Abuta

Scientific name of Abuta: Cissampelos pareira

Names in different languages:-

English: Velvet-leaf, Abuta Sanskrit: Ambashtha, Piluphala, Ekashthila, Dipani, Varatiktata, Tiktapushpa, Atisaranashani, Ambashtaki, Pracchina, Shreyasi. Hindi: Leghu patha, Akanadi, Pada Malayalam: Malathangi-മലതാങ്ങി, Vattavally-വട്ടവള്ളി  Tamil: Vatta thiruppi-வட்டத்திருப்பி   

Plant description

It is an annual climber shrub, tomentose, spreading over trees, fences, etc., commonly found in tropical sub-tropical, forest areas, plane lands, in Western Ghats area, etc., the leaves are dark green, hairy, ovate or heart-shaped, about 4 to 10 cm in diameter. Flowers are small, dioecious, light green in color, found in clusters  in the  leaf axis. The fruits are berries, many, small and round, born in clusters, green in color turns to red when ripe. Flowering and fruiting April to October.  

Useful plant parts:

Root, leaf, Whole plant

Leaf Arrangement

 

Shape-heart-shaped	Margin-Entire	Venation-palmate

Ayurveda Medicinal uses: 

  It is mainly used in folk medicine to treat rheumatic disorders, coughing, and cold, to increase breast milk, urinary disorders, to treat cobra bite, anti-malarial. It is an important herb in feminine diseases. It is known as midwife plant because of it is used in women ailments such as like uterine hemorrhages, miscarriage, urogenital disorders  etc. , and also useful in intestinal worms, wounds, ulcers, indigestion,  asthma, arthritis, and muscle cramps. To treat malaria, fever, and also used in the treatments of sexually transmitted diseases (VD).   Chemical contents:   Alkaloid (Pelocin), Saponin, flavanol, and sterol   Medicinal Properties:   Astringent, anti-inflammatory, Antinociceptive and antiarthritic.    Activities   Antimalarial , Antioxidant, Antifertility, Anti-inflammatory ,  and immuno-modulatory activity   How to prepare medicines:  

It is one of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like:-

 

• Pushyanuga Choornam 
• Saraswata Ghrita
• Shiva Gutika
• Dusparsakadi Kashayam
• Katakakhadiradi Kashayam
• Mahatiktam Kashayam
• Tiktam Kashayam
• Guggulutiktam Kashayam
• Changeri Ghrita
• Maha Panchagavya Ghrita
• Mahatiktaka Ghrita 
• Panchatikta Guggulu Ghrita 

 

Reff: Scientific studies:

   http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874106006799 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883225/?tool=pmcentrez