Ayurvedic And Modern Aspects of Sariva ( Hemidesmus Indicus R . Br ) : An Overview

Medicinal plants are being used widely, either as single drug or in combination in health care delivery system Hemidesmus indicus R.Br, also popularly known as ‘Anantmul’in Marathi ‘ Sariva’ in Sanskrit and ‘Indian sarsaparilla’ in english is a semi erect shrub belonging to family Asclepiadaceae. It is widely distributed throughout India.It contains various phytoconstituents belonging to the category glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, sterols and volatile oils. It is traditionally used in skin disorders, dysentery, diarhhoea, syphilis, dyspepsia, leucoderma burning sensation, chronic fever and asthma,leprosy, loss of appetite, eye diseases, epileptic disorder, dyspepsia, nutritional disorder,leucoderma ,ulcer and rheumatism and used for diuretic and blood purifier purpose. Pharmacological studies carried out with its extract and purified compounds indicate that this plant possess antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypoglycemic, antithrombotic, antihyperlipidemic, otoprotective, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. It also protects radiation-induced DNA damage. This review provides comprehensive and unique information regarding ayurvedic and modern aspect of sariva under one umbrella which will be helpful to researchers and pharmaceutical industries to expand the pharma worth of this wonder drug. Key wordsSariva, Hemidesmus indicus, Asclepiadaceae, Anantmul IntroductionHemidesmus indicus is a semi-erect shrub found throughout India from upper Gangetic plain eastwards to Assam and throughout central, western and southern India [1] . The name Hemidesmusis derived from Latin word Hemidesmos which means half bond. It is so named in allusion to sub connate filaments at their base joint pods and connected stamens. Word indicus stands for of India. Hemidesmus indicus belongs to family Asclepiadaceae which is derived from word Askleplos means God of Medicine [2] . Vernacular name Anantmul is a Sanskrit word which means ‘endless root’ [3] . Plant has two varieties namely black variety, also called as Krishna Sariva and white variety which is called as Sariva [2] Hemidesmus indicus is accepted by Ayurvedic formulary as white variety whereas, Cryptolepis buchananii Roem and Schytt as black variety. Ichnocarpus fruitescens is also used as black variety by the people of West Bengal and Kerala [4] . It is a slender, laticiferous twining shrub distributed to greater part of India. Leaves are opposite, shortly petioled, elliptically oblong to linear lanceolate.Flowers are greenish outside but purplish inside. Seeds are black, flattened with a silvery white coma [5] . Ayurvedic Aspect: [6] In Charka samhita Sariva is included in the following ganas (groups): Varnya (complexation enhancing drugs) 1 Pansare T.A. , International Journal of Ayurvedic & Herbal Medicine 8(1) Jan.-Feb. 2018 (3133-3143) Page 3134 Kandhya (beneficial for throat and voice) Stanyashodhan (purifies breast milk) Purishsangrahaniya (drugs that find faecal matter) Jwarahara (anti-pyratica) Dhahaprashaman (destroyes burning sensation) Madhurskandha (group of drug having sweet taste)