(^) HOLOSTEMMA Holostemma ada-kodien
Asclepiadaceae^
San: Jivanti; Hin: Chirvel, Charivel; Mal: Atapathiyan, Atapotiyan, Atakotiyan;
Tam: Palaikkirai; Tel: Palagurugu; Mar: Dudurli, Shidodi; Guj: Kharner, Khiravel
Importance
Holostemma is a twining shrub with large flowers. The roots of Holostemma are
useful in ophthalmopathy, orchitis, cough, burning sensation, stomachalgia, constipation,
fever and tridoshas. The leaves, flowers and fruits are eaten as vegetable. The root is also
used in spermatorrhoea. It is used in preparations of Vidaryadiganam, Dhanwandharam
thaila, Manasamithravatakam, Balarishta and Anuthaila. It is also useful in eye diseases
and it imparts resistance to diseases.
Distribution
The plant occurs in tropical countries. In India, it is found in Himalayas, Dehradun,
Konkan, Bombay, Deccan, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu. It grows over hedges and in
open forests especially on the lower slopes of the hills. It is also distributed in Sri Lanka,
Burma and W. China.
Botany
Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. syn. Holostemma annulare (Roxb.) K. Schum.,
Holostemma rheedii Wall. belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is a laticiferous twining
shrub with large conspicuous flowers. Leaves are simple, opposite and cordate. Flowers are
purple, arranged in axillary umbellate cymes. Fruits are thick follicles, 9 cm long, cylindrical
and bluntly pointed. The roots are long upto 1 m or more, irregularly twisted, thick and
cylindrical. When dry it is yellowish brown to brown black in colour with nearly smooth
surface bearing white scars and small depressions. A mature root is about 1-2 cm thick when
extracted for use (Warrier et al, 1995).
Agrotechnology
Holostemma prefers a tropical climate. The plant is propagated vegetatively by stem
cuttings, but mainly by seeds. The seeds are collected from the plant in November-December
before being dispersed. Seeds are cleaned, dried and stored for sowing. The stored seeds
after soaking in water for 4-5 hours are sown in the seedbeds. About one month old seedlings
are then planted in polybags of size 14x10cm which are filled with soil, sand and dried
cowdung in 1:1:1 ratio, respectively. Polybags should be kept in shade and irrigated. About
1 - 1.5 month old seedlings are ready for transplanting. Pits of 30cm cube size are taken at 1-
1.2m distance and filled with 10kg dried cowdung and sand. This is covered with surface
soil and formed into a mound. Seedlings are transplanted on to the mounds from the polybags
carefully. Regular irrigation is to be given till flowering. To aid in trailing, staking is given
one month after planting. Flowering and fruiting occurs in November-December. Harvesting
can be done at the end of second year when the vines start drying up. Harvesting is done by
digging up the tubers. The tubers are cut into pieces of 10cm length and dried in sun before
sale (Prasad et al, 1997).
Properties and activity
Holostemma tubers give α-amyrin, lupeol and β-sitosterol. Alanine, aspartic acid,
glycine, serine, threonine and valine were detected chromatographically (Hussain et al,
1992). The root is antidiabetic, antigonorrhoeic, bechic, alterative, tonic, lactative,
ophthalmic, emollient, stimulant, aphrodisiac, expectorant and galactagogue.