Streblus Asper

Other names : Siamese rough bush, khoi, serut, Sand Paper Tree, toothbrush tree, Akshadhara, Bhutavasa, Bhutavriksha, Dhukavasa, Gavakshi, Karkashachhada, Daheya, Dahia, Karchanna, Rusa, Sahora, Sihora, Malayalam: Paruvamaram, Sakhotavrksam

Benefits and uses of Streblus Asper are

Streblus Asper is used traditionally in the treatment of cancer (Rastogi & Dhawan, 1990), cholera, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, menorrhagia (Bhakuni et al., 1969), epilepsy and inflammatory swelling (Jain, 1991).

• Cardiotonic Activity : The total ethanolic extract of the root bark of S. asper was found to indicate interesting activity on blood pressure, isolated frog heart, isolated rabbit intestine and guinea pig uteru
• Antifilarial Activity : The crude aqueous extract of the stem bark of S. asper revealed significant macrofilaricidal activity against Litomosoides carinii and Brugia malayi in rodents. The study revealed two cardiac glycosides, asperoside and strebloside, of the extract to be responsible for antifilarial activity.
• Anticancer : Streblus asper has been reported to possess anticancer activity (37). KB cytotoxicity was found to be concentrated sequentially in the methanol and dichloromethane extracts of S. asper stem bark.
• Antimicrobial Activity : Different studies were carried out to determine the antimicrobial potential of leaves of S. asper. Ethanol extracts from the sticks and leaves of S. asper have been shown to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans.
• Anti-allergic Activity : Streblus asper showed promising anti-allergic activity in experimental models.
• Root : As an application to unhealthy ulcers and sinuses and as antidote to snake bite, in epilepsy and obesity
• Stem Toothache
• Stem bark : Given in fever, dysentery and diarrhea, stomachache and urinary complaints, useful in piles, edema and wounds, decoction effective against lymphadema, chylurea and other effects of filariasis
• Leaves : Eye complaints
• Milky juice/latex : Antiseptic, astringent, applied to chapped hands and sore feet, in pneumonia and swells of cheek
• Fruit Eye complaints
• Seeds Epistaxis and diarrhea
• Part not specified Cancer, cholera, colic, diarrhea dysentery and menorrhagia, epilepsy and inflammatory swellings

References

• Sharma PV. Dravyagun Vigyan. Vol. 3. pp. 233–4. Chowkhambha Series.
• Jain SK. Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. New Delhi: Deep Publications; 1991. p. 172.
• Singh NP, Singh VK. Streblus asper Lour—an ancient Indian drug for cure of filariasis. Acta Bot Indica. 1976;15:108–9.
• Singh NP, Ram ER. Filaria and its herbal cure. New Botanist. 1988;15:201–5.
• Useful Plants of India, New Delhi: NISCOM, 1992;603–4.