Lathyrus Sativus is a Leguminous species

Sunday, 02 July 2006

Herbal treatment Paralysis largely cultivated as a pulse crop, chiefly on alluvial soils in the North----West and Central Provinces. The seed is a nutritious food, but its continued use induces paralysis preceded by rheumatoid pains and termed lathyrismus, in the lower limbs. It is a kind of vegetable food poisoning (sito. toximus). Specially the seeds and bark are said to contain the poison. This toxin has been traced to a volatile alkaloid which is said to be readily dissipated when the pulse is sufficiently heated and properly cooked, But Scientists and research Workers after careful investigations of the chemistry of the seeds and experimentation with them on animals have recently come to the conclusion that the seeds of L, Sativus contain no alkaloids and that the small traces of alkaloids separated by previous workers o have owed their origin to extraneous seeds and were not derived from the seeds of L. Sativus. Owing to the general observation that ordinary Khesari seed was a mixture of the seed of L. Sativus with other weeds chiefly the vetch Vicia Sativa var. L. Angustifolia, known as akta, the seed was examined more minutely, On extracting the crushed seeds with Prollius fluid evidence of the presence of bases showing alkaloidal properties was obtained. From careful chemical researches and experi. anents they have come to the following conclusions,----(1) The seeds of khesari (h. Sativus) have been found, on chemical examination, to be free from substances of an alkaloidal nature. Controlled experiments with this seed over long periods with ducks and monkeys have demon strated that the grains are harmless rand provide a nourishing diet for these animals. (2) An examination of the weeds which contaminate khesari, has proved that akta (Vicia sativa var L. angustifolia) contains bases showing alkaloidal properties. Two such bases, vicine and divicine, and a cyanogenetic glucoside vicianin, have been isolated, prepared in the pure state, and used in inoculation experiments on animals. Divicine, which occurs in akta in combination with a sugar as the glucoside vicine, produces on inoculation in guinea----pigs a characteristic and fatal disease. Akta, when fed to ducks causes death. In monkeys, it produces a very characteristic train of sy1uptoms affecting the nervous and muscular systems. (3) Though certain of the symptoms occuting in monkeys fed on diets containing akta have been describ A in cases of human lathyrism, we are not yet in a position to state, in the absence of pathological proof, that akta is the cause of lathyrism in man.----("Studies on Lathyrism" by L, A. P Anderson, Albert Howard & J. L. Simonsen, Central Research Institute, Kasauli; Institute of Plant Industry Indore; and Forest Research Institute, Debra Dun; ii April 1925 of the "Indian Journal of Medical Research") o In the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of the C. P. smaller seeded variety known as Lakhori and devoid a the toxic property above referred to is extensively culti vated----(Watt). . The Constituents of L. Sativus are.----Water 11.1, Albuminoids 24.4, Starch 55.3, Oil 1,0 Fibre 5.4. and Ash 2.8. p c. The oil expressed is a powerful and dangerous cathartic. Lathyrism as described in the Ayurvedic Works.----"The Triputa pulse is sweet, bitter and astringent; very dry, destroyer of Pitta and Sleshma, savoury, constipating and cold. But it causes a man to become lame and cripple; and it irritates the nerves." In the Madan Pal Nighantu or Madanvinode by Raja Madan Pala we find the two varieties of Khesari described as the larger and the smaller seed varieties,----Kalai is called Khandika, Triputa is small khandika, Kalai corrects Sleshma and Pitta, is constipating and irritates nerves. The triputa has similar properties. The green leaves also correct Slesma and Pitta,"

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