Sharapunkha — Purple Tephrosia

Ayurvedic herb Sharapunkha (Tephrosia purpurea) — Purple Tephrosia. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Kashaya, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Pitta, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Tephrosia purpurea is a renowned herb for liver and spleen disorders and also acts as a blood purifier.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Tikta, Kashaya	Tikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic; Kashaya (Astringent) — drying, absorbent, wound-healing
Guna	Laghu, Ruksha	Laghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
Virya	Ushna	Ushna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
Vipaka	Katu	Katu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
Prabhava	Yakrituttejaka, Raktashodhak	Yakrituttejaka — liver stimulant; Raktashodhak — blood purifier

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Sharapunkha is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Plihashatru, Nilivrikshakriti, Banasher

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Sharapunkha are: panchanga, moola.

Main Indications

Sharapunkha is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Pliharoga, Yakrit Roga, Gulma, Vrana, Kushta.

Dosha Effects

Sharapunkha pacifies Pitta, Kapha.

It may aggravate Vata when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Sharapunkha is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
bark	Colic	MESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:9788172363178
leaf	Contusions	MESH:D003288,UMLS:C0009938, ICD-11:ND56.0	ISBN:9788173717062
leaf	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
leaf	Gonorrhea	MESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7Z	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
leaf	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788173717062
leaf	Pectoralis muscles	MESH:D010369	ISBN:9788173717062
leaf	Syphilis	MESH:D013587,UMLS:C0039128, DOID:4166, ICD-11:1A6Z	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Abdominal pain	MESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.), ISBN:9788173717062
root	Acne vulgaris	MESH:D000152,UMLS:C0702166, DOID:6543, ICD-11:ED80.Z	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Anemia	MESH:D000740,UMLS:C0002871, DOID:2355, ICD-11:3A9Z	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	ISBN:9780387706375
root	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Bronchitis	MESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Colic	MESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
root	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363178
root	Dysmenorrhea	MESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363178, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Elephantiasis	MESH:D004604,UMLS:C0013882, DOID:4976, ICD-11:1F66.3	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Fishes, poisonous	MESH:D005400, ICD-11:NE61	ISBN:9788172361266
root	Flatulence	MESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Furunculosis	MESH:D005667,UMLS:C0016867, ICD-11:1B75.0	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Gingivitis	MESH:D005891,UMLS:C0017574, DOID:3087, ICD-11:DA0B.Y	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Hepatomegaly	MESH:D006529,UMLS:C0019209, ICD-11:ME10.00	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	ISBN:9788173717062
root	Liver diseases	MESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0Z	ISBN:9788172363093
root	Otitis media	MESH:D010033,UMLS:C0029882, DOID:10754, ICD-11:AA3Z	ISBN:9788172361266
root	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Hydrocele	MESH:D006848,UMLS:C1720771, DOID:9912, ICD-11:GB00.Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
root	Toothache	MESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.Y	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Tuberculosis, lymph node	MESH:D014388,UMLS:C0041316, DOID:4889, ICD-11:1B12.6	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717062
root	Urination disorders	MESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0Y	ISBN:9788173717062
seed	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172363178
seed	Eczema	MESH:D004485,UMLS:C0013595	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
seed	Leprosy	MESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20	ISBN:9780387706375
seed	Scabies	MESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
stem	Toothache	MESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.Y	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.)
whole plant	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9788172363178
whole plant	Antirheumatic agents	MESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2	ISBN:9788172363093
whole plant	Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity	MESH:D001289,UMLS:C1263846, DOID:1094, ICD-11:6A05	ISBN:9788172363093
whole plant	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9780387706375
whole plant	Fibrosis	MESH:D005355,UMLS:C0016059, ICD-11:DB93.Z	ISBN:9780387706375
whole plant	Jaundice	MESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1	ISBN:9780387706375
whole plant	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9788172363178
whole plant	Liver diseases	MESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0Z	ISBN:9780387706375
	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717062
	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Antineoplastic agents	MESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392	ISBN:9788172363093
	Antipyretics	MESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
	Antitoxins	MESH:D000992,UMLS:C0003445, ICD-11:XM5CP2	ISBN:9788172361266
	Asthma	MESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Astringents	MESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Bronchitis	MESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20	ISBN:9788171360536
	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Hematologic diseases	MESH:D006402,UMLS:C0018939, DOID:74, ICD-11:3C0Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
	Hemostatics	MESH:D006490,UMLS:C0019120	ISBN:9788173717062
	Hepatomegaly	MESH:D006529,UMLS:C0019209, ICD-11:ME10.00	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Hypoglycemic agents	MESH:D007004,UMLS:C0020616	ISBN:9788172363093
	Infection	MESH:D007239,UMLS:C3714514, ICD-11:1H0Z	ISBN:9788173717062
	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	ISBN:9788173717062
	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717062
	Leprosy	MESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Liver injury	MESH:D008099,UMLS:C0160390, ICD-11:NB91.1	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat)
	Neoplasms	MESH:D009369,UMLS:C0027651, DOID:162, ICD-11:2E2Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Anti-poisoning	MESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Scabies	MESH:D012532,UMLS:C0036262, DOID:8295, ICD-11:1G04	ISBN:9788172363178
	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172363178, ISBN:9788173717062
	Splenic diseases	MESH:D013158,UMLS:C0037997, DOID:2529, ICD-11:3B8Z	A Report On Medicinal Plants Of Kachchh (Gujarat), ISBN:9780387706375
	Splenomegaly	MESH:D013163,UMLS:C0038002, ICD-11:ME10.01	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Vitiligo	MESH:D014820,UMLS:C0042900, DOID:12306, ICD-11:ED63.0	ISBN:9788172363093