Rasa (Taste)
Tikta, Madhura, Katu & Kashaya
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Madanphala (Emetic Nut)
A large shrub or small tree armed with strong, straight, nearly opposite decussate spines 1 to 3 cm long, coming off from above the branchlets.
Medicinal Plant
Madanphala (Emetic Nut)
Randia dumetorum Lamk. · Rubiaceae
A large shrub or small tree armed with strong, straight, nearly opposite decussate spines 1 to 3 cm long, coming off from above the branchlets.
Scientific Name
Randia dumetorum Lamk.
Family
Rubiaceae
Hindi Name
Mainphal
Used Part
Phala (Fruit) & Beeja (Seed) (Seeds are also specifically referred to as Madanapippali).
Botanical Description
About the Madanphala Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
A large shrub or small tree armed with strong, straight, nearly opposite decussate spines 1 to 3 cm long, coming off from above the branchlets. Leaves are opposite, 3 to 5 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide, obovate, obtuse, wrinkled, base is cuneate. Inflorescence solitary and terminal or axillary, Flowers white or yellowish, Fruits berry, globose, ovoid or ellipsoid, seeds often immersed in pulp and angled.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Laghu, Ruksha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Kaphavata Shamaka & Pittanissaraka.
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Ushna
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Vamaka, Lekhana, Vidradhihara, Vranahara, Kushthaghna, Jwarahara, Shophahara. Varaha-Chardana, Pakwashaya Shodhaka, Amashaya Shodhaka. It is considered the best drug to induce emesis (Agrya Karma).
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Emetic, Diaphoretic, Anspasmodic, Antiflammatory, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Fruits yield saponins, ursosaponin, essential oil, and 6 saponins named as dumetoronin A, B, C, D, E & F, along with randialic acid-A & randialic acid-B. The pulp contains citric acid, tartaric acid, tannins, pectin, and mucilage.
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Madanphala
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
Vamanartha (To induce emesis): It is considered the best and safest drug for inducing emesis because it does not cause any complications. It is especially administered for shleshma jwara, gulma, and pratishyaya.
02
Jwara (Fever): Madana mixed with Pippali, Indrayava, or Madhuka, if administered with hot water, will induce vomiting and thereby alleviate fever.
03
Parshva Shula (Pain in flanks): Madana kalka (paste) prepared from sour gruel, if applied over the navel, will relieve all kinds of pain, including pain in the flanks.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Madanphala is a key ingredient.
- Charakacharya has mentioned 133 Yogas of Madanaphala for Vamana karma in the Kalpasthana. The formulations include:
- Kashaya yoga
- Matra yoga
- Kshira & Ghrata yoga
- Leha yoga
- Modaka yoga
- Utkarika yoga
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
• मदनफलं वमनास्थापनानुवासनोपयोगिनाम् । (च.सू. 25/40) • मदनश्चर्दनः पिण्डो नटः पिण्डीतकस्तथा । करहाटो मरूबकः शल्यको विषपुष्पकः ॥ (भा.प्र. हरीतक्यादि वर्ग 160) •मदनो मधुरस्तिक्तो वीर्योष्णो लेखनो लघुः । वान्तिकृद्विद्रधिहरः प्रतिश्यायव्रणान्तकः ॥ रूक्षः कुष्ठकफानाहशोथगुल्मन्त्रणापहः ।। (भा.प्र. हरीतक्यादि वर्ग 161) • वमन द्रव्याणां मदनफलानि श्रेष्ठतमन्याचक्षते, अनपायित्वात् ॥ (च.चि.क. 1/13)