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Doctoral Thesis | Pharmacology and Toxicology | India | Volume 12 Issue 8, August 2023

Sarcostemma Acidum Voigt Somlata Ethnobotany, Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Potential

Pravanjankumar Tripathy | Manas Ranjan Mishra

Abstract: Sarcostemma acidum Voigt is a xerophytic plant of the family Apocynaceae. Plant is locally known as Somlata. . It is a traditional medicinal plant categorized as a member of soma plants used to prepare Somras. It is much branched, leafless, straggling shrub. The plant found in India, Pakistan, and Europe. In India, it is mainly found in Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and many places of South India in dry rocky places. The different parts of S. acidum plant including stem, root, seeds, latex, and fruits exhibited various medicinal uses. The juice of this plant is considered as the divine drink offered to gods, contemplated with medicinal efficacy, and used as natural restorative for health that makes the consumer awakened and alert. As per geographical indications, flowering of the plant occurs during summer and fruiting in October. It was propagated through seed. The stem juice of the plant was used as ear drops in otitis and dog bite. However root was used in to treat snake bite, rabies, emesis and leprosy. Latex is applied on wounds and cuts. The whole extractives of the plant were reported to have to number of psychopharmacological effect including antipsychotic, anxiolytic and CNS inhibitory activity. S. acidumstem extract resulted in an arrest of spermatogenesis without any systemic side effect. Sperm motility as well as sperm density was reduced significantly.

Keywords: Sarcostemmaacidumvoigt, Somlata, Medicinal plant, Traditional medicine, Pharmacological effects

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 8, August 2023,

Pages: 1327 - 1329