Hemidesmus indicus
Indian sarsaparilla
Hemidesmus indicus, commonly known as Indian Sarsaparilla, is a perennial climbing shrub revered in Ayurvedic medicine. Renowned for its sweet, aromatic roots, it serves as a potent blood purifier, coolant, and rejuvenator. This versatile medicinal plant is widely utilized to treat skin disorders, fever, and various systemic inflammatory conditions.
- Scientific name: Hemidesmus indicus
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Hemidesmus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hemidesmus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Hemidesmus indicus, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Bengali, it is called অনন্তমূল, while in Odia, it is referred to as ଅନନ୍ତ. In Telugu, the plant is commonly known as సుగంధిపాల, and in Hindi, it is called अनंतमूल. Furthermore, in Malayalam, it is known as നറുനീണ്ടി.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| bn | অনন্তমূল | Wikidata |
| or | ଅନନ୍ତ | Wikidata |
| te | సుగంధిపాల | Wikidata |
| hi | अनंतमूल | Wikidata |
| ml | നറുനീണ്ടി | Wikidata |
| dv | ނަންނާރި | Wikidata |
| sa | क्षीरिणीसस्यम् | Wikidata |
| ta | நன்னாரி | Wikidata |
| si | ඉරමුසු | Wikidata |
| pa | ਅਨੰਤਮੂਲ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various regions of the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally throughout the diverse landscapes of India. Its presence extends into the neighboring territories of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Additionally, the species thrives within the specific environmental conditions of Assam. Finally, its geographical range encompasses the unique elevations of the East Himalaya.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Indian Sarsaparilla, is a climbing shrub where the most pharmacologically active components are the roots. Specifically, the medicinal properties are concentrated within the thick, fleshy root system that develops underground. While the slender, twining stem helps the plant climb through surrounding vegetation, it is the subterranean tuberous roots that are harvested for their therapeutic extracts. These large, starch-rich tuberous root structures are widely used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, making them the most vital part of the species.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 17
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| root | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberous roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberous root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dry root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hemidesmus indicus has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 27 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, 2-hydroxy 4-methoxy benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, lupeol.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 27
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 2-hydroxy 4-methoxy benzoic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HMBA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ROS | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-amyrin acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Hemidesmus indicus has 11 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Anticholinesterase, Anticoagulant, Antileukemic.
- Total activities
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticholinesterase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticoagulant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antileukemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytostatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hemidesmus indicus has 34 reported medicinal uses identified across 34 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes Mellitus, E. coli, HIV-1.
- Total uses
- 34
- Scientific sources
- 34
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes Mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psychosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stereotyped behavior | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |