Review Article

Phytochemical and Pharmacological aspects of

Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt
Suresh Kumar Dev*, Maya Sharma, Rajnish Srivastava and Pratim Kumar Choudhury

ABSTRACT

Natural products had been used by many cultures and traditions from thousands of years for their bioactive pharmacophores
by modern pharmaceutical companies. The potential bioactive phytocompounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic
compounds, and steroids are potential source for drug discovery. The present review deals with chemical compounds,
medicinal properties, biological activities, and pharmacological effects of Sarcostemma acidum Roxb. Voigt. The plant
species S. acidum Roxb. Voigt is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family, locally known as Khair, Khimp, Khurasni tanto, Art
thor, Soma, and Somavalli. In English, Moon plant and Moon creeper, and in Hindi, Somlata used in the Indian traditional
system of medicine. This review focused on different properties of S. acidum Roxb. Voigt a multifaceted plant.

KEY WORDS: Pharmacological uses, Phytochemical, Sarcostemma acidum Roxb. Voigt

INTRODUCTION medicinal efficacy, and used as natural restorative for

The use of herbal plant products is growing in many
segments of the population. According to an estimate,
80–90% of the world’s population lead to herbal plants
for their medicine.[1] Sarcostemma acidum Roxb. Voigt
is a xerophytic plant of the family Asclepiadaceae.[2]
Plant is locally known as Khair, Khimp, Khurasni tanto,
Art thor, Soma and Somavalli. In English  -Moon
plant and moon creeper and in Hindi -  Somlata.[3] .
It is a traditional medicinal plant categorized as a
member of soma plants used to prepare Somras. It is
much branched, leafless, straggling shrub (Figure 1),
climbing on Euphorbia caducifolia Haines on China
hills. The plant found in India, Pakistan, and Europe.[4]
In India, it is mainly found in Bihar, West Bengal and
many places of South India in dry rocky places at an
altitude of 1350m [5]. It was also distributed widely
over tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, America
and Asia.[6]
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
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health that makes the consumer awakened and alert.[7]
As per geographical indications, flowering of the plant
occurs during summer (Figure 2) 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 leprocy.[2]
Latex is applied on wounds and cuts. The whole
extractives of the plant was reported to have to
number of psychopharmacological effect including
antipsychotic, anxiolytic and CNS inhibitory activity.
Plant contains many important phytochemicals
such as  - malic acid, succinic acid, reducing sugars,
α and β-amyrins, lupeol and lupeol-acetate, and
β-sitosterol.[8]
CLASSIFICATION[9]
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterids
Family: Asclepiadeae
Genes: Sarcostemma R.Br.
Botanical name: Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt
Synonyms: Asclepiasacida Roxb., Cynanchum acidum
(Roxb.) Oken, Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight &
Arn.
Vernacular name:

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding author: Suresh Kumar Dev, Research Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohan Lal Sukhadia
University, Udaipur - 313 001, Rajasthan, India. Phone: +91-9509058844. E-mail: sureshdev04@gmail.com

Received on: 18-07-2017; Revised on: 29-08-2017; Accepted on: 29-09-2017

Journal of Pharmacy Research | Vol 11 • Issue 11 • 2017 1429

 Suresh Kumar Dev, et al.

PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Plant contains many important phytochemicals such
as malic acid, succinic acid, reducing sugars, α and
β-amyrins, lupeol and lupeol-acetate, and β-sitosterol.[8]
It has four lignans, sacidumlignans A–D (1–4), and
two degraded lignan derivatives, sacidumols A (5)
and B (6), (+)-pinoresinol, 9α-hydroxypinoresinol,
perforatic acid, and peucenine-7-O-methyl ether,
isolated from the ethanolic extract of the whole plant
of S. acidum. Among these, sacidumlignan A (1)
showed moderate antimicrobial activities against two
Gram-positive bacteria in vitro.[11]

Figure 1: Sarcostemma acidum Roxb. Voigt THERAPEUTIC USES

Plant Therapeutic/medicinal uses References
part
Stem Bronchodialator, vasodilator, [9,12‑17]
anti‑asthmatic, diaphoretic
antispermatogenic activity,
antifertility potential, boils,
bone fracture or dislocation,
rheumatism, gout, obesity,
and yoke gall (a yoke gall is a
localized acute inflammation
of the skin and subcutis on
the neck of cattle)
Leaves Snakebite, mental disease, and [18,19]
and Root allergic rhinitis and sinusitis
Latex Wounds and cuts, preparation [10,20,21]
of lotion, ear drops during an
Figure 2: Sarcostemma acidum Roxb. Voigt
earache, dog bite, and chronic
ulcer
English: Moon Plant, Moon Creeper Ethyl Psychopharmacological [22]
Hindi: Soma, Somlata acetate activity, CNS inhibitory
Sanskrit: Soma, Somalata, Somavalli extract activity, and anxiolytic
Bark Galactagogue [23]
Bengal: Kula Thar, Soma, Somlatha Whole Narcotic, emetic, pitta, [5,11,24‑29]
plant dipsia, antiviral, rejuvenating,
Gujarati: Somvel hydrophobia, antimicrobial,
Kannada: HambuBali, Hambukkalli, Soma balli, lactation, rheumatic pain,
Somalate, Somalatha,Vasukaanthi diabetes, edema, antidote,
Malayalam: Somam, Somavalli, Vayastha and anti‑inflammatory
Marathi: Ransher, Somvel Pulpy Nasal drops (externally [10,30]
Oriya: Borohwi, Notasiju, Somolata mesocarp remedy) in epilepsy
Fruit and Anti‑rabies [31]
Tamil: Kodikkalli, Somamum seed
Telugu: Dustappa Tiga, Kaadujemmudu, Kondapaala,
Padmakaashtamu, Somalatha OTHER USES
PHARMACOGNOSTIC India Brahmins now use the stalks of S. brevistigma
PARAMETER[10] under the name “Pitica” or “Putica” as Soma. It is
possible that they used the plant in their religious
Bhavesh Kumar Dave et al. studied about worship as a surrogate of Soma.[26]
pharmacognostical parameters of that plant as follows:
Moisture content 80.23% W/W, The species of S. acidum are used by cultivators to
Ash value  - Total ash 12.125% W/W, acid insoluble extirpate white ants from sugarcane fields. A bundle
4.5077% W/W, water soluble 1.2595% W/W. of twigs is put into trough from which the field is
Extrative value - Alcohol soluble 7.424% W/W, water watered together with a bag of salt and water thus
soluble 12.4% W/W, ether soluble 3.784% W/W. impregnated destroys the white ants without affecting
Decoction 13.66% W/W. the crop.[32]

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 Suresh Kumar Dev, et al.
CONCLUSION
This study provided scientific background and
medicinal property of S. acidum (Roxb.) Voigt. The
present work will help to study the medicinal value
of the plant, taking into account the details available
in the literature, and convert it into a suitable dosage
form after pre-formulation studies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to thank the Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohan Lal Sukhadia
University, Udaipur, for providing all the necessary
review facilities. The financial support received
from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi,
in the form of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship is
gratefully acknowledged.
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