Indian herb 'Sanjeevani' (Selaginella bryopteris) can promote growth...

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The aqueous extract of S. bryopteris possesses growth-promoting activity as well as protective action against stress-induced cell death in a number of experimental cell systems including mammalian cells. Treatment of the cells in culture with 10% aqueous extract enhanced cell growth by about 41% in Sf9 cells and 78% in mammalian cells...

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Dr. Ranganayukulu, Ph.D. in History of Ayurveda. He says, 'Botanists, Ayurveda physicians, and amateur medicinal plant enthusiasts have been searching for this plant. Till now 17 species of plants have been the candidates for the place of Sanjeevani. Some of these possible plants are Cressa Critica (littoral bindweed), selaginella , Desmothecum fimbriatus, Giloy, Melaxis Acuminate, Mycrosylus Willichi, and Actiniopteris Radiata. After further screening, there are 3 plants that qualify the description of Sanjeevani'. Here are those 3 plants and their benefits as explained by our Ayurvedic expert.

 

Cressa Cretica (Rudanti)
Cressa Critica, also known as Rudanti in Ayurveda, grows in saltwater or stagnated water in south India. The fresh juice of this plant stimulates blood circulation and even acts as a painkiller. Also, it is a popular holophytic (synthesise complex organic compounds by photosynthesis) plant and is used in folklore medicine for various ailments like diabetes, gastric ulcers, bronchial asthma, worms in intestines, and tonic and aphrodisiac. It enriches the blood and is useful in constipation, leprosy, and urinary diseases. There is scientific evidence that suggests its versatile biological functions such as it is antibacterial, antifungal, antitussive (reduces cough), and anticancer.

Selaginella Bryopteris (Spike Mosses)

The second plant with traits of Sanjeevani is Selaginella Bryopteris, known as spike mosses. This grows in the higher altitudes of tropical regions. Selaginella is used in jaundice, burning micturition, heatstroke, and dystocia (difficult labor). It is often used in Ayurveda for the prevention and cure of several disorders like spermatorrhoea (excessive involuntary ejaculation), venereal diseases, constipation, colitis, urinary tract infections, fever, epilepsy, leucorrhoea, beriberi, and cancer. It is also use as a strengthening tonic in debility.

Desmothecum Fimbriatus
The third plant Desmothecum Fimbriatus grows in the hilly regions. It is usually given in fever, difficulty in breathing, and in all respiratory diseases. 'Certainly, one of these three plants was described as Sanjeeevani in literature. The description of the plant in Ayurveda literature is close to littoral bindweed and spike mosses' he adds.

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"When Lakshmana fell unconscious, near death, hit by an arrow from Ravana’s son Meghnad, Hanuman approached the Lankan Royal Physician Sushena for advice.

Sushena asked Hanuman to rush to Dronagiri Hills and fetch four plants: Mruthasanjeevani (restorer of life), Vishalyakarani (remover of arrows), Sandhanakarani (restorer of the skin) and Savarnyakarani (restorer of skin colour) (Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, 74th chapter, Yuddakanda, Slokas 29-34).

Hanuman, not able to pick the four from the multitude, brought back the entire hill. And Lakshmana was revived from near death back to life, and to victory."....................................................................

 Important one

Of the 4 plants, Mruthsanjeevani or simply Sanjeevani is the most important since it is believed to bring one from near death back to life. What then is this plant, where does it occur, and does it do what the Ramayana describes?

Though many botanists and Ayurvedic physicians have suggested candidate plants, there has been no systematic approach or unanimity. We now seem to have zoned in on one of two plants, thanks to a focused approach taken by Drs. K. N. Ganeshaiah, R. Vasudeva and R. Uma Shaanker of the University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore and College of Forestry, Sirsi.I strongly recommend the reader to read this scholarly and eminently readable paper in the 25 August 2009 issue of Current Science (downloadable free on the net). What strikes us as we read the paper is the sharp, clinical logic behind the search. First, they say that before we eliminate it to be a purely imaginary plant that Valmiki wrote about with poetic flourish, let us ask what all qualities such a plant should have.

 

In true scientific spirit, Ganeshaiah and colleagues do not conclude so, but say that the other plant D. fimbriatum too satisfies these criteria and thus has an equal claim to Sanjeevani.

But, as the editors of Current Science comment in their “In this Issue” section of the journal, while Selaginella occurs in the Aravallis of Madhya Pradesh (and may be in Dronagiri in Uttarakhand), Desmotrichum occurs in the Western Ghats. “Coming back to the logistics of Hanuman, it appears, the latter species was more closely available for Hanuman”.

And Dr. D P Sharma, in his book “The Search for Lanka” thinks that the Lanka in Ramayana was not Ceylon but more likely an island in the Godavari River Delta. If so, is D. fimbriatum the real Sanjeevani?

Ganeshaiah, Vasudeva and Uma Shaanker conclude that more work is needed to choose between the two plants. Here then is a research project waiting to be taken up.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/In-search-of-the-Sanjeevani-plant-of-Ramayana/article16880681.ece