Description

Indian Bowstring Hemp  is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp, among other names. Until 2017, it was known under the synonym Sansevieria trifasciata.

Features:

Indian Bowstring Hemp is a stemless evergreen perennial plant, producing fleshy, erect, rigid leaves 45-75 cm or longer, and 2.5 cm wide, arising from a rhizome, with a thorn-like tip up to 2.5 cm long. The leaves reach up to 1.2 m long. The flowering stem grows a foot or more tall. Flower racemes are spike-like, 30-45 cm long. Flowers are borne in clusters of 4. Flower-stalks are 6-9 cm long, jointed. A fibre is obtained from the leaves. Indian Bowstring Hemp is found in southern and eastern India. Subtropical to tropical climate in semi-arid to humid locations. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7. Established plants are very drought tolerant. The plant can spread freely at the roots.

Medicinal Uses:

It has various traditional uses and recently various pharmacological uses are pursuing. Traditionally it is used as a cardiotonic, expectorant, febrifuge, purgative, tonic in glandular enlargement and rheumatism etc. The plant is known to possess antitumor, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and analgesic activity. It contains carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carotenoids gallic acid, palmitic acid, caft aric acid, isorahmnitin-3-O-ß-D glucopyranoside, buphanidine, diethyl ph thalate, 6-methyl-1-octanol, 3,3-dimethylhexanal, proteins, and phytosterols. It also contains a rare homoisoflavonoid Cambodianol.