INTRODUCTION:

There is not a single plant on earth that is either non-medicinal or incapable of being used as medicine. Since its inception, human civilisation has utilised the plant kingdom for a variety of objectives not even a civilised state. According to Jaiswal, a significant variety of plants have been described as having therapeutic properties in ancient literature, and many of these plants are still used today in Indian medical systems, including Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and homoeopathy medicine. For millennia, people have utilised these herbs to make remedies. Invaluable gifts from nature include plants. People are always scouring the entire plant kingdom in search of brand-new medications. Since ancient times, plants have been utilised potentially as medicine in a variety of contexts. Plants were the only known cures for any illness almost from the beginning of this tale of life on earth. In the form of Ayurveda, India has a long history of herbal treatment and traditional wisdom.¹

SANJEEVANI, also known as Selaginella bryopteris in botanical terminology, is a plant with a literal definition of "something that offers life" (jeeva = life).² It is renowned for its extraordinary capacity for renaissance. It is regarded as the most mysterious and important herb in Indian mythology. Being capable of "resurrecting life," it is a contentious Miracle herb. According to the classic Hindu epic Ramayana, medications made from this herb are even thought to be able to bring the dead back to life. The magical herb known as Sanjeevani booti (Life giving herb), in this renowned epic by the Hindi poet Tulsidas, was widely believed to have revived the dying Laxmana, the younger brother of Lord Shree Rama.³

HISTORY:

Fig. 1. Selaginella bryopteris L

Sanjeevani is sometimes referred to as S. bryopteris in botanical terminology. It is renowned for having amazing Renaissance powers. The Ramayana claims that Ravana attacked Lakshmana (Lord Rama's brother), who had killed his father, with a powerful sword. According to the Ramayana, Indrajit is the eldest son. Hanuman asked Sushena, the Imperial Physician of Lanka, for advice. Hanuman was tasked by Sushena to go to the Dronagiri Hills and gather Sanjeevani was one of the group of four plants. In the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta, the extensive traditional knowledge of S. bryopteris's herb to treat a wide range of illnesses is accurately recorded. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver, stomach, and lung meridians are connected to selaginella, which also has sweet, spicy, bitter, and frigid properties.

Due to its unusual qualities, this plant is sold throughout India, primarily at places of worship. like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. In Unani, it is referred to as "punjemariam" or "hathazori". The plants have microspores and megaspores, both of which are all microphyll. and sporophyll have ligules, which are outgrowths that resemble scales that are found around the base of the upper surface. On wiry rhizophores that protrude from the stem forks, roots develop In fertile leaf axils (sporophylls), sporangia are produced. The life cycle of Selaginella includes microsporangia, megasporangia, and other types. Megaspores are small and rare, whereas microspores are tiny and plentiful. big and occur in four-group megasporangia.⁵

Plant Profile:

Taxonomical Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Lycophytes

Class: Lycopodiopsida

Order: Selaginellales

Family: Selaginellaceae

Genus: Selaginella

Species: S. Bryopteris

Vernacular Name: Sanjeevani

Synonyms

Lycopodium bryopteris L. Lycopodium circinale

Morphology Plant:

(i) Stem:

It is often delicate, densely branching, and evergreen. The branching pattern is monopodial. A single apical cell or meristematic tissue make up the rising apex of the stem. While the stem in the subgenus heterophyllum is prostrate with sturdy erect branches and is somewhat dorsiventral, the stem in the subgenus homoeophyllum is upright and somewhat cylindrical.

Fig. 2. Selaginella bryopteris l

(ii) Leaves:

Typically, they are tiny, straightforward, lanceolate, and have a pointed apex. There is a single, unbranched midrib on each leaf. All of the leaves of the homoeophyllum subgenus are the same size and are grouped spirally to create a dense covering. The leaves in the subgenus heterophyllum are dimorphic, meaning they come in two sizes (small and huge), and they are placed in pairs. On the dorsal side of the stem, there are smaller leaves, and on the ventral side, there are larger leaves. The larger leaves follow the larger leaves, and the smaller leaves follow the smaller leaves.

(iii) Roots:

According to Figure a and b, roots can either come from the tips of rhizophores, the stem, or the enlarged base of the hypocotyl. They have an endogenous origin. The formations are typically dichotomously branching. Root hairs and root caps are present on the roots.⁷

Fig 3: Dry (a) and hydrated (b) fronds of S. bryopteris collected from Satpura region, Madhya Pradesh

Chemical Constitunts:

The plants/parts washed with distilled water were dried at 40⁰C for 72 hours subsequently the dried sample were powdered and stored separately in polyethylene bags for further study. Phyotochemical screening of alkaloids, steroids, phenol, saponin and tannins was done following the method of Sinha (1980) and Mahadevan (1982).

Alkaloid:

2gm powdered sample was extracted and filtered. The filterate was made by acidic by 1% HCl subsequently, the acidic extract was made alkaline with 28% ammonium hydroxide and was extracted with equal volume of Chloroform soluble fraction was tested with Dragendorff’s, Mayer’s and Wagnar’s reagent. Any turbidity or precipitation showed the presence of alkaloids.

Steroid:

1gm powdered sample was homogenized with 15 ml petroleum ether and filtered. The ether was evaporated and residue was added with acetic anhydride and few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid. The pink and blue colour indicates the presence of steroids.

Phenol:

Small amount of powdered sample homogenized with 80% ethanol was centrifuged. About 5ml of supernatant was treated with freshly prepared mixture of equal ferric chloride (0.3% FeCl₃ in NH₄Cl and potassium ferricyanide (0.3%). The bluish green or pink colour conferred the presence of phenol.

Tannin: The ethanolic extract of sample was evaporated upto dryness. The residue was dissolved in distilled water and added 5%head acetate. Milky turbidity or white precipitation showed the presence of tannin.

Saponin: The ethanolic extract in ethanol was evaporated then dissolved in water and shake vigorously. A honey comb froth persisting for half an hour indicated the presence of saponin. Confirmatory test was done by crushing about 2 gm powder in Chloroform and adding few drops of conc H₂SO₄ sulphuric acid to the filterate. Subsequently 1ml of acetic anhydride was added to 1ml of iced filtered. The presence of blue or bluish green or reddish brown colour accompanied with the formation of pink ring confirmed the presence of Saponin.⁸

Uses:

This epilithic plant is a wonder herb with numerous therapeutic applications. These properties can be effectively exploited to prepare novel drugs with antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, and antiviral activities and can also be used in the cosmetic industries. During the desiccation phase, the metabolites like sugars, phenolic compounds, and polyols present in the frond cell help to protect against abiotic stresses and increases oxidative stress tolerance. The herb also possesses chemo-preventive and anti-carcinogenic property.

Chemoprevention biomarkers like proliferative index and status of cell-cycle regulatory protein assessment reveals chemopreventive potential of this herb in 7,12-dimethyl benz (a) anthracene-mediated skin papilloma agenesis and benzopyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis resulting unperturbed cell-cycle regulation, inhibition of DNA fragmentation, maintenance of intracellular antioxidant defence, prevention of stress-induced senescence, antiinflammatory activity, and genoprotective effects against methyl isocyanate carcinogenicity.

Ethnomedicinal and Other Uses:

The herb possess unique ethnomedicinal properties and is generally used to treat heat stroke and burning sensation during urination Gonorrhoea, menstrual irregularities wounds, uterine disorders and other internal injuries minimize labor pain, Jaundice skin cell’s damage due to sun’s rays chronic trachitis stomach disorders and human growth tonic. It is primarily used by Indian tribal people as a strength tonic to increase fitness and lengthen longevity. In Madhya Pradesh's Pachmarhi, tribal women from the Gond, Bhil, Korku, Mauria, Maria, Baigas, Bharia, Bhatara, and Paria communities employ pteridophytes, particularly Sanjeevani, to cure gynaecological issues like gonorrhoea and other venereal disorders like spermatorrhoea and leucorrhoea. Tribal people smoke tobacco and dried plants in different parts of this region to induce hallucinations used in witchcraft and worship. The indigenous people of a hilly region in Nagaland state in northeastern India utilise this herb to treat epilepsy and liver disorders.⁹

Pharmacological Action:

1. Antihyperglycaemic Activity:

Following intraperitoneal treatment of Alloxan (120mg/dl), Selaginella bryopteris aqueous extract (150mg/kg b.w.) was reported to lower levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, amylase, creatinine, urea, and uric acid in Swiss albino mice when given orally for 26 days.

2. Growth promoting Activity:

In Sf 9 cells and mammalian cells, a 10% aqueous extract of Selaginella bryopteris has growth-promoting activity by about 41% and 78%, respectively. Selaginella bryopteris aqueous extract pre-treatment of cells for 1 h provided complete protection against heat-induced growth suppression¹⁹.

3. Antistress cell death:

When cells were pre-treated for an hour with Selaginella extract (SE) (1-2%), the cells were shielded against UV- and oxidative stress-induced cell death. Hexoses and protein were discovered by chemical research, and these substances have antioxidant and anti-stress properties.

4. Antiprotozoal Activity:

It was found that a series of eleven biflavonoids with amentoflavone and hinokiflavone derivatives from Selaginella bryopteris were effective in in vitro experiments against the K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and Trypanosoma cruzi. When tested utilising L6 cells, 7, 4, 7triOmethylamentoflavone was shown to have the highest antiprotozoal activity with an IC50 of 0.26 M and no noticeable cytotoxicity (IC50 > 150 M). The most potent activity against Leishmania was demonstrated by 2,3-dihydrohinokiflavone (IC50 = 1.6 M), although no discernible activity was seen against Trypanosoma (IC50 > 12.5 g/mL for the extract). When trimethylated amentoflavone was given to female NMRI mice at a dose of 50 mg/kg, no discernible action was discovered against Plasmodium species²⁰.

5. Antibacterial activity:

When antimicrobial activity was discovered using disc diffusion method phytochemical analysis, Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), Selaginella bryopteris was reported to have antibacterial activity against six bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Niesseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus P.

6. Stomachache_:

Stomach aches have been linked to Selaginella bryopteris (l) bak's ethanolic extract apparently, a paste made from S. bryopteris leaves can lessen spermatorrhea, leucorrhea, and children's urinary tract inflammation.

Table 1: Pharmacological activities of Selaginella bryopteris:¹⁰

Pharmacological activities

Parts of Sanjeevani used

1.Antihyperglycaemic effect

2.Growth -promoting activity

3.Antistress cell death

4.Antiprotozoal activity

5.Antibacterial activity

6.Stomachache

7.Spermatorrhea, leucorrhoea and urinary tract inflammation in children

Aqueous extract of Sanjeevani plant. Aqueous extract of Sanjeevani plant. Aqueous extract of Sanjeevani plant.

Biflavonoids extracted from

Sanjeevani plant

Stem of Selaginella bryopteris (L).

The paste of leaves of

Selaginella bryopteris (L).

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Plant Collection and Extract Preparation:

Five plants were employed for organic and aqueous extracts, and the remaining plants were all gathered in the tribal region of Chhattisgarh's Amarkantak Mekal Plateau and Achanakmar Biosphere. Both a traditional⁵ and chemosystematic6 technique was used to harvest the plants. Plant pieces were gathered based on the biomass that was available. Plant material was dried and ground before being submittedto 24-h maceration with methanol: dichloromethane (1:1) followed by 24-h maceration with water, resulting in four extracts from each plant material viz, Selaginella bryopteris (Amarbatoooti Sanjivini), Lygodium flexuousm (Kalijar) Adiantum philippense (Kalijhant), Drypteris eochleata (Jatashankari), Tectacria coadunate (Jatamasi).

Phyotochemical Test:

0.135 grammes of mercury bichloride and 0.05 grammes of potassium iodide are dissolved in 100 mL of water and used as the Mayer test for alkaloids, which results in a white precipitate. Take the FeCl3 solution and add 2 ml of the extract to perform the Tannin test. It produces a rich blue hue. This suggests that tannin is present. Take 300 mg of extract and boil it in 5 ml of water for 2 minutes to perform a foaming test for saponin. The mixture was heated, thoroughly mixed, and then left for three minutes. Saponin can be detected by the appearance of foam. To perform the Salkowski test for steroids, mix 2 ml of plant extract to 2 ml of conc. sulfuric acid and 2 ml of chloroform. Shake it vigorously. The acid layer fluoresces yellow, whereas the chloroform layer glows red. With increasing amounts of sodium hydroxide added to the residue, a yellow colouring is shown that disappears with the addition of acid (Turnidge JD et al. 2003).

Benedicts' Carbohydrate Test Shake each tube after adding 1 ml of the test solution to 5 ml of Benedict's solution. Heat the tube for three minutes in a pot of boiling water. The tubes should be taken out of the heat and left to cool. According to Skene et al. (2006), Andrews, J. M. (2001), and Policegoudr RS et al. (2007), reducing sugars can be detected by the formation of a green, red, or yellow precipitate.

Antimicrobial Assay:

Broth microdilution method was used to screen the 5 plant extracts. The inoculums were created using fresh bacterial colonies and a 0.5 McFarland (or 108 CFU/ml) concentration, as described below. The inoculums were then manufactured at a concentration of 10-2 CFU/ml. Tested bacterial strains included Staphylococcus aureus, Niesseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Bacillus subtilis (HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Limited Mumbai). Fresh colonies grown on Mueller Hinton agar plates served as the source of each bacteria's inoculum. Following that, the inoculums were diluted to 1.5 × 102 CFU/ml. This suspension was added to each microplate well in a volume of 179 microliters. The microplate wells received ten microliters of each extract solution before being incubated for 18 to 20 hours at 35 oC. In water or a 50% DMSO solution, extracts were produced to 20 times the necessary test concentration (2 mg/ml). The extracts were tested at 100 g/ml of concentration. For the purpose of evaluating bacterial growth, extracts that demonstrated inhibitory activity at this concentration were added to a subculture of the broth media in Mueller Hinton agar (HiMedia Laboratories Pvt. Limited Mumbai) (Macfoy C A et al. 1990, Maikere-Faniyo R et al. 1989, Biavatti MW et al. 2001, Alves TM et al. 2000, Gnan SO et al.¹¹

CONCLUSION:

I concluded from my review that Selaginella bryopteris L. traditionally widely used medicinal plant. Selaginella is a common ornamental evergreen tree. It shows a wide range of biological activities that helps to utilize the medicinal benefits of this plant. However, here remains an immense scope for further exploration of this plat and needs the attention of scientists to exploit the full potential activities of this plant.

REFERENCE:

1. Nishant Vashistha. selaginella bryopteris [l.]. A wonder herb. Pant Archives. 2021: 701-70

2. Sahp. Does the Magical Himalayan Herb Sanjeevani Booti really exist in Nature? The Journal of American Sci. 2008; 4(3): 65-67.

3. Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, 74th Chapter, Yuddakanda Shlokas. 29-34.

4. https://images.app.goo.gl/cfuo3bHjHuTxwPzq6

5. Arti Gautam The Role of Indian Magical Herb Selaginella bryopteris L. (Selaginella) in Pharmacotherapeutic Perspective: An overview

6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_bryopteris#

7. Dr. Jayanta Sikdar. Selaginella

8. H N P Singh. Chemical Screening of Selaginella bryopteris (Sanjeevani) medicinal plan. International Journal Culture Society.

9. An overview of resurrecting herb ‘Sanjeevani’ (Selaginella bryopteris) and its pharmacological and ethnomedicinal uses Sandeep Pandey, Arti Shukla, Supriya Pandey and Ankita Pandey.

10. Sunita Lahkar An Overview on Properties, Therapeutic Efficacy of the Indian Magical Herb- “Sanjeevani”. American Journal Pharmacy and Health Research.

11. Jitendra Malviya. Antimicrobial activity of some Ethno-medicinal Plants used by Baiga Tribes from Amarkantak India. Advance in Life Science and Technology.

Received on 09.04.2025 Revised on 07.05.2025

Accepted on 30.05.2025 Published on 08.08.2025

Available online from August 14, 2025

Research J. Science and Tech. 2025; 17(3):239-244.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2988.2025.00033

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.