Varuna
Crateva nurvala
Varuna (Crateva nurvala) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Betulinic acid similarly shows poor absorption. Saponins (varunosides) undergo partial hydrolysis by gut bacteria enhancing aglycone absorption. Glucosinolates (glucocapparin) are well absorbed and metabolized to bioactive isothiocyanates by myrosinase or gut bacteria.
| Botanical name | Crateva nurvala |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. I: VARUNA (Stem bark) |
| Also called | Crateva magna (Lour.) DC. (nomenclatural synonym) Crateva religiosa G.Forst. (attribution recorded without a cited source) Crateva adansonii DC. (reported in the literature) |
| Currently accepted name | Crateva magna (Lour.) DC. — the name above is treated as a synonym by GBIF; both are in use |
| Family | Capparaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3871453 · Wikidata Q11140127 · NCBI Taxonomy 1149812 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Varuna |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Asava/Arishta (fermented liquid), Ghrita (medicated ghee)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 15-30 mL Varunadi Kwatha twice daily
Bioavailability: Lupeol (pentacyclic triterpene) has very low oral bioavailability (<5%) due to extreme lipophilicity; lipid-based formulations or nanoparticle encapsulation can improve this 5-10 fold. Betulinic acid similarly shows poor absorption. Saponins (varunosides) undergo partial hydrolysis by gut bacteria enhancing aglycone absorption. Glucosinolates (glucocapparin) are well absorbed and metabolized to bioactive isothiocyanates by myrosinase or gut bacteria.
Optimal Timing: Before meals on empty stomach for urinary conditions; morning dosing with first urine output to observe diuretic effect
Standardized Extract: Bark extract standardized to >0.5% lupeol by HPLC; >5% total saponins by gravimetric method; glucocapparin/glucocleomin content quantified by HPLC
Shelf Life: Bark powder: 18-24 months; Capsules/Tablets: 24-36 months; Decoction: prepare fresh daily; Arishta: 36-60 months
Storage: Bark powder in airtight, moisture-proof containers at 15-25 deg C. Protect from insects (bark material susceptible to borers). Decoction containers should be glass or stainless steel.
Marker Compounds: Lupeol, Betulinic acid, Friedelin, beta-Sitosterol, Glucocapparin, Glucocleomin, Varunosides, Diosgenin (trace)
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction of bark
- Hydroethanolic extraction (60-70% ethanol)
- Methanol extraction for triterpenoid enrichment
- Sequential extraction (hexane then ethanol) for fractionation
- Supercritical CO2 for lupeol-rich fraction
Synergistic Combinations
- Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) - synergistic litholytic and diuretic action (Varunadi formulations)
- Pashanbheda (Bergenia ligulata) - stone-dissolving combination
- Shilajit - mineral-rich adjunct for urinary conditions
- Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) - renal supportive synergy
- Yavakshara (barley alkali) - alkalinizing combination for urinary pH management
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Randomised controlled trials2
- 2018. Urox containing concentrated extracts of Crataeva nurvala stem bark, Equisetum arvense stem and Lindera aggregata root, in the treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind placebo controlled trialBMC complementary and alternative medicine. PMID 29385990 · doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2101-4
- 2008. A prospective, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Ayurvedic formulation "varuna and banana stem" in the management of urinary stonesJournal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). PMID 19040391 · doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0189
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