Sanskrit Name: Avartini
Identification No: SDACH/HG/251
Botanical Name: Helicteres isora L.
Family Name: Sterculiaceae
Vernacular Names:
Hindi – Marorphali, Murudsheng
Marathi – Murudshenga
Tamil – Valampuri, Idachamaram
Telugu – Adavimudra
Kannada – Koondalkayi
English – Indian Screw Tree
Habitat & Distribution:
Widely distributed throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of India. Found in dry deciduous forests, open lands, and hilly terrains across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
Morphology
A small deciduous shrub or tree, up to 3–5 meters tall.
Leaves are ovate, serrated, and densely hairy on both surfaces.
Flowers are reddish or pink, axillary, with twisted petals.
Fruits are characteristically twisted (screw-like), 5–10 cm long, dark brown when mature.
Seeds are black, angular, and enclosed in fibrous pods.
Substitute / Adulterant:
No classical substitutes.
Adulterants – Unrelated twisted fruits or seedpods may be used in local markets.
Phytochemicals:
- Tannins (20–30%)
- Flavonoids (quercetin, rutin)
- Saponins
- Sterols (β-sitosterol)
- Gallic acid, caffeic acid
- Alkaloids
Raspanchaka:
Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Laghu, Ruksha
Virya: Sheeta
Vipaka: Katu
Prabhava: Grahi, Krimighna
Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Pitta hara
Karma – Rogaghnata:
- Grahi (absorbent)
- Krimighna (anthelmintic)
- Shoolahara (analgesic)
- Raktasodhana (blood purifier)
- Atisaraghna (anti-diarrheal)
- Stambhana (astringent)
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses
External:
- Powder applied on wounds and ulcers for healing
- Paste applied over skin infections
- Decoction used for vaginal douche in leucorrhoea
Internal:
- Decoction or powder used in diarrhea, dysentery, and irritable bowel syndrome
- Useful in Grahani, Atisara, and Krimi
- Given with honey in cough and sore throat
- Traditional use in diabetes and intestinal colic
Part Used:
Fruits, Roots, Bark
Dose:
Churna – 3 to 6 grams
Kwatha – 40 to 50 ml
Yoga / Formulations:
- Avartinī Churna
- Local tribal remedies for diarrhea and colic
IUCN Status:
Least Concern(LC)
Research Updates
- 2020 – Antidiabetic activity of Helicteres isora fruit extract in STZ-induced diabetic rats (Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine)
- 2021 – Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of ethanolic fruit extract (Pharmacognosy Journal)
- 2023 – In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties studied on various extracts (Journal of Herbal Medicine)
