Scientific name: Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers
Family: Menispermaceae
Synonym: Menispermum japonicum Thunb.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Akundi, Makundi, Akandi manik, Nimulkha, Raj pathada.
Tribal name: Patalpur (Chakma), Ajing-kammu (Khumi), Tung nah way (Marma), Mrein-noie (Rakhaing).
English name: Tape vine, Stephania, Snake vine.
Description of the plant: A slender wiry climber. Leaves peltate, thinly papyraceous, glabrous on the surfaces, broadly triangular, ovate-acuminate, 3-12 cm long, and apex acutely acuminate or obtuse, base rounded, margin entire. Inflorescences are in umbels on peduncles 3 to 4 cm in length. Male and female flowers are small, and pale yellow. Drupes light yellow to orange red, obovate, glabrous.
Plant parts used: Leaf, root.
Ethnomedicinal uses: A fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken thrice a day (one tea spoon amount each time) for three days to treat fever.
Pea-sized pills are made with the leaves of the plant is taken thrice a day (one pill each time) for one month to treat impotence.
A fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant, after adding some sugar it is taken twice a day (5 ml amount each time) until the leucorrhoea and asthma is cured.
Juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken four times a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until the chest pain is cured, at the same time a paste is made with the leaves is applied on the chest.
The roots of the plant are used for the treatment of stomachache, dyspepsia, and urinary diseases.
Pea-sized pills are made with the leaves of the plant are taken with warm water four times a day (one pill each time) until the colic is cured.
A fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken with some sugar thrice a day (two tea spoons amount each time) for three days to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.
A paste is made with the leaves of the plant is applied on the infected skin once a day for seven days to treat scabies.
Distribution: The species occurs almost all over the country.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
