Sarcostemma brevistigma W. & A
Synonym : S. acidum Voigt
Family : Asclepiadaceae
Habitat : Dry places in West Bengal,
Bihar and Peninsular India.
English : Moon Plant, Soma Plant.
Ayurvedic : Somavalli, Somalataa,
Somakshiri, Saumyaa, Dwijpriyaa.
(Not to be confused with Soma of
the Vedas.) (Substitute: Ephedra
gerardiana.)
Siddha/Tamil : Somamum, Kodi-
Kalli.
Action : Dried stems—emetic.
Plant—insecticidal.
The plant contains malic acid, succinic
acid, reducing sugar, surcosa,
traces of tannin, an alkaloid, a phytosterol,
alpha-and beta-amyrins, lupeol
and lupeol acetate and beta-sitosterol.
The milky exudate from the stem contains
caoutchouc. Coagulum
contains: caoutchouc resins
and insolubles.
Related species, Sarcostemma brunonianum
W. & A. (South India),
known as Perumaattaan kodi in Tamil
Nadu; S. intermediumDecne (Peninsular
India), and S. stocksii Hk. f. (Peninsular
India), are also said to have similar
uses as those of S. acidum.
Sarcostemma secamone (L.) Bennet,
synonym S. esculentum (L. f.) Holm.
(throughout the plains in semi marshy
places) is known as Dughdhikaa or
Duudhilataa in Northern India and
Usippalai in Tamil Nadu. Whole plant
is depurative, galactagogue and antiseptic
(used as a gargle in sore throat
and stomatitis; fresh root is prescribed
in jaundice. A pregnane triglycoside,
esculentin and cardenolide tetraglycosides
have been isolated from the root.
Dosage : Milky exudate fromstem—
2 to 3 gm
