Decalepis

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Swallowroot

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Decalepis
Species:	D. hamiltonii

Binomial name

Decalepis hamiltonii
Wight & Arn.

Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn. is the sole species of plant in the genus Decalepis. It is endemic to Peninsular India and known by its names of Makali ber in Kannada and Magali kizhangu in Tamil is a plant whose root is used in ayurvedic medicines and for use in pickles. It belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae.

The English name of swallowroot is sometimes used for the plant and studies have shown that it has insecticidal activity and a potential use in control of stored grain pests. The active ingredient in the root was synthesized and encapsulated with beta-cyclodextrins. The roots were also subjected to supercritical carbon-dioxide based extraction at the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India.

The root contains antioxidants and extraction methods for it have been patented.^[1]