Aristolochia indica

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Magnoliids
Ordo: Piperales

Familia: Aristolochiaceae
Subfamilia: Aristolochioideae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: Aristolochia indica
Name

Aristolochia indica L.
Synonyms

Aristolochia lanceolata Wight
Aristolochia maysorensis Fisch. ex Duch.
Aristolochia pandurata Wall. ex Duch.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asie
India (throughout), Lakshadweep Isl. (Laccadives), Andamans, Nicobars, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar [Burma] (Bago, Mandalay, Yangon), Pakistan (Sind), Laos, Vietnam

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 960. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2018. Aristolochia indica. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 28. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Aristolochia indica. Published online. Accessed: Dec. 28 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Aristolochia indica in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 28.
Tropicos.org 2018. Aristolochia indica. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 28 Dec. 2018.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Aristolochia indica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

Vernacular names

Aristolochia indica (native language: Garudakkodi / Eswaramooli) is a creeper plant found in Southern India and also Sri Lanka. It Is known as 'sapsada' in Sri Lanka and is critical to the survival of the southern birdwing and common birdwing,[1] as well as crimson and common rose butterflies. It reaches a height of several metres on trees and cover the branches with thick foliage. It is commonly found in forest floor, rocky hillslopes. It flowers once a year to produce seeds. It can also be propagated by roots. The plant has a number of historical medicinal uses.[vague]
Toxicity
Aristolochia indica flower
Arsitolochia indica - flower

This plant contains aristolochic acid, a carcinogen also found in various Aristolochia and Asarum plants, both in the family Aristolochiaceae. Aristolochic acid is composed of an about 1:1 mixture of two forms, aristolochic acid I and aristolochic acid II.

In addition to its carcinogenicity, aristolochic acid is also highly nephrotoxic and may be a causative agent in Balkan nephropathy. However, despite these well-documented dangers, aristolochic acid still is present sometimes in herbal remedies (such as for weight loss), primarily because of substitution of innocuous herbs with Aristolochia species. The alcoholic extract is more toxic than the water extract.[2]
References

Introduction to the Aristolochiales
Michl J., Simmonds M., Ingrouille M., Heinrich M., Toxicological risk assessment of Aristolochia species.. Planta Medica. Conference: 59th International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research Antalya Turkey.