Common Name: Varun, Barun
English Name: Three Leaved Caper
Botanical Name: Crataeva nurvala Buch.Ham
Family: Capparidaceae
Description: Varuna is a small tree, often cultivated throughout India, especially along the streams and riverbanks. It is distributed in sub-Himalayan tracts and is indigenous to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Chemical Constituents: Flavonoids, glucosinolates, plant sterols, including lupeol, saponins, and tannins. The largest group of plant secondary metabolites is the terpenes.
Properties: The main health actions of crataeva nurvala are diuretic, dissolves kidney stones and anti-inflammatory. The bark of varuna is believed to have antioxidant, contraceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and urinary-renal supportive qualities, the root is laxative and lithinotriptic and the leaves are believed to be stomachic and tonic.
Crataeva nurvala is one of the best litholytic herbs (ability to break up stones). Scientific research has indicated that a constituent of varuna, lupeol, deactivates the enzyme glycolate oxidase, reducing the body’s production of oxalates which combine with calcium to form kidney stones. Additionally varuna is used as a natural diuretic as it also could hinder kidney stones formation.
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