Shaliparni
Other Names : Shalaparni, Desmodium gangeticum, Salparni, Salaparni, Shalparni, Shalparnih, Sthira, Somya, Guha, Triparni, Vidarigandha, Anshumati, Sarivan, Ticktrefoil, Biyanisaawata, Salpani
Maharashtra, Satpura, Gujarat and Konkan: Salvan / Salwan, Shaalwan, Murelchonne, Saloporni, Shalpurni, Moovila, Kolakuponna, Nakkotokaponna, Kolaponna, Gitanaram, Pulladi, Sirupulladi Moovilai, Orilai, Shalwan ශාලපර්ණී
Shalaparni is a sub-tropical perennial spreading herb that grows in dry hilly areas.
Properties
Shalparni roots are bitter alterative tonic with Anti-inflammatory, Anticatarrhal, fever reducing, carminative, digestive, laxative, emmenagogue, and diuretic properties.
- Cholagogue
- Expectorant
- Diuretic
Health Benefits and Uses
It is a general tonic and aphrodisiac, has a calming, sedative effect and is also used control inflammation, fever and neurological imbalances. Dr. Mana says,”this plant has unique medicinal value to regulate the function of the nervous system (Vata), venous system (Pitta) and arterial system (Kapha). These three regulatory systems balance each other to restore health. However there are several very serious diseases where herbal medicines fail to work, such as typhoid fever and tuberculosis. Shalaparni is often effective in restoring balance to the system when the other herbs fail."
- The leaves and stem of shalaparni are used in African countries for fevers, skin diseases and anxiety states (Iwu, 1993).
- Fevers
- Catarrh
- Laryngitis
- Bronchitis
- Asthma : Traditionally used for asthma, crude extracts of D. adscendens have also been shown to be “the most potent potassium channel openers known.” This means the plant extracts are able to both regulate the tone of the airway smooth muscle and inhibit the release of allergic and inflammatory bronchoconstrictive chemicals from nerves in the lung (McManus et al., 1993, Addy and Burka, 1988).
- Pneumonia
- Typhoid
- Protozoal diseases : Shalaparni was one of five Nigerian herbs tested by a Walter Reed Army Institute research team for alkaloids active against serious parasitic protozoal diseases (Iwu et al., 1994). Although Dr. Iwu’s group found promising results, the diseases treated by these herbs (malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis) are found primarily in poor countries, so drug companies have shown no interest in developing them. Therefore, Dr Iwu plans to encourage local companies and herbal practitioners to develop these plant extracts as phytomedicines.
- Diarrhorea
- Toothache
- Gallbladder stones
- Renal Stones
- Jaundice
- Liver Diseases
Constituents
The roots contain several alkaloids, flavonoids, pterocarpanoids— gangetin (gives antiinflammatory activity), gangetinin, and desmodin. The aerial parts contain indole-3-alkylamines and their derivatives.
Used in Patent medicine
- Dashamula
- Laghu Panchamoola
- Amritarishta
- Amritaprasha Ghrita
- Dhanvantara Taila
- Indukanta Ghrita
- Mahavishagarbha Taila
- Mahanarayana Taila
- Narayana Taila
- Rasnadi Kvatha Churna
