Description

Amruthapala is the scientific name of Amruthapala, is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to peninsular India and known by its names of amritha palam in Tamil is a plant whose root is used in Ayurvedic medicines.  

Characteristics:

Amruthapala is a rare and threatened plant from Western Ghats. It is a woody shrub with root tuberous, strongly smelling. Stem, leaf-stalks and leaves reddish brown. Leaves are like that of Peepal, 4-6.5 x 2-3.5 cm, ovate, apiculate at tip, round to broadly attenuate at base, entire or slightly wavy on margins; vein reticulations prominent on lower side; leaf-stalks 2.5-3 cm long. Small flowers are borne in axillary cymes, carried on slender, 2-3 cm long stalks. Calyx is bell-shaped. tube about 0.1 cm long, sepals 5, 0.05-0.1 cm long, ovate. Stamens 5. Carpels 2, apocarpous; ovules many in each carpel; stigma 5-angled. Follicles are linear, 3-3.5 cm long, 0.5-0.6 cm diameter, cylindric, tip tapering. Seeds many, 0.5-0.6 cm long, 0.25-0.3 cm wide, laterally compressed, winged on margins; wings variously curved; coma of white silky hairs 1.5-1.8 cm long. Amruthapala is endemic to southern forests of the Western Ghats region of Kerala, distributed at an elevation of 800-1200 m and growing in the crevices of rocks.  

Medicinal Uses:

The tuberous roots of the plant are highly aromatic and the native Kani tribes use it as an effective remedy for peptic ulcer, cancer like afflictions and as a rejuvenating tonic. Recent pharmacological investigations of the root extract of the plant revealed immuno-modulatory and anticancer properties. The tuberous roots of the plant are highly aromatic and the native Kani tribes use it as an effective remedy for peptic ulcer, cancer like afflictions and as a rejuvenating tonic. Recent pharmacological investigations of the root extract of the plant revealed immuno-modulatory and anticancer properties.