Bitter grape known in Indonesia by the name Brotowali, while in China named Shen jin teng. Plants are living wild in the woods, fields or planted yard near the fence. Usually planted as a medicinal plant.
These plants include shrubs that live climbing. Trunk of your little finger, green when young and gray if it is old with pimples tightly, and taste bitter. Single leaves, stemmed, heart-shaped or somewhat rounded eggs pointy toes, length 7-12 cm, wide 5-10 cm. Flowers small, light green color, pseudo-shaped bunches. Propagated by cuttings.
Skins and stems of this plant contain substances such as alkaloids, starch, glycosides pikroretosid, and soft yellow resin. The root contains berberine and columbin. Alkaloid content of berberine is useful for killing bacteria in the wound. Bitter grape is also helpful to increase appetite and reduce sugar content. Pikroretin bitter substances can stimulate the nerves so that a respirator to work properly and to accelerate the exchange of substances that can reduce the heat.
Chemical properties of bitter grape is bitter and cool, whereas pharmacological effect to relieve pain (Analgesic), fever (antipyretic), and launched a meridian.
Bitter grape is used to treat rheumatic arthritis, rheumatic arthritis hip (sciatica), bruising, fever, stimulates appetite, yellow fever, and treat diabetes. For use in, the stem of this plant is boiled and then drunk. Cooking water can also stem bitter grape used to wash sores, scabies, and wounds.