Skunkvine, Paederia Foetida, Berihara, Biri, Prasarini, Skunkvine, Chinese fever vine

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 11 min read

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বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

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Article Summary

Skunkvine also known as Paederia Foetida, is a fast-growing vine having 7 m long stems that twine into other plants for support (climbs into tree canopies or crawls on the ground). The plant is grown in East Asia. Usually, it is found to an altitude of 1800 m in the Himalayan region. It has opposite, narrowly oval leaves and gray-purple flowers. Probably, Skunkvine is a...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Skunk vine Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
This article explains Traditional uses in simple medical language.
This article explains Remedial Benefits of Skunk Vine in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Paederia foetida was introduced from Asia to Hernando Country, Florida as a probable fiber crop. It was reported as a troublesome weed in its introduction getaway into native areas throughout Florida. It is regarded as an important invasive weed. The plant did not get its common name “skunk vine” for its smell like a rose. But the species name “foetida” is derived from the Latin word for foul-smelling or stinky. Crushing the leaves or stems of Skunkvine offers a displeasing and foul odor which is derived from sulfur compound present in leaves.

The plant possesses antiviral, antinociceptive, anti-tussive, antidiarrhoeal, anti-cancer, and infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory properties. The majority of chemical constituents are present in its leaves and the chemical constituents comprise sitosterol, iridoid glycoside, carbohydrates, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, β-sitosterol, amino acids, flavonoids, stigmasterol, volatile oil, and galacturonic acid.

Name	Skunkvine
Scientific Name	Paederia foetida
Native	Bangladesh and southern Bhutan, China Cambodia and Taiwan
Common/English Name	Berihara, Biri, Prasarini, Stinkvine, Skunkvine, Chinese fever vine
Name in Other Languages	Assamese: Bhedai lota, Paduri lota; Bengali: Gandhabhaduliya, Gandhabhadule; English: Skunkvine, Stinkvine; Gujarati: Gandhana; Hindi: Gandha prasarani, Pasaran; Marathi: Hiran – vel; Sanskrit: Gandha Prasirini, Gandhpatra; English: Chinese fever vine, Chinese flower plant Skunk Vine, stink vine, Lesser Malayan stinkwort; Hindi: Gandhaprasarani, Pasaran; Urdu: سککا بیل; Telugu: Savirel, Takkeda; Bengali: Gandhabhadule, Gandhabhaduliya, Gandal; Marathi: Hiranvel, Hiran- vel, Haranvel; Oriya: Suprasara; Gujarathi: Gandhana, Prasarini; Tamil: Mudiyar, Pinarisangai, Kundal; Malayalam: Tala nili; Kannada: Prasarini bail, Hesarani; Punjabi: Prasarini; Sindhi: ڪڪڙ شراب; Arabic: kirmat alzurban (كرمة الظربان); Spanish: vid de mofeta; Assamese: Paduri lota, Bhedai lota; Japanese: Sukanku no tsuru (スカンクのつる); Chinese: Nu qing, Ji shi teng, Jie shu teng, Niu pi dong; French: liane lingue; German: Stinktierrebe; Burma: hc k ng saw hc pyit nwalpain; Nepal: Pate biree; Persian: اسنک انگور; Sinhalese: apasu madu; Greek: paederos; Tamil: Pinarisangai; Telugu: Takkeda, Savirel
Plant Growth Habit	Climbing, herbaceous, hairy or smooth slender vine
Soil	Well-drained
Stem	2-7 m long, purplish or reddish-brown
Leaf	Ovate to oblong-ovate, 6 to 10 cm long, 3.5 to 5 cm wide
Flowering Season	Summer and fall
Flower	Grayish pink or lilac, bisexual
Fruit shape & size	Globose capsule, to 0.7 cm (0.3 in)wide
Fruit color	Shiny brown
Seed	Black, roundish

Skunk vine Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Paederia Foetida

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom	Viridiplantae (Green plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (Land plants)
Superdivision	Embryophyta
Division	Tracheophyta (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Gentianales
Family	Rubiaceae (Madders, rubiacées)
Genus	Paederia L. (Sewer vine)
Species	Paederia foetida L. (Skunk vine, stinkvine)
Synonyms	Apocynum foetidum Burm.f. Crawfurdia paniculata Griseb. Gentiana scandens Lour. Hondbesseion foetidum (L.) Kuntze Hondbesseion tomentosum (Blume) Kuntze Paederia amboinensis Miq. Paederia barbulata Miq. Paederia chinensis Hance Paederia chinensis f. microphylla Honda Paederia chinensis f. tenuissima Masam. Paederia chinensis var. angustifolia Nakai Paederia chinensis var. maritima Koidz. Paederia chinensis var. megaphylla Koidz. Paederia chinensis var. velutina Nakai Paederia corymbosa Noronha Paederia dunniana H.Lév. Paederia esquirolii H.Lév. Paederia foetida f. microphylla (Honda) Tsukaya, Imaichi & J.Yokoy. Paederia foetida var. sessiliflora (Poir.) Baker Paederia laxiflora Merr. Paederia laxiflora Merr. ex H.L.Li Paederia longituba Nakai Paederia magnifica Noronha Paederia magnifolia Noronha Paederia mairei H.Lév. Paederia ovata Miq. Paederia prainii Gand. Paederia scaberula Miq. Paederia scandans (Lour.) Merr. Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr. Paederia scandens f. mairei (H.Lév.) Nakai Paederia scandens f. megaphylla (Koidz.) H.Hara Paederia scandens f. microphylla (Honda) H.Hara Paederia scandens f. rubescens Asai Paederia scandens f. rubrae-stellaris Konta & S.Matsumoto Paederia scandens var. angustifolia (Nakai) T.B.Lee Paederia scandens var. longituba (Nakai) H.Hara Paederia scandens var. mairei (H.Lév.) H.Hara Paederia scandens var. maritima (Koidz.) H.Hara Paederia scandens var. tomentosa (Blume) Hand.-Mazz. Paederia scandens var. velutina (Nakai) Nakai Paederia scandens var. villosa (Hayata) Masam. Paederia sessiliflora Poir. Paederia stenophylla Merr. Paederia tomentosa Blume Paederia tomentosa f. tenuissima Hayata Paederia tomentosa var. glabra Kurz Paederia tomentosa var. mairei (H.Lév.) H.Lév. Paederia uraiensis Hayata Paederia villosa Hayata Psychotria volubilis Roxb. Psychotria volubilis Roxb. ex Wight & Arn. Reussia sarmentosa Dennst.

Geographical distribution

Skunkvine is endemic to Bangladesh and southern Bhutan, China Cambodia, and Taiwan and the provinces of Anhui, Gansu, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Xizang, Zhejiang; India (in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Telangana, Sikkim, in the northern part of West Bengal and the Andaman & Nicobar islands); Indonesia; Japan (in Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku prefectures and in the Ryukyu Islands); Laos; Myanmar; Malaysia; Nepal; Singapore; the Philippines; Thailand; South Korea; and Vietnam.

Plant description

Skunkvine is a climbing, hairy or smooth slender vine that twins into the woody rootstock. The stems are climbing, prostrate, and about 7 m (23ft) or more. Leaves are opposite, ovate to oblong-ovate measuring 6 to 10 cm long and 3.5 to 5 cm wide. Blades are entire, hairy or glabrous, oval to linear-lanceolate about 2-11 cm (1-4.3 in) long. The flowers are grayish pink or lilac. Corolla is densely hairy and tubular with five spreading lobes. Flowers give way to fruits as a globose capsule, shiny brown measuring 0.7 cm (0.3 in) wide which encompasses 2 black and roundish seeds often dotted with white raphides.

Root

The plant has cylindrical or subcylindrical, tortuous taproots about 2-4 cm long and 0.5-2 cm thick with a number of branches and rootlets. The surface is rough due to longitudinal wrinkles, fissures and ridges. The thin scars, horizontal lenticels are present.

Stem

The stem is slender and sub-erect with diffuse branching and is 4 cm thick. It is sub-cylindrical that shows dumbbell-shaped displayed in transverse view due to two dominant furrows that run opposite each other on both surfaces. Externally it is dark brown with longitudinal anastomosing wrinkles, ridges, and fewer cracks and circular lenticels, fracture and fibrous. It has a fetid odor and indistinct taste.

Leaves

Leaves are simple, petiolate, glabrous, ovate, 10-15 cm long, and 5-6 cm broad. The base is broad or narrow, apex acute/cuspidate. Stipule is ovate, lanceolate, entire, bifid, acute, and base broad with a hairy surface. Leaves have a fetid odor and indistinct taste.

Flower

Flowers are bisexual, pedicellate, bracteates, violet to pink. It has campanulate calyx; funnel-shaped, pubescent, gibbous, wooly inside corolla; narrow limb, divided into 5 cordate crenulate segments; short lobes; short filaments which is inserted irregularly about the middle of the tube. The anther is erect within the tube and ovary is turbinate, two-celled which contain one ovule each attached to the bottom of the cell.

Fruit

Berries are ellipsoid, orbicular, compressed, and smooth with five lines on each side. The red or blackberries are 1.1 cm across and two-seeded.

Seed

Seeds are smooth, compressed, and enlarged with the membranous ring all around.

Traditional uses

In Asia and South East Asia, it is used for digestive ailments.
Plant decoction has infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory properties against stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis.
Leaves are useful for intestinal problems such as colic, abdominal pain, flatulence, cramps, rheumatism, gout, and dysentery.
Leaves are also used for paralysis and infertility.
Stems and leaves are used for infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation of the urethra.
Drink the filtered infusion of pounded leaves adding water for intestinal problems.
Apply the leaves externally for treating swellings, bruises or apply the mashed ones for ulcerations of the nose, earache, and swollen eyes.
Use it in form of poultice to treat swollen belly, herpes, distension, ringworm, or use it in anti-rheumatic baths.
Use the leaves juice as a treatment for diarrhea in children.
Use the root juice for indigestion, piles, pain in the chest, liver, and infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation of the spleen.
In India, the fruit is used to blacken teeth and treatment for toothache.
It was used to treat rheumatism in folkloric.
Apply the boiled and mashed leaves to the abdomen for urinary retention.
Leaves decoction is used for urinary bladder stones and urinary retention.
Apply the pounded leaves to the abdomen for flatulence.
Root decoction is used to expel gas.
Plant decoction is used for pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis, abscesses, and abdominal pain.
In Asia traditional therapies, it is used for dysentery and diarrhea.
In India, it is used for joint stiffness and rheumatism.
Leaves are used for treating paralysis and infertility.
Take 1-2 teaspoons of Paederia Foetida extract twice a day to provide relief from chronic abdominal pain, overeating, abscesses and swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis.
Apply the soaked cloth in decoction to the forehead to treat fever.

Remedial Benefits of Skunk Vine

Abdominal Pain and flatus

Take 2-3 ml of leaves juice in an empty stomach to provide relief from flatus, abdominal pain, and recurrent complaints of worm infestation.

Arthritis and inflammatory condition

Mix the paste of Skunkvine leaves and tamarind leaves. Apply it in joints affected by swelling and arthritis. It is effective for swelling and pain.

Joint pain and body ache

Make an herbal decoction with an equal quantity of Paederia foetida, Zingiber officinale, and Cuminum cyminum. Take 20-30 ml of this decoction for body ache and joint pain.

Culinary uses

Leaves are consumed raw or cooked.
Mix the leaves with spices and grated coconut and consume it raw in the form of a side dish with rice.
Leaves are added to soups.
Mix the leaves with spices and various vegetables and then wrap it in a banana leaf and cook it over the fire.
Sweet stem juice is sucked in Taiwan.

Dose

Decoction – 20-30 ml
Powder – 3 to 6 gm
Leaf juice – 2-3 ml

Other facts

Skunkvine is a perennial plant with having lifespan of more than 2 years.
It is a valuable food source for birds facilitating seed dispersal in wild.
It is propagated by the division of roots and seeds.
In the past, Skunkvine leaves were used as the source of fiber.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

General physician, medicine specialist, pediatrician for children, or emergency care if severe.

What to tell the doctor

Write fever days, highest temperature, chills, rash, cough, urine burning, diarrhea, travel, dengue/malaria exposure.
Bring medicine history, especially antibiotics already taken.

Questions to ask

Is this likely viral, bacterial, dengue, malaria, typhoid, UTI, pneumonia, or another infection?
Which tests are needed today?
Do I need antibiotics, or should I avoid them?

Tests to discuss

Temperature and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count when dengue or infection is suspected
Urine test if urinary symptoms
Malaria/dengue/typhoid/COVID tests depending on local risk and symptoms

Avoid these mistakes

Avoid self-starting antibiotics.
Avoid aspirin in suspected dengue or children unless a doctor advises.
Seek urgent care for confusion, breathing trouble, dehydration, stiff neck, seizure, or persistent very high fever.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician

Tests to discuss with doctor

Temperature chart and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Very drowsy/confused, severe breathing difficulty, stiff neck, seizure, severe dehydration, or persistent vomiting
Bleeding, severe abdominal pain, very low urine, or dengue warning signs during fever season

Doctor / service to discuss: Medicine doctor, pediatrician for children, or qualified clinician.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Discuss temperature chart, hydration, CBC with platelet count when needed, urine test, dengue/malaria testing, or other tests based on local disease risk and examination.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.
Do not start antibiotics blindly for every fever; many fevers are viral and need correct assessment.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.