Botanical name – Cryptolepis buchanani
Family name – Asclepiadaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/127
Vernacular names
Indian sarsaparilla, wax-leaved climber
Hindi: kala bel, karanta
Kannada: medhaguli hambu
Malayalam: katupaalvalli
Marathi: dudh-vel
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type-Wild, Bottom – Hill rock.
Morphology-
It is a large climbing shrub with glabrous, shining leaves. Stem is cylindrical; branches pale, glabrous, milky latex present, basal portion black and dotted. The external surface of the root is dark brown or blackish with few transverse cracks. Bark adheres closely to the wood and is odourless. Leaves are 7.5 – 12.5 cm X 3.8 – 6.3 cm in size, elliptic, oblong or oblong – lanceolate, apex retuse or acute, apiculate, green above and whitish beneath.
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses
Root is demulcent, alterative, tonic and is useful in loss of appetite, fever and skin diseases. It is considered as a blood purifier and extensively used in skin diseases and leprosy. It is prescribed to children for rickets.
Part used – Roots, Mature Stem
Dose: 1–5 mL up to 3 times daily
Standard adult dose is often around 2–3 mL, 2–3 times/day in chronic use.
2. Capsule or powder form:
Standardized extract: often 400–600 mg per capsule
Dose: 400–1200 mg, 1–3 times per day
IUCN Status
Not Evaluated (NE)
Research Updates (Past 5 Years)
1.Antimicrobial Activity (2023)
– A study demonstrated significant antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, validating its traditional use in wound healing .
2. Anti-inflammatory Properties (2022)
– Root extracts showed COX-2 inhibition comparable to standard drugs, supporting its use in Ayurveda for inflammatory conditions like arthritis .
3.Phytochemical Profiling (2021)
– Identified novel triterpenoids (e.g., cryptolepinone) with potential hepatoprotective effects in preclinical trials .
