Sanskrit Name: Vranaropini
Botanical Name: Strobilanthes alternata
Identification No: SDACH/HG/291
Family Name: Acanthaceae
Vernacular Names:
- English: Red Ivy, Red Flame Ivy, Purple Waffle Plant
- Hindi: Murikooti
- Malayalam: Muriyan Pacha
- Tamil: Sangu Thalai
- Telugu: Yerra Gaddi
- Kannada: Kempu Soppu​
Habitat & Distribution:
Native to tropical Asia, particularly Java. Widely cultivated in India, Indonesia, China, and Japan. Thrives in moist, shaded environments and is commonly found in gardens and as ground cover. ​
Morphology:
- A prostrate, herbaceous plant reaching up to 30 cm in length.
- Stems: Purplish, especially at the nodes.
- Leaves: Opposite, ovate with a blunt tip and heart-shaped base; upper surface dark green, lower surface purplish; covered with fine hairs.
- Flowers: Tubular, white, found in terminal spikes up to 7 cm long. ​
Phytochemicals:
- Steroids
- Carbohydrates
- Tannins
- Phenols
- Proteins and amino acids
- Terpenoids
- Flavonoids
- Phytosterols ​
Rasapanchaka:
- Rasa: Tikta
- Guna: Laghu, Snigdha
- Virya: Shita
- Vipaka: Katu
- Prabhava: Vranaropana
- Dosha Shamakta: Pitta-Kapha pacifying​
Karma (Rogaghnata):
- Vranaropana (Wound healing)
- Shothahara (Anti-inflammatory)
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:
External:
- Leaf paste applied to fresh wounds, cuts, ulcers, and inflamed areas to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Internal: - Leaf extracts used traditionally to treat anemia, gallstones, prolonged menstruation, hemorrhoids, and diabetes. ​
Part Used:
- Leaves​
Dose:
- Fresh leaf paste: Applied externally as needed.
- Leaf decoction: 50–100 ml per day (traditional use; consult healthcare provider).​
Yoga / Formulations:
- wound healing, stopping bleeding, and treating conditions like dysentery and venereal disease.
IUCN Status:
- Not evaluated .
Research Updates
- 2022: LC–MS/MS analysis identified 2,285 metabolites in aqueous and ethanolic extracts, supporting its wound healing properties.
- 2021: Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of steroids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenols, proteins, and amino acids in leaf extracts.
- 2020: Research highlighted its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, validating traditional uses.
