Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

Psoralea corylifolia Linn.

Family Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

English Babchi, Purple Fleabane.

Habitat Rajasthan., eastern districts
of Punjab and adjoining areas of
Uttar Pradesh.

Ayurvedic Somaraaji, Somavalli, Somavallik, Soma, Chaandri, Vaakuchi, Baakuchi, Avalguja.

Unani Baabchi, Bakuchi.
Siddha/Tamil Karpoogaarisi.

Action Seed—used in leucoderma, vitiligo, leprosy, psoriasis and inflammatory diseases of the skin, both orally and externally. (The
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.) The seed and roots contain chalcones,
flavones, isoflavones, furanocoumarins and coumesterol group of compounds. These include psoralen,
isopsoralen, bavachinin. A mixture of psoralen and isopsoralen,
present, is recommended for topical application in leucoderma.
These furanocoumarins initiate transformation of DOPA to melanin under the influence of UV light. Seeds are powdered and administered orally with warm water (1 g/day) in cases of eczema.
Psoralen was found to be cytotoxic
in vitro. The combination therapy of psoralen and UV irradiation has been shown to inhibit the growth of tumours
in vivo. Bavachinin-A, isolated from the fruits, exhibited marked anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and mild analgesic properties similar to those of oxyphenylbutazone and hydrocortisone.
It demonstrated better antipyretic activity than paracetamol experimentally. Oral administration of the powdered
seeds has generally resulted in side reactions (nausea, vomiting, purging); external application generally proved highly irritant to the skin.
Dosage Seed—0.5–1 g powder
; 2–3 g powder