NAME: Celastrus indica

FAMILY: Celastraceae

COMMON NAMES: Bittersweet

LOCAL NAMES: Ponju-owiwi

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

Celastrus indica is a deciduous, climbing shrub with a simple ovoid leaves and typically 5–20 cm long. The flowers are small, white, pink or greenish, and borne in long panicles; the fruit is a three-valved berry.

USEFUL PART(s): Roots,leaves,twigs

GENERAL USES:

Young flowers are cooked and used as a vegetable
The wood, oil extracted from seed and roots are used for medicinal purposes.
The seeds are used in making soap and as illuminants for lamps.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:

East Asia, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Antimicrobial
Anthelmintics
Asthma
Malaria

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

None Known

FUN FACT

Plants climb by means of twining and by hooked prickles.

FURTHER READINGS

Panda, S. K., Mohanta, Y. K., Padhi, L., Park, Y. H., Mohanta, T. K., & Bae, H. (2016). Large scale screening of ethnomedicinal plants for identification of potential antibacterial compounds. Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030293

Sharma, S., & Thokchom, R. (2014). A review on endangered medicinal plants of India and their conservation. Journal of Crop and Weed.

Thi Thanh Duyen, B., Manh Hung, V., & Thanh Tung, B. (2020). Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant Effects of Celastrus hindsii Benth. Leaf Extract. VNU Journal of Science: Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. https://doi.org/10.25073/2588-1132/vnumps.4203