Jivanthi or annular holostemma is famous Ayurvedic medicinal herb. In India, Annular holostemma is found in Tropical Himalayas and Western Peninsula. It is mainly cultivated in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Jivanthi is also known as Ark pushpi in Ayurveda and Palay-keerai in Siddha system of medicine. This medicinal herb is perennial twining shrub that secreats milky latex. The leaves are ovate and flowers are fleshy pinkish-red. The propagation of plant is through seeds and vegetative methods.
Holostemma annularis (Roxb.) K. Schum.; Synonym: H. ada-kodien Schult.; H. rheedii Wall.; Asclepias annularis Roxb.
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Sanskrit: Jivanti, Shitala; Vernacular names; Gujarati: Kharner, Khiravel, Khordodi; Kannada: Jeeva haale-balli, Muraligana kasa
Malayalam: Ada-kodien, Atakkoti; Marathi: Shidodi; Telugu: Palagurugu, Dudidapalatiga, Bandiguruvinda teega,
Trade name: Ring-coronel, Swallow-wort; Medicinal use of annular holostemma
The milky Latex of plant is applied to heal ulcers and wounds. The decoction of plant has galactagogue effect and is useful in inducing lactation. The roots have cooling, alterative, tonic and laxative properties. The root paste is applied in eye inflammation and orchitis (inflammation of the testes). The juice of root is given in spleen enlargement. Root is also useful in treatment of diabetes, gonorrhoea, coughs and stomach-ache. The flowers of plant are also edible and given for treating sexually transmitted infections.