Salacia reticulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Salacia
Species:
S. reticulata
Binomial name
Salacia reticulata
Wight[1]

Salacia reticulata is a flowering plant of the genus Salacia native to Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands.[1] It grows in dry zone forests in Sri Lanka. In ayurvedic medicine, it is known as kothala himbutu (කොතල හිඹුටු) in Sinhala.

Description

Salacia reticulata is a climbing, perennial, woody shrub. The plant has dichotomous branching pattern. The bark is smooth, greenish grey in colour, thin, and white internally. The leaves are opposite and elliptic-oblong. The leaves have acute bases, abruptly acuminate apexes, and a margin with minute rounded teeth. The flowers are bisexual and arranged in clusters of 2-8 in the leaf axils. They are greenish-white to greenish-yellow in color. The fruit is a drupe which is globose and tubercular. The drupe assumes a pinkish-orange color on ripening. There are 1–4 seeds, each resembling an almond.

It's used as a folk medicine for treating diabetes, and several clinical trials have proven that it's effective as a treatment for type II diabetes.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Salacia reticulata Wight", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2022-02-13
  2. Kajimoto, Osami; Kawamori, Shusuke; Shimoda, Hiroshi; Kawahara, Yuzo; Hirata, Hiroshi; Takahashi, Takeo (10 October 2000). "Effects of a Diet Containing Salacia reticulata on Mild Type 2 Diabetes in Humans". Nippon Eiyo Shokuryo Gakkaishi. 53 (5): 199–205. doi:10.4327/jsnfs.53.199. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. Jayawardena, M. H. S.; de Alwis, N. M. W.; Hettigoda, V.; Fernando, D. J. S. (28 February 2005). "A double blind randomised placebo controlled cross over study of a herbal preparation containing Salacia reticulata in the treatment of type 2 diabetes". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 97 (2): 215–218. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.10.026. PMID 15707755. Retrieved 22 December 2023.


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