Jivanti

¼thoUrh½

FACULTY OF AYURVEDA
INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY

Compiled By:
Shilpy Gupta
Roll No. 05431041
Class: BAMS 3rd Prof.
Admission Batch: 2005

Jivanti
¼thoUrh½
Leptadenia Reticulata Wight & Am.
Family : Asclepiadaceae
English : Leptadenia
Sanskrit Name : Jivanti, Jivani, Madhusrava
Hindi : Dori
Gujrati : Dodi, Nahnidodi, Khirkhodi
Tamil : Palaikkodi, Palakudai

Botanical Description:
It grows in the sub-Himalayan tracts of Punjab,
U.P. and throughout the Deccan Peninsula up to an altitude of 900 m, in India.
L.reticulata is a much-branched twining shrub. The bark is yellowish brown, corky,
deeply cracked; the leaves are ovate-cordate, coriaceous glabrous above, more or
less finely pubescent beneath; the flowers are in many-flowered cymes, greenish
yellow; the follicles are sub-woody and turgid.
Known as jivanti (or svarnajivantz) in Sanskrit literature, the name (jiv = life)
indicates that the plant is considered to have the ability to bestow health and
vigour. It is considered to be a rasayana and included among the 10 drugs
constituting the]ivaniya gana or 'vitalizing group.
Ayurvedic properties:
Rasa : Madhur (sweet)
Guna : Laghu (light), snigdha (unctuous)
Veerya : Shita (cold)
Vipaka : Madhur (sweet)
Dosha : Balances tridosha

-:Some References in Ayurvedic Texts / Treatise

about:-
vk”P;¨ru gsrq % (Use in Aaschyotana)
æk{kke/kqde´~ft’Bkthouh;S%A
çkrjk”P;¨rua iF;a”k¨Fk”kwykf{kj¨fx.kke~AA
¼pØnÙk&us=j®xfp0 28½
Jivanti comes under Jivaniya Ganawhich is usedas Aschyotan Dravyas for eye
ailments along with other drugs. (Chakradutta)
thouh;x.k % (Jivaniya Gana)
us=j¨x¨ esa æk{kkfn fl) nw/k dk vk”P;¨ru
thoUrh e/kqjk”khrklqfLuX/kk xzkkfg.kh y?kq%A
p{kq’;k loZ n¨’k?uh cY;k;q’;k jlk;uhAA ¼dS;nsofu?k.Vq½
Jivanti is madhura, sheeta, snigdha, grahi. Laghu, chakshushya, balya, Ayushya,
Doshahara and Rasayana. (Kaiydev Nighantu)

Lo.kZthofUrdk o`’;k p{kq’;k e/kqjk rFkk A

f”kf”kjk okrfiÙkklzXnkgftr~cyof/kZuhAA ¼jktfu?k.Vq½
Swarna Jivanti is Vrishya, chakshushya, madhura, sheeta, balya, Vata-Pitta hara
and Rasayana. (Raj Nighantu)

uäkU/; fuokj.kkFkZ %
?k`rsfl)kfu thoUR;k%iYyokfu p Hk{k;sr~A
rFkkfreqädSj.M”kSQkY;fHk:tkfu p A
Hk`’Va ?k`ra dqEHk;¨fu% i=S% ikus p iwftre~ AA ¼v0
g`0 m0 13@88]89½
Role in Night Blindness:
Shaka (leafy Vegetables ) are beneficial in curing Night Blindness.
Jivanti Shaka along with other shaka prepared in ghrita is used for curing
Naktandhya (Night Blindness). (A.H.U.-13/88)
LkoZ “kkde;e p{kq’;a p{kq’;a “kkdi´~pde~ A
thoUrh okLrq eRL;k{kh es?kukn% iquuZok AA ¼;ks0 j0
1½

All Shaka are chakshushya especially Shaka Pancham :Jivanti, Vastuka,

Matsyaakshi, Meghnaad And Punarnava (YogaRatnakara-1)

p{kq’;k loZ n¨’k?uh thoUrh e/kqjk fgek A ¼/k0 fu?k.Vq½

Jivanti is chakshushya, sarvadoshhara, Madhura and Sheeta.(Dhanwantari Nighantu)

p{kq’;k loZ n¨’k?uh thoUrh leqnkg`rk AA ¼lq0½

Jivanti is exampled as chakshushya and sarvadoshaghni. (Sushruta)

jlk;uh cydkjh p{kq’;k xzkkfg.kh y?kq% A ¼Hkk0 fu0½

Jivanti is Rasayani, Balakari, chakshushya, Grahi, and Laghu. (Madhava Nidana)

vk;qo`f)dja us«;a xq: n¨’k=;kige~ A ¼l0Ek0½

Jivanti is Ayuvriddhikara, Netrya, Guru and doshahara. (S.M.)

thoUrh “kkda lqfu’..kdap lr.Mqyh;a ojokLrqda p A

fpYyh rFkk ewydi¨frda p n`f’VfgZra “kkdqua tkaxy
´~pAA ¼lq0½
Jivanti is along with other ingredients is beneficial to cure Timira Roga. (Sushruta)

thoUrh ”khryk Loknq% fLuX/kk n¨’k=;kigk A

jlk;uh cydkjh p{kq’;k xzkkfg.kh y?kq% A ¼Hkk0 ç0½

Jivanti is sheetala, Madhura, Snigdha, Tridoshahara, Rasayani, Balakari,

chakshushya, Grahi and Laghu. (Bhava Prakasha)

thoUrh “kkda “kkdkue~A ¼p0 lw0 25½

Jivanti is best among all Shaka (Leafy Vegetables) (Charaka Sutra sthana-25)

Principal Constituents:
The plant contains a triterpenoid, leptadenol (C30H50O). It also contained
n-triacontane, cetyl alcohol, ß-sitosterol, ß-amyrin acetate, lupanol 3-O diglucoside
and leptidin1.
Other Chemicals:
1. Saponin 2. Flavonoid3.Luteolin 4.Diosmtin 5.Tannin
Leaves contain two resins but motanin and also a bitter neutral principle,
albuminous and colourising matter, Ca-oxalate, glucose, carbohydrate and same
tartaric acid. It also contains Gymnemic and which posses anti-saccharine
Property.
The plant is stimulant and restorative and shows anti-bacterial activity against
gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Habitat:
Found in the sub-Himalayan tracts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh and throughout the
Deccan peninsula up to an altitude of 900 m and found particularly in hedges. It is
also distributed throughout Mauritius, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, the Himalayas and
Burma.
Botanical description:
A twining shrub, with numerous branches, the stems of which have a cork-like,
deeply cracked bark, glabrous in the younger ones. Leaves coriaceous, ovate,
acute, glabrous above, finely pubescent below. Flowers greenish-yellow, in lateral
or subaxillary cymes, often with small hairs. Fruit follicles may be woody. The
external surface of the root is rough, white or buff coloured with longitudinal
ridges and furrows, and in transverse section, the wide cork, lignified stone cell
layers and medullary rays can be seen.' In commerce, the root samples vary from 3
to 10 cm in length and 1.5 to 5 cm in diameter.
Pharmacology:

A number of studies have been carried out on the galactagogue property of the
plant in laboratory animals. Studies on the lactogenic property of L.reticulata were
carried out on lactating rats using pup weight, body weight of mother rats, and
histopathological study of lactating mammary gland, as well as the secretory
rating, parenchyma percentage, estimation of glycogen content (of the abdominal
mammary glands) and the protein content (of the pectoral mammary glands) as
parameters. While both stigmasterol and the ether fraction of L.reticulata showed
lactogenic effect, as assessed by all these parameters, stigmasterol was found to be
more potent2.A herbal preparation with L.reticulata as one of the nine constituents
is said to exert beneficial effects on the gametogenic and androgenic functions of
the testes of animals. It showed anabolic cum androgen like activity as evidenced
by the dose related growth of the ventral prostate and the systemic increase in the
weights as well as the secretions of the accessory sex organs of castrated adult
mice.
Medicinal and pharmacological activities :
Antibacterial activity:
Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of L. reticulata roots showed antibacterial activity
against various pathogens including Streptococcus pyogenes var. a- and f3-
haemolyticus, Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi, S. schottmulleri and Escherichia coli.

Antifungal activity:
Activity was observed in the aqueous and 50% ethanolic extracts of the leaf and
root of L. reticulata against Trichophyton rubrum. The alcoholic extract was the
more active.

Hypotensive activity:
An aqueous extract of L. reticulata showed potent and prolonged hypotensive
action in anaesthetised dogs, the initial hypotension followed by a complete
recovery and a secondary progressive hypotension. It did not possess
parasympathomimetic or adrenolytic actions but blocked pressor response to
nicotine.
Spasmogenic activity:
The alcoholic extract of L. reticulata showed spasmogenic action on isolated
guinea pig ileum and uterus.

Lactogenic activity:
Stigmasterol and the ether fraction of L. reticulata were tested on lactating rats.
Both showed lactogenic properties as assessed by parameters including pup
weights, body weight of mother rats, protein and glycogen contents of mammary
glands, photomicrographic studies and secretory rating of lactating mammary
glands.'° In another study L. reticulata powder was administered to goats, sheep,
cows and buffaloes to assess its lactogenic propertieso The powdered drug was
administered at a dose of 536 mg per day in goats and sheep, 1840 mg per day in
cows and buffaloes, and produced a significant galactopoietic response. No
significant changes were observed in the composition of milk or blood in goats.

Increased egg production in hens:

L. reticulata powder and stigmasterol were found to increase.
Clinical Studies:

The lactogenic/galactagogue effect of L.reticulata has been clinically assessed by

many investigators. These studies have been mainly carried out on the commercial
preparation of Leptaden.
Toxicity:

On acute toxicity studies, L. reticulata (aqueous extract) and leptaden administered

orally for three alternate days, and three consecutive days to rats, were safely tolerated
up to a dose of 3.125 g/kg. An increase in dose led to an increase in mortality. Post
mortem, subcutaneous peticheal hemorrhage was noted, whilst the liver, kidney and
heart showed no apparent change.
Indications:

The plant is stimulant and restorative and shows anti-bacterial activity against
gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Parts used:
Leaf, root, whole plant.

Traditional and modern use:

The plant is a stimulant and restorative. The leaves and roots are used in skin
affections such as ringworm, wounds, nose and ear disorders, asthma, cough and in
the treatment of habitual abortion in women.
It is cold, sweet, aphrodisiac, rejuvenative and easy of digestion. According to
Ayurveda, it is a tonic given for weak debility and such similar conditions.
Commonly given for those suffering from weak debility or a lack of energy.Gives
general strength to the body. It promotes health and vigour, improves voice,
alleviates the three dosas vata, pitta and kapha and cures eye diseases,
hematemesis, emaciation, cough, dyspnoea, fever and burning sensation.
Home remedies:
1. Its Shak – (a food preparation) in the dose of 50 gm is much beneficial in
diarrhea along with curd and Ghee.
2. Its Shak – (a food preparation) in the dose of 50 gm is much beneficial in
caterect along with Ghee.
3. Decoction of Jivanti root should be taken in the dose of 20 ml for relief in
burning sensation due to fever.
Ethnoveterinary usage:
The bark, leaves and the whole plant are used to improve decreased milk flow in
ruminants. The whole plant is also used to stimulate heat and prevent abortion. The
leaves are used to treat eye diseases in swine.
Major chemical constituents:
Phytosterols and triterpenoids:
The leaves and twigs contain stigmasterol, l)-sitosteroV leptadenoV
hentriacontanol, a-amyrin, I)-amyrin and tocopherols.
Flavonoids:
Diosmetin and luteolin are present in the leaves and twigs and quercetin,
isoquercitrin, rutin and hyperoside in the pericarp of the follicles: egg yield.
Safety profile:
The LDso of the 50% alcoholic extract of whole plant of L. reticulata (excluding
root), when given to mice via the IP route, was found to be > 1000 mg/kg body
weight.
Dosage:
Root powder: 1-3 g Decoction: 30-60 ml
Formulations Of Jivanti:
• Amritprasha
• Anutaila
• Ashoka Ghrita
• Balarishta
• Brahma Rasayana
• Chyavanprashaleha
• Madhuyastyadi Tail
• Shatawaryadighrita
• Sukumaram Kashyam
• Vidaryadi Ghrita
• Vidaryadi Kashyam

Internet Source : http://www.divineremedies.com/leptadenia_reticulata.htm www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?

http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/h_leptad.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1218901?log$=activity

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