Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

584 Sarcostemma brevistigma W. & A.
S
Action ◮ Leaves—used in the
treatment of rheumatism and fever.
The leaves contain steroidal alkaloids,
including saracosine, saracodine
and saracodinine; also betulin.
Aerial parts exhibit spasmolytic, diuretic
and anti-inflammatory activity.
Steroidal alkaloids induce nonrecoverable
fall in blood pressure in
dogs.
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
4.1% of caoutchouc. Coagulum
contains: caoutchouc 16, resins 68.1
and insolubles 15.9%.
Related species, Sarcostemma brunonianum
W. & A. (South India),
known as Perumaattaan kodi in Tamil
Nadu; S. intermedium Decne (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 from stem—
1–3 drops. (CCRAS.)
Sarcostigma kleinii W. & A.
Family ◮ Icacinaceae.
Habitat ◮ The Western Ghats, from
Konkan southwards.
Ayurvedic ◮ Ingudi. (Balanites
aegyptiaca is also equated with
Ingudi.)
Siddha ◮ Odal (Tamil).
Action ◮ Seed oil—used externally
in rheumatism. Powdered bark—
given in rheumatism, neurological
disorders and skin diseases.
Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees.
Synonym ◮ S. officinale Nees and
Eberm.
S. variifolium Kuntze.