Celastrus paniculatus is a deciduous climbing shrub that can grow very large in size. The main stem of this shrub grows to 25 cm in diameter and produces many woody branches which cling around to the flowers for support. Inner bark is light in color with yellow sapwood. The leaves are oval and grow on single stem, ranging in color from light green to dark green. The flowers are small green, whitish to yellowish green in color and grow on the top of the main stem. The seeds are small, oval and grow six seeds per pod. They are also cause stain due to the action of yellow-orange color of the oil contained in the seeds.
Chemical composition – The major constituent elements of the seed oil of Celastrus paniculatus include fatty oil, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, and glycerol esters mainly, dipalmitoyl glycerol. A number of sesquiterpene polyesters (especially malkangunin), one or more esters of acetic, benzoic, furan-nicotinic acids; sesquiterpene alkaloids, celapanine, celapanigine and celapgine, methyl quinine and specific phenolic triterpenoids, celastrol, pristimerin, zelasterone and zelasteral.
Properties – Memory enhancer, tranquilizer, sedative and anticonvulsant, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, antiatherosclerotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, appetizer, emetic, expectorant, sudorific, aphrodisiac, brain and liver tonic, stimulates intellect, thermogenic, emollient, nervine, diuretic, emmenagogue, diaphoretic, febrifuge, digestive, laxative.
Recommendation – Memory problems, rheumatism, gout, paralysis, leprosy and weakness, pruritus, skin diseases, leucoderma, headache, arthralgia, asthma, cardiac debility, inflammation, neuropathy, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy.
This plant is incorporated in natural remedy MEMO ON.