Morphological information\

An erect glabrous herb, 15- 60 cm high. Rhizome stout, globular, 2.3- 3.0 cm X 2.0- 4.0 cm; leaves alternate, peltate, orbicular  reniform, palmate, 6- 8 partite; serrate with short teeth, lamina slightly cubbed at the 5 base, petiole 7-15 cm long flowers pink, cup-shaped, sepals deciduous, Petals 6 oblong pink and white. Style short, berry an elliptic 1- 2 x 35 cm long.

Flowering                           : May-July

Fruiting                              : August-October

History                               :

Parts                                  : Root & fruit.

Status                                : Critically endangered.

Phytochemistry

The rhizome and roots of the plant yield a brown resin (7.5%) possessing tumour damaging activity.The resin contains a new lignan lactone designated sikkimotoxin (C23H2608, m.p 120), 3-galactosidyl quercetin, quercetin and isorhamnetin.

 

Medicinal

Rhizome and roots yield a brown resin possessing tumour-damaging activity. The resin was used by physicians of Mississippi and Missouri and the urologist in Louisiana for the treatment of veneral warts (Janardan Singh et. al. 1994). The plant is used by the Penosbot Indian of Maine, U.S.A. for the treatment of cancer, polyps, etc.

 

Traditional

The matured seed are grinded, and the decoction (150-250 ml) prepared from it is administered orally in case of blood dysentery. Followed by the treatment of the liver disorder and billous fever. A pill containing ½ grain (P. sikkimensis) +3 grains extract of the Hyocyamos niger is one of the effective purgative (Biswas & Chopra 1956). Rhizome has turnours narcotizing properties, Which also increases the bile secretion (Yonzon teal. 1984).

 

 

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