CUSCUTA REFLEXA

Common name: Giant dodder, Amarbel. Hindi: Amarbel, Akashbel. English: dordor. Sanskrit: Akashavalli .Gujarati: Akaswel

Botanical name: Cuscuta reflexa

Family: Convolvulacceae (Morning glory family)

Geographical distribution

The plant occurs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and  in most part of India, China, Afghanistan.

It is widely used in traditional medicine in India and China. It is found over all of the coastal areas.

Introduction:

Amarbel is a greenish yellow stem without leaves that grows parasitically on host plants.The plant is leafless and rootless. Initially the starter plant would have had some roots. Within a few days of germination, the plant, which is touch sensitive, finds a host or dies. After establishing itself on a host body, it draws nutrition from the host as a stem parasite and the roots wither away. The twining stem develops Haustoria which are root like and penetrate the host stem to draw water and nourishment. It has stout succulent twiners; stem up to 2.5 mm in diam., yellowish. Flowers sessile in lateral racemes. Calyx cupular, lobes herbaceous, c. 1.5 mm long, suborbicular. Corolla cream coloured, c. 7 mm across, 6-8 mm long, funnel-form; lobes ovate-triangular, erect. Stamens 5; filaments very short; corolla scale ovate to oblong, fimbriate. Ovary c. 2 mm long, conical, stigma acute. Capsule succulent, c. 5 mm across, globose-conical. Seeds 3-3.5 mm long, black.

Cultivation and collection:

Amarbel get cultivated on another plant.It grows well in black soil under varying climatic condition. It requires support for the growth. It requires soil pH of about 8.5 to 9. It requires temperature of about 28 to 30 centigrade.

Type:

Climber

Chemical composition:

Amar bel contains flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol,other vital chemicals such as cuscutine,cuscutamide, fatty acids such as palmitic acid,oleic acid ,linolenic acid and beta sitosterol and stigmasterol

Medicinal uses:

In traditional system,whole plant of cuscuta is used in treating  constipation,liver,spleen dieases,diarrhoea,inflammation. It is used to enhance fertility.It has an effective treatment for urinary problems,jaundice,cough,muscle pain.It is also used in treatment of diseases like intestinal worms,edema,skin diseases,headache,It is externally used in case of body pains and itchy skins.It is also effective in treatment of paralysis,bilious disorders.It also deals with heart disorders and disease of gastrointestinal tract.Chinese traditional medicine uses this herb to treat impotence and many ophthalmic disorders. The stem extract and decoction shows antioxidant activity, antiviral, anticancer and hypoglycemic activity

Flowers and fruits: November to March