Talk:Sariva
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Sariva |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Hemidesmus indicus (L.) SCHULT. |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) SCHULT., popularly known as Sariva (Indian sarsaparilla), is a slender, laticiferous, twining shrub native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely revered in Ayurveda as a premier blood purifier (*raktashodhaka*), coolant (*pittahara*), and rejuvenative (*rasayana*) drug of choice for managing chronic skin disorders, burning sensations, fever, and metabolic toxemia.
English name
Indian sarsaparilla
Therapeutic Uses
Agnimandhya (digestive impairment), Aruchi (anorexia), Swasa (dyspnea), Kasa (cough), Jwara (fever), Atisara (diarrhea), Kandu (itching), Kustha (skin diseases), Raktavikara (blood disorders).[1]
Other Varieties
- Periploca indica
Botanical Profile & Traditional Context
In traditional Indian medicine, Sariva is classified as possessing sweet (*madhura*) and bitter (*tikta*) tastes, with a cooling potency (*sheeta veerya*) that pacifies all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), though it is exceptionally renowned for subduing aggravated Pitta and blood impurities.
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Sariva, Ananta, Gopakanya, Sphota, Shyama, Krushodari, Asphota, Phanijihvaka, Anantamoola, Gopavalli.
Additional Synonyms in Bhavprakasha Nighantu
Gopi, Gopavadhu, Lata.[2]
Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Sweet (madhura), Bitter (tikta) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Cold (sheeta) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Sweet (madhura) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Heavy (guru), Unctuous (snigdha) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify vata, pitta and kapha |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 2/24 | Pipasaghniyavagu (gruels for excess thirst and toxicity) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(9) | Kanthya mahakashaya (beneficial for throat & voice) |
| 3 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(18) | Stanyashodhana mahakashaya (galacto-purifiers) |
| 4 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(31) | Purishsangrahaniya mahakashaya (faecal astringents) |
| 5 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(39) | Jwarahara mahakashaya (relieving fever) |
| 6 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/9(41) | Dahaprashamana mahakashaya (pacifying burning sensation) |
| 7 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 5/64 | Anutailadravya |
| 8 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 25/40 | Agrya Sangraha |
| 9 | Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 8/139 | Madhurskandha (group of sweet drugs) |
| 10 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/29 | Garbha Vyadhi chikitsa (treatment of constipation during third trimester) |
| 11 | Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/56 | Kshira vishodhana dravya |
| 12 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/201 | Used as kwatha in Satat jwara |
| 13 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/219 | As an ingredient of Pippalyadi Ghrita |
| 14 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/258 | As an ingredient of Chandanadhya taila |
| 15 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 4/76 | As an ingredient of kiratatiktadi churna |
| 16 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 4/81 | As an ingredient of Priyangvadi peya |
| 17 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/128 | Abhyantara and Bahyaprayogartha (Pana, Snana, Lepa) |
| 18 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 7/145 | Ingredient in Mahatikta Ghrita |
| 19 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 8/109 | Ingredient in Duralabhadi Ghrita |
| 20 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 9/35 | Ingredient in Kalyanak Ghrita |
| 21 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 9/42 | Ingredient in Mahakalyanak Ghrita |
| 22 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/160 | As an ingredient of kanakasava |
| 23 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/106 | Agnivruddhiartha and alleviating kosthagata kapha in grahaniroga |
| 24 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/125 | As an ingredient of candanadhya ghrita |
| 25 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 17/110 | Used in treatment of hikka swasha (mentioned as Asphota) |
| 26 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 18/177 | As an ingredient of jivantyadi leha |
| 27 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 19/50 | As a pana dravya |
| 28 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 21/54 | For kashaya pana (decoction) |
| 29 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 21/76 | As an ingredient of Sarivadi pralepa |
| 30 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 21/88 | For pradeha prayoga in kaphaja visarpa |
| 31 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/102 | As an ingredient of ksharagada |
| 32 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/201 | Used in the treatment of Luta visha (spider poison) |
| 33 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/202 | As an ingredient of Madhukadi yoga |
| 34 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/243 | As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita |
| 35 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/153 | As an ingredient of Bhargyadi taila |
| 36 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/185 | Used in Kaphaja Siroroga for Pradhamana nasya |
| 37 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/264 | As an ingredient of Sahacharadi taila |
| 38 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/269 | As an ingredient of Mahaneela taila |
| 39 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/168 | As an ingredient of Mahamayura Ghrita |
| 40 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/179 | As an ingredient of Yashtyadi Ghrita |
| 41 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/234 | Used in Pittaja netraroga (eye disease) |
| 42 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/243 | As an ingredient of Amrutadi varti |
| 43 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/125 | As an ingredient of Dashamuladi majja sneha |
| 44 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/158 | As an ingredient of Amrutadi taila |
| 45 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/76 | As an ingredient of Sthiradi Ghrita/Taila |
| 46 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/94 | As an ingredient of Madhuparnyadi taila |
| 47 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/123 | As an ingredient of Pinda taila |
| 48 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/146 | Used in Kaphaja Vatarakta |
| 49 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/92 | As an ingredient of Pushyanuga churna |
| 50 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/263 | Used in the treatment of Stanya Vairasya |
| 51 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 30/275 | Used in treatment of Dorgandhya Stanya dosha, as an ingredient of Sarivadi lepa |
Dose
- Kwatha (Decoction): 20–30 g of the drug.[1]
Important Formulations
As per A.P.I.[1]
- Sarivadhyasava
Current Availability
Available
- In India: Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra.
Phytochemical Composition
The therapeutic potential of *Hemidesmus indicus* is attributed to its specialized root metabolites:
- Coumarins and Lignans: Hemidesmin, desmethoxyhemidesmin, and esculoside.
- Volatile Compounds: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, imparting the distinct sarsaparilla aroma.
- Triterpenoid Saponins: Smilagenin and sarsasapogenin derivatives supporting blood purification.
Pharmacological Activities & Therapeutic Efficacy
Blood Purifying and Anti-Dermatotic Actions
- Mechanism: The cooling and bitter principles neutralize metabolic toxins (*ama*) and cleanse the rakta dhatu (blood tissue), alleviating chronic skin eruptions, leprosy (*kustha*), and pruritus (*kandu*).
- Scientific Evidence: Experimental models validate its significant anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriatic properties, corroborating its traditional use in skin disorders.[3]
Antipyretic and Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy
- Mechanism: Active constituents downregulate inflammatory mediators and modulate thermoregulatory centers, effectively reducing chronic fevers (*jwara*) and internal burning sensations (*daha*).
- Scientific Evidence: Pharmacological studies demonstrate marked antipyretic and analgesic activities comparable to standard reference drugs in rodent models.[4]
Safety, Toxicity, and Dosage
- Acute Toxicity: *Hemidesmus indicus* root preparations exhibit a high safety margin with no notable adverse toxic effects at therapeutic doses.
- Precautions: Use with moderation in cold-induced respiratory congestion due to its dominant cooling potency.
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Active Biomolecules | Primary Pharmacological Action |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Skin Diseases (Kustha) | Triterpenoid saponins, Coumarins | Blood purifier, Anti-inflammatory |
| Pyrexia & Burning Sensation (Jwara / Daha) | 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde | Antipyretic, Coolant |
| Digestive & Urinary Disorders | Glycosides, Tannins | Astringent, Demulcent |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:68
- ↑ Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Guduchyadi Varga, Verse no. 237, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2020;
- ↑ Sultana, S.; Khan, N.; Sharma, T. (2003). "Modulatory effect of Hemidesmus indicus on iron-mediated lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in dermal tissues". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 85 (2): 231–235.
- ↑ Gayatri, B.; Rao, V.; Narasu, M. (2005). "Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of Hemidesmus indicus root extract". Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 28 (2): 270–273.