Linn.Family: Rubiaceae.
Habitat: Khasi Hills up to 600700 m, in Western Ghats and the Andaman Islands.
English: Mongoose Plant.Ayurvedic: Sarpaakshi. (Gandha- naakuli is a wrong synonym. It is equated with Aristolochia indica.)Siddha/Tamil: Keerippundu.Folk: Sarahati. Mungus-vel (Maharashtra).Action: Root—bitter tonic. Leaves— used for dressing ulcers.
The roots contain starch, a resin and small amounts of a bitter amorphous alkaloid. Beta-sitosterol, 5- alpha-ergost-7-en-3-beta-ol and 5- alpha-ergost-8 (14)-en-3 beta-ol (as an ester) have been identified in the root. Leaves and stems contain traces of hydrocyanic acid.
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