Sariba or Hemidesmus indicus is a well-known drug in the traditional medicinal system. Sariba is an aromatic climbing plant commonly known as “Anantmool” or “Indian sarsaparilla” which belongs to the Apocynaceae Family. Anantmool is a combination of two words that is Anant (means eternal) & mool (means root). Anantmool means “the external root”. Sariba is a perennial, slender, lactiferous and twinning climbing vine shrub. Hemidesmus indicus has two varieties black and white. The Black variety is known as Krishna Sariva and the white one is known as Sariva. . This plant is found throughout India growing under mesophytic to semi dry conditions in the plains and up to an altitude of 600 m. It is quite common in open scrub jungles, hedges, and uncultivated soil. In India, it is distributed through the Gangetic Plain, the arid region of the Chota Nagpur and the southern dry regions. It is commonly growing in deciduous forests, uncultivated lands, and moist hedges.
It is a well-known traditional medicinal plant widely used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine to treat a variety of diseases such as dysentery, diarrhoea, syphilis, dyspepsia, leukoderma, diuretic, blood purifier, burning of body, chronic fever and asthma, liver diseases, venereal diseases, leprosy, urinary tract infection, asthma, arthritis, bronchitis, epileptic seizures, high blood pressure, skin diseases (eczema and psoriasis), rheumatism, chronic nervous diseases, impotence and immune disorders. It possesses various potential activity like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, Analgesic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, antileprotic, anti-acne, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, antithrombotic, anti-hyperlipidaemia, anti-nociceptive, anti-venom, and wound healing activity.
According to Ayurveda it enhances complexion of skin, beneficial for throat and sound, purifies the breast milk, destroys burning sensation, work as antipyretic agents, aphrodisiac, alleviates itching, removes foul smell from the body & best suited for bleeding disorders as well as good in purifying the blood. The herb was utilized in biliousness, blood diseases, diarrhoea, respiratory disorders, skin diseases, syphilis, fever, bronchitis, asthma, eye diseases, epileptic fits in children, kidney, urinary disorders, loss of appetite, burning sensation and rheumatism.
Sariba were used by local people and herbal practitioners of Bangladesh for the treatment of diarrhoea, rheumatism, fever, headache, asthma, eye disease and wounds. In some parts of India, sariba is used in leucorrhoea. Ayurvedic texts say that Anantmool has stimulant and natural anabolic and steroidal effects on the body. Scientists have found that Sarsaparilla contains Saponins, which help the body make more urine and sweat more. It can also help relieve fluid retention, puffiness, or swelling, and stomach bloating. Its rough root barks are used to make sherbets and tonics, and a concentrate made from the dried roots is mixed with water or milk to cool the body, especially during hot summers. Sarsaparilla roots powder was also used in the past to “clean the blood,” improve liver function, and get rid of toxins from the body. When taken with Jeera or cumin seed water, Indian Sarsaparilla helps the urinary system work well. It also reduces inflammation and the burning feeling caused by urethritis. Sarsaparilla also has important Flavonoids in it, which have been linked to a longer life, less inflammation, healthy skin and eyes, and a stronger immune system. Traditional healers in southern India use powdered or liquified nannari, which has a pleasant smell, to treat skin infections. The Siddha school of medicine calls it Krishnavalli, which means “fragrant vine.” Prevents and treats cancer, gets rid of inflammation, improves the immune system, helps in losing weight, treats skin problems, detoxifies the body, relieves digestive problems, promotes kidney health, increases muscle mass from working out, treats syphilis, promotes skin health, brings down swelling and pain.
