Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Uses | Growing Information | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Stephania japonica
- Stephania hernandiifolia
- Cocculus japonicus
- Menispermum japonicum
- Stephania intertexta* Miers
Common Names
- Snake vine
- Akanadi (Bengali)
- Nimuka
- Patakkilannu (Malayalam)
- Rajapatha (Sanskrit)
- Tape vine
- Thanga-uriangouba (Manipuri)
- Tubuki Lota (Assamese)
Parts Usually Used
The roots, tubers, stems, and leaves are used medicinally.
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
A dioecious vine with prostrate stems that often root at nodes. Leaves are peltate, 3-14 cm long, with long petioles swollen at base. Features greenish-white or yellowish flowers in compound umbels. Fruits are oval-shaped orange or red drupes. Best grown in wet or moist conditions, often in sheltered areas near the sea.
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Where Found
Widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions including India, Nepal, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Found in Australia, primarily in coastal areas. Common in northeastern India and extends as far south as Eden, New South Wales.
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Medicinal Properties
- Antihypertensive
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Neuroprotective
- Analgesic
- Antidiabetic
- Antimicrobial
- Anticholinesterase
- Hepatoprotective
Biochemical Information
Key compounds include:
- Alkaloids (hasubanan type)
- Protostephanine
- Flavonoids
- Tannins
- Saponins
- Phenolic compounds
- Steroids
Uses
Traditional Medicinal Applications:
- Treatment of burns and wounds
- Relief of headache and vertigo
- Management of fever and inflammation
- Treatment of sleep disturbances
- Relief from rheumatic pain
- Treatment of gastrointestinal issues
- Management of urinary diseases
- Treatment of neurological conditions
Modern Applications:
- Treatment of cognitive disorders
- Neuroprotection in stroke
- Management of diabetes
- Anti-inflammatory preparations
- Natural antioxidant source
Growing Information
- Prefers partial shade conditions
- Requires moist, well-draining soil
- Can be propagated through seeds or cuttings
- Grows as perennial in tropical regions
- Can be cultivated as annual in temperate zones
Warning
- Some parts may be toxic if improperly prepared
- Further research needed on long-term safety
- Clinical studies required to confirm efficacy
- May become invasive in certain regions
- Professional guidance recommended for medicinal use
Resource Links
Wikipedia – Stephania japonica
India Biodiversity Portal – Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers
Bioorganic Chemistry – Natural neuroprotective alkaloids from Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers
