A large perennial twiner with milky juice and fleshy branched. The leaves are very variable in shape; the flowers are tubular-campanulate, white, in few flowered cymes; the capsules globose with 4 or less, dull black, glabrous seeds.

Laxative (resin and root) and antiinflammatory (root); purgative (root-bark)

Herbal Monograph

A glycosidic resin, alpha and beta-turpethin, a volatile oil and coumarin (plant).

Snakebite antidote and scorpion sting (root); dropsy, gout, chronic constipation, arthritis, jaundice, depression, leprosy and spleen enlargement, for giddiness, vomiting and fainting; for the treatment of piles (leaves);

Moderate doses can cause loose stools and vomiting.

Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.