It can grow up to 1.5 m in height. Evergreen leaves are 5-10 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. It climbs with small hooks at the leaves and stems. The flowers are small (3-5 mm diameter), with five yellow petals, in dense racemes, and appear from June to August. The roots can be more than 1 meter in length up to 12 mm thick.
Chemical composition – Contains alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, anthraquinones and steroids. Ruberytric acid is one of the major components of Rubia cordifolia. It contains anthraquinone glycosides, naphthoquinone glycosides, furomollugine, mollugine, alizarine, lucidine pymeveroside, ruberytric acid, purpurine, xanthopurpurine, cyclic hexapeptide, alkaloids and lignins.
Properties – Antitumor, anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, immunomodulatory, anti-stress, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, radiation protector and anticancer, antifungal, antiseptic, hypotensive, analgesic, antioxidant, antileukemic and mutagenic, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antiviral.
Recommendations – Urinary disorders, urinary calculi, skin diseases such as eczema, dermatitis, skin ulceration, anemia, gastric ulcers.
This plant is incorporated in natural remedy GLOBY FORTE.