period-12-24 hours
• Sodhana (Purification)
1. Fruit of Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium) is cut into
pieces by crushing and kept it in Istika churna (Brick pow-
der) or rubbed with brick powder.
• Then washed clearly with hot water. This purifies Bhallataka.
2. Swedana is done with Narikela ambu (Coconut water) is
Dolayantra.
Antiatherogenic effect
Researches
• The imbalance between the pro-oxidants and antioxidants is the main cause of development
of atherosclerosis. To prevent such condition, antioxidant therapy is beneficial. Semecarpus
anacardium (SA) shows such antioxidant property. It has capacity to scavenge the superoxide
and hydroxyl radicals at low concentrations. The process of atherogenesis initiated by
peroxidation of lipids in low-density lipoproteins was also found inhibited by SA.
• Sharma et al. demonstrated the cardiac activity of SA, as it generally reduces the tissue and
serum hyperlipidemia by the inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption coupled with
peripheral disposal thus possessing anti-artherosclerotic activity.
CNS activity
• Farooq et al. evaluated the beneficial effect of nuts of SA, extracted with milk, on CNS, mainly
for its locomotor and nootropic activities in different experimental animal models. The
extract tested but a slight CNS depressant effect was noted with only 150 mg/kg of the
extract and it was found to possess nootropic activity.
Hypoglycemic effect
• Arul et al. studied the effect of ethanolic extract of dried nuts of SA on blood glucose and
investigated in both normal (hypoglycemic) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic
(antihyperglycemic) rats. The ethanolic extract of SA (100 mg/kg) reduced the blond glucose
of normal rats The blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 1, 2 and 3 h after the treatment
and antihyperglycemic activity of SA was compared with tolbutamide, a sulfonyl urea
derivative used in diabetes mellitus.
• REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION (ANTISPERMATOGENIC EFFECT)

Semecarpus anacardium extract feeding caused antispermatogenic effect

evidenced by reduction in numbers of spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa in
male albino rats.
• NEPHROTOXICITY
• There was a significant decrease in hemoglobin percent and lowering of
erythrocytes, indicating ‘anemia’ during toxicity study. He also evaluated the
acute and sub-chronic effect of crude extract on activity of some kidney enzymes
GOT, GPT, SDH, LDH and histology of kidney of albino rat (Wistar strain) in either
sex. Significant alteration in activity levels of marker enzymes of kidney as well as
histological structure leading to nephritis were observed, indicating renal
dysfunctioning in albino rat. Results exhibited nephrotoxicity inducing potential
of SA nut oil extract.
• Anti-carcinogenic activity
• Mathivadhani et al. studied SA nut extract for inhibitory effect on human breast
cancer cells (T47D). Cytotoxicity analyses suggested that these cells had become
apoptotic. Semecarpus anacardium was discovered to induce rapid Ca(2+)
mobilization from intracellular stores of T47D cell line, and its cytotoxicity against
T47D was well correlated with altered mitochondrial transmembrane potential