(Linn.) Karst.Synonym: O. esculentum R. Br. Sarcostemma secamone (Linn.) Bennet.Family: Asclepiadaceae.
Habitat: Throughout the plains and lower hills of India, including paddy fields and hedges rear semi-marshy places.
Ayurvedic: Dugdhikaa, Duudhila- taa, Duudhialataa .Folk: Usipallai (Tamil Nadu); Dugdhani (Maharashtra); Jala- dudhi (Gujarat).Action: Herb—antiseptic, depura- tive, galactogogue; decoction used as a gargle in stomatitis and sore throat. Latex—vulnerary. Fresh root—prescribed in jaundice.
A pregnane ester oligoglycoside (oxysine), a pregnane triglycoside (es- culentin), a cardenolide (oxyline), two more cardenolides, oxystelmoside and oxystelmine, have been isolated from the roots.Dosage: Plant—10-20 ml juice; 50100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)Family: Rubiaceae.Habitat: Central and Eastern Himlayas extending to Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa.
Ayurvedic: Talanili, Gand- haprasaarini. (Prasaarini is also equated with Raaja-balaa, Sida veronicaefolia.).Siddha/Tamil: Talanili, Mudiyar Kundal.Folk: Gandhabhaaduli (Bengali).Action: Leaf—carminative, antiinflammatory, astringent, spasmolytic, antidiarrhoeal, diuretic, an- tilithic. Root— anti-inflammatory. Used for rheumatic affections, piles, inflammations of the liver, spleen and chest.
Aerial parts contain epi-friedelanol, embelin and beta-sitosterol. Leaves and stems gave iridoid glycosides, si- tosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, ur- solic acid, hentriacontane, hentriacon- tanol, ceryl alcohol, palmitic acid and methyl mercaptan. The foetid smell is due to methyl mercaptan.All parts of the plant have been employed for rheumatic affections.A related species, Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merill, synonym P. tomentosa Blume, is known as Gandha Prasaarini. The iridoid glucosides, paedero- side, paederosidic acid and scandosides have been isolated from the plant.