Pada kizhangu (Cyclea peltata)

Pada kizhangu is Cyclea peltata, a slender twining climber with triangular, shield-shaped leaves and a tuberous root. Kerala Ayurveda uses its root as patha, where North Indian practice uses Cissampelos pareira. Crushed leaves stirred into water are reported to set into a green jelly eaten as a cooling food in parts of Kerala. It belongs to the moonseed family.

Botanical name: Cyclea peltata (Burm.f.) Hook.f. & Thomson
Family: Menispermaceae
Tamil: Pada kizhangu
Hindi: Patha
Sanskrit: Pāṭhā
Parts used: Tuber in lists, Leaves in some kitchens
Habit: Twining moonseed climber with shield leaves; patha in Kerala practice
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Pada kizhangu

It is a perennial twining climber with slender stems.

Young stems and leaves are often finely hairy.

The leaves are triangular to heart-shaped, with the stalk attached inside the edge, like a shield.

Tiny greenish flowers hang in long, slender clusters, male and female on separate plants.

The fruits are small, round, hairy berries that turn red.

The root is a swollen, tuberous, brown structure.

Traditional use of Pada kizhangu

Ayurveda

Patha root from this plant is used in Kerala Ayurveda for fevers and digestive complaints.

Kerala Ayurvedic practice

Kitchen

In parts of Kerala, crushed leaves are mixed with water and left to set into a cooling jelly.

Kerala household practice

Modern notes on Pada kizhangu

The plant contains bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids studied in laboratories.

Clinical evidence for its uses is limited.

Regional differences in which plant is called patha affect herbal products.

The moonseed family is named for the curved, crescent-shaped seeds of many of its members.

Pada kizhangu safety

Use patha only under a trained practitioner and avoid it in pregnancy.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows in forests and hedges of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.

Birds eat its red berries.

It dies back to its tuber in the dry season.

Related plants

Also in Menispermaceae

Questions about Pada kizhangu

Is Pada kizhangu patha?

In Kerala practice, yes.

Is Pada kizhangu the same as Cissampelos pareira?

No, though both are called patha.

Can the leaves make jelly?

Crushed in water, they set into a jelly.

Why are the leaves called shield-shaped?

The stalk joins the leaf from underneath.

Where does Pada kizhangu grow?

In the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.

Is Pada kizhangu a food plant?

Only the leaf jelly is eaten, in some homes.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.