An extensive woody climber with a stout stem; young shoots and branches covered by a silky white pubescence. Leaves ovate-cordate, apiculate at tip, glabrous above, white tomentose beneath. Flowers rose-purple with 7.5 to 30 cm long, white-tomentose peduncles, borne in axillary many-flowered cymes; bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 3 to 4 cm long. Fruits (berries) globose, 2 cm in diameter, apiculate, indehiscent.
Herb Effects
Stimulant, rubifacient, bitter, tonic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, stimulates cardiovascular system and alleviates spasms (seed).
Agroclavine, chanoclavines I and II, elymoclavine, festuclavine, lysergene, ergometrine and ergometrinine (ergoline alkaloids of seed).
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
Agroclavine
548-42-5
Not Available
C16H18N2
Elymoclavine
548-43-6
Not Available
C16H18N2O
Festuclavine
569-26-6
Not Available
C16H20N2
Ergometrine
78207-83-7
Not Available
C19H23N3O2
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
Chronic ulcers and as an aphrodisiac (root powder); skin diseases (latex); as a tonic, in gonorrhea and disorders of the nervous system (root); rheumatism (root and latex); for male sexual disorders (plant).
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
The Himalaya Drug Company. Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.
Health Remedies 
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