Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & ThomsonFamily: Menispermaceae
Synonyms: Menispermum crispum L., Tinospora gibbericaulis Hand.-Mazz., Tinospora mastersii Diels, Tinospora rumphii, Tinospora thorelii Gagnep.
Chinese: 发冷藤, 波叶青牛胆
French: Liane-quinine.
Japanese: イボツヅラフジ.
Thai: บอระเพ็ด Bora phet, Chung ching, Kuakhohoo (Don Daeng).
Description: Tinospora crispa (L.) Diels is a woody climber with numerous protrusions on the stem. Leaves are oblong-ovate, cordate, 8-9 cm by 7-8 cm and tapering to a pointed end. Flowers are small, with 6 petals, 2 mm in length and 8-27 cm racemes. Male flowers have yellow sepals whereas female flowers have green sepals. Drupelets are red, juicy and 7-8 mm long.[A Guide to Medicinal Plants - An Illustrated, Scientific and
Medicinal Approach]
Action: Antipyretic, Appetizer, Bitter Tonic, Lymphatic, Pectoral, Stomachic
Part Used: Stem
Internal Application: Boraphet (pronounced “bora-pet”) is used to treat any disease in which fever is the initial symptom. It also stimulates the appetite and is considered to be a bitter tonic especially beneficial for the lungs, bile, and lymphatic system. The Wat Po texts mention boraphet as a cure for intestinal parasites, stomach problems in babies, malaria, eye and ear disease, and for mucous congestion. Preparation: A foot-long segment of stem (about 30–40 grams) is pounded with a mortar and pestle. Mashed stalks are soaked in water, and strained. Decoction is drunk twice daily until fever is gone. Or one inch of fresh stem is chewed with lots of water 2–3 times daily. [A COMPENDIUM OF TRADITIONAL THAI HERBAL MEDICINE]
Action: Plant—diuretic, as powerful a febrifuge as cinchona. The plant contains a bitter principle picrotein and furanoditerpene glycoside, tinocrisposide. Stem, roots and tubers contain a diterpenoid— tinosporan, which appears to be closely related to columbin. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
Stem: Macerated in rum, cognac or absinthe and mixed with bark of Quassia amara into a bitter beverage to control diabetes and albuminuria; macerated in rum or white wine for a malaria remedy; macerated in white wine for a vermifuge and an appetite stimulant for infants. CHEM: Contains the antidiabetic alkaloid palmatine. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)]
73 Published articles of Tinospora crispa
