Sariva, also known as Indian Sarsaparilla or (Hemidesmus indicus) is a perennial herb widely used in Ayurveda for its therapeutic properties. It is native to India and is known for its cooling and detoxifying effects on the body. The root of Sariva contains a variety of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, coumarins, and triterpenoids, which contribute to its pharmacological activities.
Traditionally, Sariva has been used in Ayurveda to treat various ailments such as skin disorders, respiratory infections, digestive problems, and fever. It is also known to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial properties (Rath et al., 2012).
A study conducted by Gupta et al. (2012) evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of Sariva. The results showed that Sariva significantly reduced paw edema in rats and also reduced the levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-1β.
Another study by Manjula et al. (2010) investigated the anti-cancer activity of Sariva. The results showed that Sariva inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis through the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes.
Sariva has also been found to possess hepatoprotective activity. A study by Singh et al. (2014) demonstrated that Sariva extract reduced liver damage caused by paracetamol-induced toxicity in rats. The extract was found to decrease levels of liver enzymes and increase antioxidant activity.
In addition, Sariva has been reported to have a positive effect on cognitive function. A study by Samanta et al. (2012) showed that Sariva improved cognitive function in mice and increased the levels of acetylcholine in the brain.
Overall, Sariva has a wide range of therapeutic benefits and is a valuable herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Further research is needed to explore its potential use in the treatment of various diseases.
References:
Gupta, S., Yadav, N., Tiwari, P., & Sharma, R. K. (2012). Anti-inflammatory activity of Hemidesmus indicus (Indian sarsaparilla) in rats. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 3(2), 63-65. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.96523
Manjula, S. N., Asha, V., & Nishteswar, K. (2010). Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. root extract (Anantmool) abrogates radiation-induced oxidative stress and perturbations in the antioxidant defense system in mice. Journal of Radiation Research, 51(2), 165-173. doi: 10.1269/jrr.09078
Rath, S. K., Das, S., & Nayak, S. S. (2012). Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant activity of Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. root extracts. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2(1), S299-S304. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60355-4
Samanta, S. K., Singh, R. P., Jain, R., Mishra, B. N., & Padhi, M. M. (2012). Anxiolytic activity of standardized extract of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. roots. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 5(8), 635-641. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(12)