Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso (Convolvulaceae)

Abstract

A perennial climber, the plant is pantropic in distribution, but especially found in India, China, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Two varieties, white and black, are mentioned in the literature; some using them interchangeably without any distinction. White variety is commonly used as a cathartic and laxative, resembling jalap in its action; the black variety is drastic in action and not generally used medicinally. The rhizomes/roots are soft phlegm-purgative, and with zingiber thick sputum purgative, and used for the treatment of phlegmatic and nervous diseases, such as arthritis, gout, sciatica, paralysis, palsy, asthma and cough. It is especially used as a purgative in cases of ascites, and in the presence of intestinal worms. In Ayurveda, the root powder is used for the treatment of rheumatism, flatulence, paralysis, scorpion sting and snakebite; it is also used in skin disorders such as vitiligo. Root is also reported as anti-inflammatory/antipyretic, and useful in the treatment of ulcers, tumors, neurological disorders, and dysmenorrhea, in liver disorders, and has anthelmintic properties. Roots contain alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosidic resin, coumarins, turpethin, α and β rhamnose, fructose, scopoletin, β-sitosterol, betulin, lupeol, essential oil, gum and sugar. Ethanol root extract restored RBC and WBC counts, and Hb content due to NDMA hematological toxicity in mice, and protected against APAP-, and NDMA-hepatotoxicity in rats and mice, and also exhibited moderate antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. Methanol and hydroalcohol extracts of stem bark exhibited significant gastric ulcer preventive and protective activities.