East Indian Screw Tree

The scientific name of the East Indian screw tree: Helicteres isora Linn

Name of East Indian screw tree in different languages:

Sanskrit: Avartaphala, Rangalata, Vamavarta, tindukini, vibhandi avarttani, mrigashringi

Hindi: Marorphali-मरोड़ फली, Bhendu, Jonkphal,

Malayalam: Valampiri-വലമ്പിരി

Plant description:

East Indian screw tree – Helicteres isora Linn is a partially deciduous shrub, in WesternGhats, hilly areas, grow up to 5 meters tall, leaves are simple, nerved with a serrated margin, scabrous at the top and pubescent bottom, the stem is 2.5 to 12.5 cm in diameter, the bark is gray parts is covered with hairs. Flowers are orange-red, solitary, 2.5 to 5cm long. Fruits are greenish-brown, about 5 cm long; beak-shaped and spiral to both left or right, cylindrical, in maturity by exploding, scatter the small seeds.

Useful plant parts: bark, fruit, root

Medicinal uses:

It contains many antioxidants, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities, it is used to diabetic treatments