Kadsura heteroclita Health Dictionary

(Roxb.) Craib.

Synonym: K. roxburghiana Arn. K. wightiana Arn.

Family: Magnoliaceae.

Habitat: Eastern Himalaya, Assam, Western Ghats in Malabar.

Folk: Pattiamlo, Salado-rik (Himalayas). Kang-mari, Mi-jangew, Theiarbawm (Assam).

Action: The stems have been used in Chinese folk medicine to promote blood circulation and for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer, acute and chronic gastroenteritis, postpartum abdominal pain and trauma.

The stem contains dibenzocyclo- octadiene type lignans. The plant lig- nans showed PAF (platelet activating factor) receptor antagonistic activity. The lignans have also been reported to be potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in rat liver. The fruit contains gomisin D, which is an active ingredient of an antiulcer agent.