Decalepis hamiltonii

Swallowroot
File:Decalepis hamiltonii.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Periplocoideae
Genus:	Decalepis
Species:	D. hamiltonii
Binomial name
Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn.

Decalepis hamiltonii is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to Peninsular India and known by its names of Maredu Kommulu, Nannari kommulu or Madina kommulu in Telugu, Makali beru or Vagani beru in Kannada and Magali kizhangu in Tamil is a plant whose root is used in Ayurvedic medicines and for use in pickles and to make sharbat. It belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae.

The English name of swallowroot is sometimes used for the plant and studies have shown that it has insecticidal activity and a potential use in control of stored grain pests. The active ingredient in the root was synthesized and encapsulated with beta-cyclodextrins. The roots were also subjected to supercritical carbon-dioxide based extraction at the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India. The plant is often confused with Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla The root contains antioxidants and extraction methods for it have been patented.

The popularity of Decalepis in the international market has recently made its price soar and sends worrying signals about it getting being endangered due to over-exploitation.

References

• Srikanta BM, Siddaraju MN, Dharmesh SM. A novel phenol-bound pectic polysaccharide from Decalepis hamiltonii with multi-step ulcer preventive activity. World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Oct 21;13(39):5196-207