Description
Holostemma is a medicinal plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. (Scientific name: Holostemma adakodien). It is also known as Nagavalli and Adakodiyan in Malayalam.
The plant can be propagated through seeds. Matured seeds are collected from the plant during December–January before they disperse. Seeds are cleaned, dried, and stored for sowing.
However, fruit set is generally less than 10% in this crop, which is a major constraint for large-scale cultivation through seeds.
Characteristics:
Perennial scars, stains, roots thick. Root thickness varies according to the age of the plant and the amount of starch. The leaves are opposite, 7-15 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. The upper part is smooth and the base is hairy.
The flowers of the plant are arranged in umbellate axillary cymes; peduncles are terete and glabrous; bracts are linear acute, grooved on ventral surface, glabours.
Pedicels are 1–4 cm long, glabrous; sepals are five in number, free up to the base, and broadly ovate, glandular within. Corolla rotate lobes five in number, united about halfway, ovate–oblong, obtuse, leathery with papery margin. Corona is staminal, uniseriate, with annular ring at the base staminal tube. Stamens are five in number; pollinia are five in number; pollen masses are solitary 11 cm × 3.5 cm, ovoid, thick, acute, and glabrous. Seeds are many, comose, small ovate, thick acute, brown, coma shaped, silky-white, and 2–4 cm long.
Flowering occurs in September– October, while fruiting occurs in November–December.
Medicinal Uses:
Used to make Sukumaraghritham, Jeevanthyadhigritham, Jeevanthyadi Churnam and Jeevanthyadhi infusion Manasamitra is also used to make Vadakam.
Atapathian tuber is mainly used in eye diseases, malnutrition and chemicals to enhance the immune system. For body nourishment, Adapathiyan root powder can be boiled in sun-dried powder and served at the rate of 6 gm daily in milk. The roots of Holostemma are useful in treating ophthalmopathy, or chitis, cough, burning sensation, stomach pain, constipation, fever, and tridoshas. The root can also be used as a rejuvenative drug, imparting resistance to diseases.
