Synonym E. hyssopfolium (Wilid)
I. C. Verdoorn.
E. axillare (Lam.) Raynal.
Exacum hyssopfolium Wild.
Adenema hyssopifolium G. Don.
Folk Sadamandi.
Family Gentianaceae.
240 Entada scandens auct. non-Benth.
Habitat Throughout India, from Punjab and Gangetic Plain to
Kanyakumari up to 500 m. English Indian Gentian.
Ayurvedic Naagjhvaa, Maamajjaka, Naahi, Tikshnapatra.
Unani Naai, Naahi.
Siddha/Tamil b Vellargu.
Folk Chhotaa Chirayataa.
Action Bitter tonic, carminative, blood purifier, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, anthelmintic, cardiostimulant.
The plant is used as a substitute for Swertia chirayita, and is reported to be effective against malaria. The plant contains ophelic acid which is also present in chiretta as a hydrolytic product of chiratin. The root extract showed antimalarial activity both in vitro and in vivo.
Whole plant gave alkaloids—gentianine, erythrocentaurin, enicoflavine and gentiocrucine; flavonoids—apigenin, genkwanin iso-vitaxin, swertisin, saponarin and 5-0-glucoside derivatives of syiwertisin and isoswertisin; glucosides—swertiamarin, a tnterpene betulin. Swertisiode exhibited hypotensive activity.
The plant extracts inhibited carrageenan-induced oedema and its anti- inflammatory activity was found comparable to that of hydrocortis one.
Enicostema verticellatum Blume, the smallar var. of Kiryaata, is also equated with Vellargu (Siddha!Tamil).
Dosage Whole plant—3—5 g powder; 50—100 ml decoction.
(CCRAS.)
Entada scandens
auct. non-Benth.
Synonym F. phaseoloides Merrill. E. pursaetha DC.
Mimosa entada Linn.
