Botanical Name

Smilax china L.

Family

Liliaceae.

Synonyms

Coprosmanthus japonicus Kunth, Smilax china f. china, Smilax japonica (Kunth) A.Gray,  Smilax pteropus Miq., Smilax taiheiensis Hayata, Smilax taquetii H.Lev., Smilax  thomsoniana A.DC.

Regional Name

English : China root, Hindi : Chopcheenee, Sanskrit : Dvipantara Vaca, Bengali : Chopcheenee, Kumarika, Shukchin, Gujrati : Chopcheenee, Malayalam : China Pairu, Marathi : Chopcheenee, Tamil : Parangichekkai, Telugu : Pirngichekka.

Part Used

Tuberous root.

Description

Chop chini is a deciduous climber with sparsely prickled or unarmed stem. It is imported from China and Japan. Tubers about 6 to 12 cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide, rough, irregular, cylindrical, curved, slightly tapering with brownish or blackish scars; externally brownish-yellow in color, and internally brown in color; fracture, hard; odour not characteristic; taste, slightly bitter.

Phytoconstituents

Saponins, sarsaponin and parallin, which yield isomeric, sapogenins, sarsapogenin and smilogenin. It also contains, sitosterol and stigmasterol in the free form and as glucosides.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa : Tikta, Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Virya : Usna, Vipaka : Katu, Karma : Sothahara, Sukrasodhaka, Dipana, Mutrala, Raktasodhaka, Rasayana, Tridoaahara, Vrsya, Vedanssthapana, Nadibalya, Anulomana, Svedajanana

Ayurvedic Applications

Sula, Apasmara, Adhmana, Gandamala, Krmi, Kustha, Puyameha, Sandhivata, Unmada, Vibandha, Sukravikara, Vatavyadi, Phiranga, Kampavata.

Medicinal Uses

It is used for skin ailments like psoriasis, leprosy and venereal diseases like syphilis and used in Leukorrhea or white discharge. Chop chini is control of swellings (inflammation, removal of pus from wounds, promotion of urine (diuretic), bringing down high body temperature, removing gas (flatulence) and clearing bowels. It is also used in fever, epilepsy, insanity, neuralgia, strangury, seminal weakness and general debility. It also stimulates digestion, increases urination, protects liver and promotes perspiration.