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Gajapippali

Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott

Gajapippali (Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott) is a plant drug from the Araceae family. It is traditionally used for respiratory disease (Kasa-Shwasa). Research has reported expectorant activity in saponin-rich extracts. It is also traditionally used to lower fever, and as a galactagogue to improve breast milk. Modern clinical studies of the galactagogue use are still lacking.

Key facts
Botanical nameScindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott
FamilyAraceae
OrderAlismatales
Pharmacopoeia statusListed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; significant research gaps noted; no WHO monograph available; needs comprehensive pharmacological evaluation
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2873716 · Wikidata Q9334552 · NCBI Taxonomy 2840175

The evidence at a glance

8papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2024, 7 with a DOI.

  • 8Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishGajapippali
Latin/BotanicalScindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Scindapsin A (glycoside)
  • Scindapsin B (glycoside)
  • Scindapsinidine A (aglycon)
  • Scindapsinidine B (aglycon)
  • Rhamnose
  • Flavonoids
  • Phenolic compounds
  • Saponins

How does it work?

  • Antioxidant: Flavonoids and phenolic compounds scavenge free radicals and enhance endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase) while reducing lipid peroxidation
  • Anticancer: Cytotoxic glycosides (scindapsin A, B) induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines; mechanism involves oxidative stress modulation
  • Expectorant: Saponin content reduces surface tension of bronchial secretions, facilitating mucus clearance from airways

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Kasa-Shwasa (respiratory disease): traditionally used for respiratory disease. Research has reported expectorant activity in saponin-rich extracts.
  • Antipyretic use: traditionally used to lower fever.
  • Galactagogue use: traditionally used to improve breast milk. Modern clinical studies of this use are still lacking.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Limited modern toxicological data are available; safety at traditional doses has not been established by modern studies
  • Chemistry of the plant needs further exploration; standardization and quality control markers are lacking, increasing risk of adulteration

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Flavonoids
  • Saponins
  • Scindapsin A
  • Scindapsin B
  • Scindapsinidine A
  • Scindapsinidine B
  • Rhamnose
  • Phenolic compounds

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Tablet, Capsule, Avaleha (confection)

Standard Dosage: 1-3g powder twice daily; 50ml decoction twice daily; 500mg extract capsule twice daily

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water or honey for respiratory conditions; after meals for digestive support

Storage: Airtight containers below 25 deg C, protected from moisture and light. Limited stability data - conduct accelerated stability studies for new formulations.

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Pippali for enhanced respiratory and digestive action
  • With Sunthi and Maricha in Katu (pungent) formulations
  • With Vasa (Adhatoda) for bronchial and respiratory conditions
  • With Kantakari for cough management

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Laboratory and animal studies8

  1. Zhao L, Wang Y, Wang Z and others. 2024. Secondary metabolites from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott. with in vitro antidiabetic activitiesFitoterapia. PMID 38224899 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2024.105822
  2. Yu J, Sun X, Zhao L and others. 2020. An efficient method to obtain anti-inflammatory phenolic derivatives from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott. by a high speed counter-current chromatography coupled with a recycling modeRSC advances. PMID 35495326 · doi:10.1039/c9ra09453a
  3. Yu J, Sun X, Mu Y and others. 2019. Phenolic cyclobutantetraol esters from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) SchottFitoterapia. PMID 31220578 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104244
  4. Yu J, Song X, Yang P and others. 2018. Alkaloids from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott. and their biological activitiesFitoterapia. PMID 29894739 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2018.06.006
  5. Dong H, Geng Y, Wang X and others. 2018. Chemical Constituents from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott. and Their Anti⁻Inflammatory ActivitiesMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 30304808 · doi:10.3390/molecules23102577
  6. Yu J, Song X, Wang D and others. 2017. Five new chromone glycosides from Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) SchottFitoterapia. PMID 28882671 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2017.09.002
  7. Shivhare SC, Patidar AO, Malviya KG and others. 2011. Antioxidant and anticancer evaluation of Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott fruitsAyu. PMID 22529657 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.93921
  8. Kannan R, Babu UV. 2011. Pharmacognostical Studies on Balanophora fungosa - a Negative Listed PlantAncient science of life. PMID 22736886

Reference lists that include it

Flavonoids, Saponins

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.