Hemidesmus INDICUS (L.) R. Br.


Synonym : Periploca indica L.
Bangla Name : Anantamul. ,Chikondudhia (Chakma), Maittal (Garo).
English Name : Indian Sarsaparilla.
Family : Asclepiadaceae
Disease : Sarsaparilla, alterative, tonic, purgative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, antidiarrhoeal, blood purifier, appetite, syphilis, leucoderma, itching, rheumatism, gravel, urinary diseases, leucorrhoea, fever, asthma, bronchitis,
Description : A slender perennial, prostrate or slightly twining, rootstock woody. Leaves very variable, from elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate, 5-10 cm long. Lower leaves narrow, often variegated with white above, upper leaves broader, obtuse, dark green, not variegated. Flowers crowded in subsessile cymes in the opposite axils, corolla 5-6 mm long, greenish outside, purple inside. Follicles 10-15 cm long, cylindric, tapering to a point at the apex.
Distribution : Sal forests of Dhaka-Tangail and Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Chemical Constituents : The roots contain coumarins and an essential oil consisting principally of hydroxymethoxybenzaldehydes. It also contains the coumarino-lignoids, hemidesmins I & II, sitosterols, hexatriacontane, lupeol its octacosanoate, ? and ?-amyrins and its acetate, t
Uses : The roots are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla. It is valuable alterative, tonic, purgative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, antidiarrhoeal and blood purifier. It is employed in nutritional disorders, loss of appetite, syp
Habit : -