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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hemidesmus indicus
R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae)
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Indian Sarsaparilla |
Anantamul,
Sariva |
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| History |
Hindu
materia medica called this plant and Ichnocarpus fructescens under
the name 'Sarivadvaya'. They are often used together and considered
as similar. Many synonyms are mentioned in the literature. Under the
name 'Nanari' it is much used in south India. It is considered as
a substitute of 'Sarsaparilla'. Various kinds of 'ushbah' were mentioned
Mohammedans physicians. It also founds in other systems of medicine.
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| Distribution |
It is occurring over
the greater part of India, from the upper Gangetic plain eastwards
to Assam and throughout central, western and southern India.
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| Habit |
It is a slender,
laticiferous, twining, sometimes prostrate or semi-erect shrub. Roots
are woody and aromatic. The stem is numerous, slender, terete, thickened
at the nodes. The leaves are opposite, short-petioled, very variable,
elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate. The flowers are greenish outside,
purplish inside, crowded in sub-sessile axillary cymes.
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| Phytochemistry |
Roots contain ß-sitosterol,
2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, a - amyrin, ß - amyrin and
its acetate, hexatriacontane, lupeol octacosonoate, lupeol and its
acetate.
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| Pharmacology |
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It has antibacterial and antilithic
activity. [Indian Perfumer, 1983, 27: 19; Proc. Indian Sci. Congr.,
1981, IV, 156].
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| Toxicology |
No adverse
effect was reported on use of the volatile oil as medicine.
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| Indications |
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The drug has long enjoyed a reputation as tonic, alterative, demulcent,
diaphoretic, diuretic and blood purifier. It is employed in nutritional
disorders, syphilis, chronic rheumatism, gravel and other urinary
diseases and skin affections. It is administered in the form of
powder, infusion or decoction as syrup. It is also an ingredient
of several medicinal preparations. It is used as a substitute for
Sarsaparilla (from Smilax sp.) and employed as a vehicle for potassium
iodide and for purposes for which Sarsaparilla is used. A syrup
is made from the roots is used as a flavouring agent and in the
preparation of a sherbet, which is reported to have cooling properties.
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| Product
Range |
Evecare (MenstriCare),
Renalka, Styplon, Nefrotec Vet, Styplon Vet.
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