Botanical name : Cocculus hirsutus (Linn.) Diels
Family : Menispermaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Palalagaruda, Chilihinda
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu
Virya : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Broom creeper, Ink berry
Hindi : Patalgarudi, Jaljamani
Malayalam : Patalagarudakkoli
Distribution : Throughout India in dry localities.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A perennial climber shrub with softly villous young parts; leaves simple, alternate, ovate-oblong, obtuse, apiculate, sub-cordate or truncate at the base, softly villous on both surfaces, petioles densely villous: male flowers small, in axillary cymose panicles, female flowers 2-3 together in axillary clusters; fruits purplish black drupes.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, poisonous bites, leprosy, skin diseases, pruritus, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, cough, bronchitis, gout, headache, intermittent fevers, burning sensation, fractures, hypertension and general debility.
Useful part : Roots, leaves
Photo : Dr.Vivek MD