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Jivanti

Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn.

Jivanti (Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn.) is a plant drug, also called Dodi Shak, from the Asclepiadaceae (Apocynaceae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; listed in IUCN Red List as vulnerable species; documented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; key ingredient in marketed formulations (Speman, Chyawanprash).

Key facts
Botanical nameLeptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn.
FamilyAsclepiadaceae (Apocynaceae) · other entries in this family
OrderGentianales
Pharmacopoeia statusNot listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; listed in IUCN Red List as vulnerable species; documented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; key ingredient in marketed formulations (Speman, Chyawanprash)
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3580162 · Wikidata Q15359574 · NCBI Taxonomy 492004
Names in other languages
HindiDodi Shak, Jivanti
EnglishCork Swallow-wort
TamilPalalkkodi
MalayalamAtapatiyan
TeluguMukkutummudu, Palatige
MarathiKharkhoda
BengaliJiwanti
GujaratiDodee

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2002 to 2026, 10 with a DOI.

  • 3Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 9Laboratory 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. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishJivanti
Latin/BotanicalLeptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • An in silico molecular docking study reported that reticulin and deniculatin may modulate prolactin secretion through dopamine D2 receptor antagonism, which may relate to lactogenesis.
  • Beta-amyrin and alpha-amyrin triterpenes inhibit NF-kB and MAPK inflammatory signaling pathways, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and providing anti-inflammatory effects
  • Apigenin and diosmetin exhibit antioxidant-mediated cytoprotective effects through Nrf2 pathway activation and upregulation of HO-1, protecting tissues from oxidative damage

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

  • Galactagogue (Stanyajanana): traditionally used in Ayurveda to enhance lactation. Pharmacological and molecular docking studies have reported prolactin-modulating activity.
  • Rasayana (rejuvenating/adaptogenic): traditionally classified as a life-giving (Jivanti) herb. Studies have reported immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity.
  • Traditionally used for threatened abortion and as a uterine tonic. Preclinical studies have reported anti-abortifacient activity.

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

  • Acute toxicity studies showed aqueous extract safely tolerated up to 3.125 g/kg in rats with no mortality or adverse effects over the observation period
  • Leptaden (commercial formulation) has been described as a non-hormonal and safe herbal drug
  • Listed as a vulnerable species due to over-harvesting; sustainable sourcing is a critical concern; further formal human clinical trials needed to establish safety parameters

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Swarasa (fresh juice)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 500mg-1g extract; 50-100ml decoction; 10-20ml fresh juice

Optimal Timing: With warm milk for galactagogue effect (lactating mothers); before meals with water for general tonic use

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from light and moisture. Airtight containers.

Marker Compounds: Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Leptadenol, Reticulin, Alpha-amyrin, Hentriacontanol

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Shatavari for galactagogue (lactation-promoting) action
  • With Ashwagandha for Rasayana (rejuvenative) effect
  • With Bala for strength and Vata management
  • With Yashtimadhu for soothing and nutritive action

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews3

  1. Kumari S, Saini R, Bhatnagar A and others. 2024. A comprehensive review on ayurvedic herb Leptadenia reticulata (Jeevanti): a phytochemistry and pharmacological perspectiveNatural product research. PMID 37990540 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2023.2282119
  2. Mohanty SK, Swamy MK, Sinniah UR and others. 2017. Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn. (Jivanti): Botanical, Agronomical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Biotechnological AspectsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 28629185 · doi:10.3390/molecules22061019
  3. Dhalani JM, Nariya PB. 2017. A Pharmacological Review: Leptadenia reticulata (Wight & Arn.); Jivanti: the Real Life Giving PlantFolia medica. PMID 29341952 · doi:10.1515/folmed-2017-0055

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Barot DM, Arumugam MK, Vala DP and others. 2026. Phytochemical composition analysis, antimicrobial activity, and zebrafish toxicity of Leptadenia reticulata leaf extractsNatural product research. PMID 41882993 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2026.2637158
  2. Mallepura Adinarayanaswamy Y, Padmanabhan D, Natarajan P and others. 2024. Metabolomic Profiling of Leptadenia reticulata: Unveiling Therapeutic Potential for Inflammatory Diseases through Network Pharmacology and Docking StudiesPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38675385 · doi:10.3390/ph17040423
  3. Mohanty SK, Swamy MK, Middha SK and others. 2015. Analgesic, Anti- inflammatory, Anti- lipoxygenase Activity and Characterization of Three Bioactive Compounds in the Most Active Fraction of Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.)Wight & Arn. - A Valuable Medicinal PlantIranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR. PMID 26330883
  4. Venkatesan N, Anton Smith AG. 2014. Effect of an active fraction isolated from the leaf extract of Leptadenia reticulata on plasma glucose concentration and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic ratsChinese journal of natural medicines. PMID 24969527 · doi:10.1016/S1875-5364(14)60071-6
  5. Mohanty SK, Malappa K, Godavarthi A and others. 2014. Evaluation of antioxidant, in vitro cytotoxicity of micropropagated and naturally grown plants of Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn.-an endangered medicinal plantAsian Pacific journal of tropical medicine. PMID 25312134 · doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60244-3
  6. Mehandru P, Shekhawat NS, Rai MK and others. 2014. Evaluation of aeroponics for clonal propagation of Caralluma edulis, Leptadenia reticulata and Tylophora indica - three threatened medicinal AsclepiadsPhysiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology. PMID 25049464 · doi:10.1007/s12298-014-0240-8
  7. Pravansha S, Thippeswamy BS, Veerapur VP. 2012. Immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect of Leptadenia reticulata leaf extract in rodents: possible modulation of cell and humoral immune responseImmunopharmacology and immunotoxicology. PMID 22620275 · doi:10.3109/08923973.2012.689767
  8. Girishkumar V, Sreepriya M, Praveenkumar S and others. 2010. Modulating effect of Leptadenia reticulata (Retz) Wight & arn against chromate (VI)-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress on mouse splenic lymphocytes and bone marrow derived macrophagesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 20619333 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.06.043
  9. Bhatt T, Jain V, Jayathirtha MG and others. 2002. In vitro regeneration of roots of Phyla nodiflora and Leptadenia reticulata, and comparison of roots from cultured and natural plants for secondary metabolitesIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 12974401

Reference lists that include it

Stigmasterol

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

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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.