Healthy Shringataka:Trapa Bispinosa Uses, Research, Side Effects

Shringataka- Trapa bispinosa Roxb. is an ayurvedic herb used for the treatment of bleeding disorders, dysuria, polyuria, oedema and also used as nutritional supplement. 

Latin name- Trapa bispinosa Roxb.
Family- Trapaceae

Names in different languages:
Hindi name – Singhada
English name – Water Chestnut or Caltrops
Bengali name – Paaniphala
Gujarati name – Sheengoda
Tamil name – Singheda
Telugu name -Patigadda
Malayalam name – Karimapolam

Synonyms-
Trikonaphala- The fruit resembles triangular shape
Jalaphala, Paniyaphala- Found in water
Shringatak- Thorns resembling horns are found on the fruit

Trapa bispinosa Roxb. is native to India. It grows abundantly in the fresh water lakes of Kashmir, Orissa, Assam and other parts of the country. It is found as an ornamental plant in the lakes of European countries. The plant is a small shrub growing in the water and the long stems take root in the mud of the lakebeds. The fruits and the seeds are the palatable parts of the plant.

Water chestnut medicinal qualities:
Rasa (taste)-Madhura (Sweet), Kashaya (Astringent)
Guna (qualities)- Guru (Heavy), Ruksha (Dry)
Vipaka- Madhura (undergoes sweet taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold)
Karma-Pittahara (pacifies vitiated pitta dosha), Vrushya (improves the potency)

Part used- Fruit pulp, Fruit powder
Dosage- Powder 5-10g

Chemical composition:
The flour of the dried fruit is rich in proteins and minerals. It contains phosphorus, sulphur, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron and potassium. The starch isolated from the flour contains 15% amylose and 85% amylopectin. Apart from these citric acid, tannins, protein fat is found in the plant.

Uses of Shringatka:

• The flour of the dried fruit/ kernels of Trapa bispinosa is used in preparations for breakfast in India.
• The powder of dried kernel of Shringataka is given to control bleeding, treat polyuria, oedema.
• The fruit and seeds are eaten raw or cooked and consumed to treat burning sensation of the body, pacify thirst and retention of urine.
• The powder of the fruits and seed of the plant Trapa bispinosa is used as nutritional supplement to treat muscle weakness and to give strength to the body.
• The powder of the fruit is used regularly to improve the sexual potency.
• The powder of Shringataka fruit is given to treat women suffering from threatened abortion.

Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor
Grahi – absorbent, useful in diarrhea, IBS
Shukraprada – increases sperm count and quality
Anila Shleshmapada – increase Vata and Kapha
Pittasra – Raktapitta –Bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, heavy periods, etc
Daha –  burning sensation, as in gastritis, neuropathy, burning sensation in eyes etc
Ayurvedic Indications:
Shrama – tiredness, fatigue
Shopha  – inflammation

Adverse effect: No adverse effect has been seen or reported after using Shringataka for medicinal use.

Formulations containing Shringataka (Singhada:
Amritaprasha Ghrita: It is an Ayurvedic medicine in Ghee form. It is used as medicine and also in preparatory procedure called snehakarma for the treatment of burning sensation, fever, bleeding disorders, cough, asthma, weakness and gynecological diseases.

Pugakhanda: It is an Ayurvedic medicine in semi- solid form and is given to treat nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, gastritis and dyspepsia.
Sowbhagyashunti: It is an Ayurvedic medicine in semi- solid form given for the treatment of indigestion, diarrhea. It is also given post- delivery period.

Research articles related to Trapa Bispinosa:
Nutritional and Anti oxidant property: Singharekaatta (water caltrop flour) is used for fasting in many Indian religious rituals and for culinary purpose. In the present work, an attempt had been made to study different characteristics of the fruit so as to understand its potential for value addition and nutraceutical development. This work demonstrated that fruit of Trapabispinosa contains higher protein, carbohydrates, phenolics and antioxidant property.

Anti diarrheal, anti- oxidant and analgesic property:  The ethanolic extract of fruits of Trapabispinosa  Roxb (Family: Trapaceae) was screened for its antidiarrheal, analgesic and antioxidant activities. The fruit extract showed a significant (P<0.01) antidiarrheal activity against castor oil induce diarrhea in mice in which it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. In acetic acid induced writhing test the extract, at the dose of 500 mg/kg, exhibited a maximum of 50.17% inhibition (P<0.01) of writhing reflex compared to the reference drug diclofenac sodium 55.22% (P<0.01). The antioxidant property of the extract was assessed by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The extract showed antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ about ~08g/ml) which was comparable to standard drug ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ about ~ 10g/ml). The results tend to suggest that the extract might possess some chemical constituents that are responsible for antidiarrheal, analgesic and antioxidant activities.

As nutrient for humans: Nutrient composition of water chestnuts revealed moisture 62.5, ash 1.04, crude fiber 2.13%, total soluble sugar 0.92%, reducing sugar 0.33%, nonreducing sugar 0.59%, starch 8.7%, lipid 0.84%. One hundred gram of green variety contained water soluble protein 0.275 mg, beta-carotene 60 microg, vitamin-C 1.1 mg, and total phenol 0.5 mg. The minerals contents of green variety were potassium 5.22%, sodium 0.64%, calcium 0.25%, phosphorus 6.77%, sulphur 0.38%, and iron, copper, manganese, and zinc 200, 430, 90, and 600 ppm, respectively. The red variety contained moisture 62.7%, ash 1.30%, crude fiber 2.27%, total soluble sugar 0.90%, reducing sugar 0.30%, non-reducing sugar 0.60%, starch 8.2%, and lipid 0.83%. The red variety contained water soluble protein 0.251 mg, beta-carotene 92 microg, vitamin-C 0.9 mg, and total phenol 0.60 mg per 100 g. The red variety contained potassium 5.32%, sodium 0.59%, calcium 0.26% phosphorus 6.77%, sulphur 0.32%, iron 200 ppm, copper 450 ppm, manganese 110 ppm, and zinc 650 ppm. The free amino acids, glutamic acid, tryptophan, tyrosine, alanine, lysine, and leucine were commonly found in both varieties. In addition, green and red varieties contained cysteine, arginine and proline, and glutamine and asparagines, respectively. Thus, the present study sheds light on the nutrient contents of the two varieties of water chestnuts and suggests that water chestnuts may play a crucial role in human nutrition.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Subfamily: Trapoideae
Genus: Trapa

Classical categorization:
Bhavaprakasha – Amradi Phalavarga
Rajanighantu – Mulakadi Varga

Author:
Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com