Selaginella bryopteris

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Selaginella bryopteris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Lycopodiophyta
Class: Isoetopsida
Order: Selaginellales
Family: Selaginellaceae
Genus: Selaginella
Species: S. bryopteris
Binomial name
Selaginella bryopteris
(L.) Baker

Selaginella bryopteris, known commonly as sanjeevini and sanjivini booti (Devanagari:संजीवनी), is a lithophytic plant. It is used medicinally in India. The popular name sanjeevani which translates as "One that infuses life" derives from the medicinal properties. Sanjeevani grows on the hills of tropical areas, particularly the Arawali Mountain terrains from east to west in India. This plant is found in the "vadakunathan temple" in the state of kerala -"thrisur". The dry plants have traditionally been used as a remedy for several human health complications for centuries in India, particularly by tribal peoples.[citation needed] Traditional uses include relief from heat stroke, dysuria, irregular menstruation, and jaundice, but the effectiveness has not been scientifically validated.[1]


Hanuman retrieves Sanjeevani by taking the entire mountain

In Hindu mythology, Sanjeevani is a magical herb which has the power to cure any malady. It was believed that medicines prepared from this herb could revive a dead person. Herb is mentioned in the Ramayana when, Ravana's son Indrajit hurls a powerful weapon at Lakshmana. Lakshmana is badly wounded and is nearly killed by Indrajeet. Hanuman was called upon to fetch this herb from the mount Dunagiri (Mahodaya) in the Himalayas or Valley of Flowers.[citation needed] Upon reaching Mount Sumeru, Hanuman was unable to identify the herb and decided to lift the entire mountain and bring it to the battlefield.

499 Keywords. Apoptosis; Sanjeevani

Selaginella bryopteris

thermal shock; UV

________________ Abbreviations used: FBS, Foetal bovine serum; PECS, peritoneal exudate cells; ROIs, reactive oxygen intermediates; SE, S e lagi nella extract; UV, ultra violet. J. Biosci. 30(4), September 2005, 499 – 505, © Indian Academy of Sciences Indian herb ‘Sanjeevani’ (Selaginella bryopteris) can promote growth and protect against heat shock and apoptotic activities of ultra violet and oxidative stress. (ref:, retrieved on 13-03-2013)

Selaginella bryopteris, a resurrection spike moss species shows photosynthetic characteristics and the response of stomata to environmental determinants and ABA. (ref:, retrieved on 13-03-2013)

While some references in scientific literature list Selaginella bryopteris as the Sanjeevani mentioned in Hindu mythology, a search of ancient texts currently underway in CSIR laboratories has so far not revealed any plant that can be definitively confirmed as Sanjeevani. In certain texts it is written that Sanjeevani glows in the dark.[2][3]