Walp.Synonym: S. japonica Miers. S. sotunda Hook. f. & Thorns.Family: Menispermaceae.
Habitat: Forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
Ayurvedic: Used as Raaj-Paathaa in the South. (Raaj-Paathaa is also equated with Cyclea arnotii Miers in southern and eastern parts of India).Action: Root—prescribed in skin diseases, pruritus, inflamed piles, internal abscesses, urinary diseases, vomiting, diarrhoea, colic, respiratory disorders and as a cardiotonic.
The plant is rich in alkaloids. Aerial parts gave epi-stephanine (aknadine), hernandifoline, aknadinine and mag- noflorine. Alkaloid aknadine shows significant antispasmodic activity on uterine spasms. Cytotoxic alkaloids include d-and dl-tetrandrine, d-iso- chondrodendrine and fangchinoline. The alkaloid, epi-stephanine (akna- dine) possesses adrenergic neuron blocking activity.
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