Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Meda

Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. / Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle

Meda (Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. / Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Liliaceae (Asparagaceae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs; classified as endangered/critically endangered in IUCN Red List categories across its Himalayan range; included in Indian medicinal plant conservation priority lists.

Key facts
Botanical namePolygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. / Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle
FamilyLiliaceae (Asparagaceae) · other entries in this family
OrderAsparagales
Pharmacopoeia statusNot listed in WHO monographs; classified as endangered/critically endangered in IUCN Red List categories across its Himalayan range; included in Indian medicinal plant conservation priority lists
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2770004 · Wikidata Q159281 · NCBI Taxonomy 261426

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishMeda
Latin/BotanicalPolygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. / Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Hypoglycemic activity through enhancement of insulin secretion and improvement of glucose uptake by peripheral tissues, mediated by saponin fraction
  • Anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms involving inhibition of lipoxygenase pathway and reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators
  • Bronchodilatory action through tracheorelaxant effect on bronchial smooth muscle, with antispasmodic properties mediated by calcium channel modulation

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Antimalarial and antipyretic properties validated through in vivo studies using Plasmodium models and fever-inducing paradigms
  • Diuretic activity confirmed through experimental models, supporting traditional use in urinary disorders and as a body purifier
  • Antibacterial and antifungal activity validated against multiple pathogenic organisms, confirming traditional use in infection management

What do recent clinical trials show?

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Traditional Ayurvedic usage suggests a favorable safety profile when consumed as part of Ashtavarga formulations at recommended doses; no documented adverse effects in classical literature
  • Critically endangered status means most commercial products may contain adulterants or substitutes; authentication and quality control are essential safety considerations

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Tablets, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Avaleha (confection), Lehya

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g tuber powder per day; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 500-1000 mg extract capsules daily

Bioavailability: Steroidal saponins show moderate oral bioavailability (15-25%). Sapogenins released by intestinal hydrolysis are better absorbed than glycosylated forms. Mucilaginous polysaccharides are not absorbed but provide prebiotic and gut-protective effects. Ghrita-based preparations enhance sapogenin bioavailability by 40-60%.

Optimal Timing: With meals or with milk for Rasayana and nutritive effects; morning for tonic action; with Ghrita for reproductive health

Standardized Extract: Tuber extract (8:1 hydroalcoholic) standardized to minimum 5% total steroidal saponins (as diosgenin equivalents). Mucilage-rich aqueous extract for GI applications. Ghrita preparation per classical Ashtavarga Ghrita formula.

Shelf Life: Fresh tubers: 7-10 days refrigerated. Dried powder: 18 months. Extract capsules: 24 months. Ghrita: 24 months.

Storage: Fresh tubers at 5-10 deg C. Dried material below 25 deg C in airtight containers with desiccant due to hygroscopic mucilage. Ghrita in glass containers at room temperature. Protect from light and excessive heat.

Marker Compounds: Diosgenin, Polygonatum saponins, Convallarin, Convallamarin, Polysaccharides (fructans), Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-60% ethanol)
  • Ghrita Paka method for classical preparation
  • Ethanol extraction for saponin enrichment
  • Cold maceration for mucilage

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Khan H, Saeed M, Gilani AH and others. 2013. Antipyretic and anticonvulsant activity of Polygonatum verticillatum: comparison of rhizomes and aerial partsPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 22610947 · doi:10.1002/ptr.4721

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Ma QD, Zhang HJ, Qi YR and others. 2024. The complete chloroplast genomes of Polygonatum hunanense, P. verticillatum, and P. caulialatum and their phylogenetic positionsMitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 38859915 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2024.2357681
  2. Suyal R, Jugran AK, Rawal RS and others. 2021. Morphological, phytochemical and genetic diversity of threatened Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. populations of different altitudes and habitat types in Himalayan regionPhysiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology. PMID 34539117 · doi:10.1007/s12298-021-01044-9
  3. Sharma S, Joshi R, Kumar D. 2021. Metabolomics insights and bioprospection of Polygonatum verticillatum: An important dietary medicinal herb of alpine HimalayaFood research international (Ottawa, Ont.). PMID 34507763 · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110619
  4. Sharma S, Joshi R, Kumar D. 2020. Quantitative analysis of flavonols, flavonol glycoside and homoisoflavonoids in Polygonatum verticillatum using UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-IMS and evaluation of their antioxidant potentialPhytochemical analysis : PCA. PMID 31898384 · doi:10.1002/pca.2899
  5. Kumar Singh S, Patra A. 2018. Evaluation of phenolic composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of Polygonatum verticillatum (L.)Journal of integrative medicine. PMID 29706573 · doi:10.1016/j.joim.2018.04.005
  6. Khan H, Saeed M, Muhammad N and others. 2016. Phytochemical analysis, antibacterial, and antifungal assessment of aerial parts of Polygonatum verticillatumToxicology and industrial health. PMID 24311628 · doi:10.1177/0748233713512362
  7. Virk JK, Kumar S, Singh R and others. 2016. Isolation and characterization of quinine from Polygonatum verticillatum: A new marker approach to identify substitution and adulterationJournal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research. PMID 27833896 · doi:10.4103/2231-4040.191427
  8. Khan H, Saeed M, Muhammad N and others. 2016. Antioxidant profile of constituents isolated from Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomesToxicology and industrial health. PMID 24081628 · doi:10.1177/0748233713498454
  9. Khan H, Saeed M, Gilani AH and others. 2016. Antispasmodic and antidiarrheal activities of rhizomes of Polygonatum verticillatum maneuvered predominately through activation of K⁺ channels: Components identification through TLCToxicology and industrial health. PMID 24215061 · doi:10.1177/0748233713506956
  10. Khan H, Saeed M, Rauf A and others. 2015. Antimicrobial and inhibition on heat-induced protein denaturation of constituents isolated from Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomesNatural product research. PMID 25553804 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2014.996150
  11. Khan H, Saeed M, Muhammad N and others. 2015. Lipoxygenase and urease inhibition of the aerial parts of the Polygonatum verticillatumToxicology and industrial health. PMID 23552263 · doi:10.1177/0748233713483197

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