The herb Stephania japonica, a vital constituent of traditional medicine systems across Asia, is a climbing vine highly valued for its profound phytochemical richness and wide range of therapeutic actions. This comprehensive explanation follows the structure you specified, integrating detailed information from traditional texts and modern scientific research.
Herb's Introduction
Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers is a perennial, dioecious climbing plant belonging to the Menispermaceae family, commonly known as the Moonseed family. This slender, twining vine is distinguished by its unique foliage and its extensive historical use in various ethnomedicinal practices, including Ayurveda, Sidha, and the traditional folk medicine of Nepal and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, the plant is revered for its ability to address a spectrum of health issues, from basic fevers and pain relief to complex internal disorders. It acts as a powerful source of diverse isoquinoline alkaloids, which are the basis for its documented hypotensive, spasmolytic, and increasingly studied anti-multidrug resistance (MDR) activities, solidifying its importance in both ancient remedies and contemporary pharmacology.
Name in Different Countries
The widespread distribution and ancient usage of Stephania japonica across tropical and subtropical Asia have resulted in a rich collection of common and regional names, which often reflect its morphological characteristics or primary medicinal uses. Region/Language Name/Vernacular Meaning or Context Scientific Name Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers Infraspecific Taxon: S. japonica var. discolor Common English Names Tape Vine, Snake Vine, Circular Vine, Japanese Stephania Refers to its twining, slender, climbing habit. Nepali बाटुलीपाते (Batule paate), बाटुलपाते (Baatulapaate), पाठा (Paathaa) Nepali names often reference the 'round leaf' shape. Sanskrit (Ayurveda) Rajapatha A classical medicinal term indicating its traditional value. Japanese hasu-no-ha-kazura Literally translating to 'lotus leaf vine', referring to its peltate leaf shape. Bengali Akanadi, Kanadi, Chhotopard Common names used in the Bengal region of India and Bangladesh. Manipuri থংগা উরী অঙৌবা (Thangga-uri angouba) A name specific to the Manipur region of Northeast India. Telugu Karulavachettu, Distipadu Names used in the Telugu-speaking areas of South India. Export to Sheets
Terminology
The systematic terminology of Stephania japonica helps define its place in the plant kingdom and categorize the unique chemical compounds responsible for its efficacy. Taxonomy: The plant belongs to the Ranunculales order and the Menispermaceae family. The genus Stephania is characterized by its dioecious, climbing vines. Phytochemicals: The most crucial terminology relates to its chemical constituents. The plant is a prolific producer of isoquinoline alkaloids, which are a class of natural compounds with potent pharmacological properties. Key identified alkaloids include Stephanine, Homostephanoline, Hasubanonine, Prometaphanine, Epistephanine, Cyclanoline, and notably, Isotrilobine. Pharmacology: The medicinal properties are defined by terms such as hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), spasmolytic (relieves spasms of smooth muscle), and MDR-reversing activity (reversing multidrug resistance in cells), which is a key area of modern research. Morphology: The leaf is described as peltate, meaning the petiole (leaf stalk) is attached near the center of the leaf surface, rather than at the edge, a defining characteristic that contributes to its regional names like Batule paate.
Availability
Stephania japonica is an extremely widespread and geographically versatile plant, establishing itself across diverse habitats throughout the Asian continent and extending into the Pacific. Geographical Distribution: The plant is native and extensively distributed across a vast area, including the Indian Subcontinent (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines), East Asia (China, Japan, Korea), and as far south as Australia (Queensland, New South Wales) and various Pacific Islands. Habitat: It is a plant of the wet tropical and subtropical biome. It thrives as a twining vine in various sheltered areas, including secondary forests, lowland and upland rainforest margins, hedges, village margins, and thickets. It has been documented to grow at elevations up to 2,000 meters, highlighting its adaptability within the varied topography of regions like the Himalayas, where it is known as one of the key Medicinal Plants of Nepal.
External Look
Stephania japonica is an attractive, slender, twining vine characterized by a few distinct morphological features: Growth Structure: It is a perennial climber with slender stems that become slightly woody with age. In the wild, it grows from a woody rootstock; when cultivated, it is sometimes noted for its round, potato-like caudex (a swollen, underground storage stem). Leaves: The foliage is its most identifiable trait. The leaves are characteristically peltate, giving them a shield-like or "lily pad" appearance, as the leaf stalk attaches centrally. The leaf blade is usually circular to broadly triangular-ovate, about 5–15 cm long and wide, often with a paler (glaucous) underside, particularly in the var. discolor variety. The palmate venation radiates outwards from the petiole attachment point. Flowers: The plant is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The flowers are minute, greenish-yellow, and appear in compound, flat-topped clusters called umbels, typically growing from the leaf axils during the warmer months. Fruit: The fruit is a small, oval, laterally compressed drupe (a fleshy fruit with a central hard stone) that matures to a bright red or orange color, usually 2 to 8 mm in length.
Healing Properties
The healing properties of Stephania japonica stem primarily from its rich alkaloid content, offering a powerful combination of traditional and scientifically validated effects: Antipyretic and Analgesic: Traditionally used to treat fever and manage pain, including headache and toothache. Gastrointestinal Regulator: Highly effective as an anti-dysenteric and anti-diarrheal agent. It treats a wide range of bowel disorders, including stomachache, dyspepsia, and acute diarrhea. Cardiovascular and Muscular Effects: It is a known hypotensive (blood pressure lowering) and spasmolytic agent, making it useful in traditional medicine for treating heart troubles and relieving muscle spasms. Anti-malarial Activity: The plant's isoquinoline alkaloids have historically been utilized in places like Japan and Taiwan to make a decoction used to treat malaria. Anti-diabetic Potential: Modern research shows that leaf extracts possess potent anti-hyperglycaemic activity and inhibit α-amylase, suggesting significant potential for the management of Diabetes mellitus. Anti-inflammatory and Rheumatism: Used traditionally for rheumatic arthritis and sciatica neuralgia, confirming its broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive (pain-blocking) activities.
Advantages
The medicinal value of Stephania japonica offers several compelling advantages, especially in the context of global health and pharmaceutical development: Multidrug Resistance (MDR) Reversal: This is perhaps its most significant modern advantage. The alkaloid Isotrilobine has been shown to reverse Doxorubicin resistance in human breast cancer cells. This means the plant holds potential for developing new agents that can counteract the alarming issue of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. Broad Traditional Efficacy: It is a highly versatile herb, with traditional uses spanning multiple systems (Ayurveda, Sidha, Folk Medicine) and treating over a dozen different ailments, from common colds and coughs to complex conditions like piles, dropsy, and septic ulcers. Chemical Diversity: Its status as a potent source of diverse and complex isoquinoline alkaloids ensures a high level of bioactivity, making it a valuable target for isolating new drug candidates. Topical and Internal Use: The plant is advantageous because its different parts can be used both internally (decoctions for systemic effects) and externally (pastes for localized issues like septic ulcers and snake bites), offering comprehensive treatment options.
Uses
Different parts of the Stephania japonica plant are specifically utilized for various health issues, reflecting centuries of accumulated knowledge: Whole Plant: Primarily used to make a hypotensive and spasmolytic decoction. In Japan and Taiwan, it is used as an invigorating drink and an anti-malarial remedy. Roots/Root Tubers: Highly valued for gastrointestinal and systemic issues. The root paste is consumed for vertigo, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, indigestion, and urinary troubles. It is also used for heart troubles and mixed with other herbs to treat asthma. Specific conditions treated include nephritic edema and rheumatic arthritis. Leaves: Used both internally and externally. The leaf paste is applied topically on septic ulcers and the forehead to relieve headache. Extracts are traditionally used in women’s health for birth control and leucorrhea. Leaves consumed with honey are used to manage diarrhea, jaundice, and urinary complaints. Stem Bark: Used alongside leaves in the traditional treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. Folk Medicinal Applications: The plant is employed for specific localized folk remedies such as treating sore-throat, tooth ache, eczema of the vulva, snake bite, and carbuncles.
Using way
The methods of administration for Stephania japonica are simple and direct, derived from traditional practices: Processing: Plant material, particularly the roots and stems, is commonly prepared by drying under the sun to reduce moisture and concentrate the active compounds before storage and use. Oral Administration (Decoction): This is the main method for treating internal diseases. A decoction (a liquid preparation made by boiling the plant material in water) is prepared from the whole plant or the dried root. This preparation is ingested to achieve hypotensive effects, manage fever, treat diarrhea, or provide generalized invigoration. Topical Administration (Paste): For external conditions, a paste is prepared by grinding fresh roots or leaves. This paste is applied directly to the affected area. Examples include applying root paste for septic ulcers or snake bites, and leaf paste to the forehead to cure headache or to the breast in Indonesia for tumor management. Specific Combinations: Leaves are sometimes mixed with a vehicle like honey to enhance palatability and efficacy when treating specific conditions like diarrhea and jaundice.
Conclusion
Stephania japonica is undeniably a powerhouse among the Medicinal Plants of Nepal and the wider Asian region. Its enduring significance lies in its dual capacity: serving as a reliable and versatile remedy for centuries in traditional systems like Ayurveda for common ailments, while simultaneously proving to be a highly promising source of novel compounds for modern medical challenges. The presence of key isoquinoline alkaloids provides a strong scientific basis for its traditional uses as a hypotensive, anti-diarrheal, and anti-malarial agent. Most crucially, the demonstrated MDR-reversing potential of its alkaloid, Isotrilobine, positions Stephania japonica at the forefront of research into overcoming drug resistance, offering hope for new therapeutic strategies in complex diseases like cancer. Its continued study and sustainable utilization are critical to leveraging this ancient botanical treasure for future global health benefits.
