Putrajivaka: Putranjiva roxburghii Uses, Remedies, Research

Putranjivaka- Putranjiva roxburgii is an Ayurvedic Herb used for the treatment of eye disorders, burning sensation, elephantiasis, difficulty in micturition, azoospermia and habitual abortions. The name Putranjivaka denotes- which promotes or gives life to progeny, which promotes fertility, both in men and women. 

Latin name- Putranjiva roxburgii Wall.
Family- Euphorbiaceae (Eranda kula)

Vernacular names

Putrajeevak Names in different languages:
Hindi name- Jiyapeeta, Putranjeev
English name- Child life tree, Indian amulet plant
Gujarathi name- Putrajiva, Putramjeeva, Putranjiv,
Kannada name- Putrajiva, Putramjiva
Malayalam name- Pongalam
Marathi name- Putajan
Tamil name- Irukolli
Telugu name- Kuduru, Putrajivika

Flowers bloom in the months of March and April. The fruits are round or ovoid in shape, 0.5-0.8 inch diameter. The seed present inside is solitary and slimy. Fruits are seen between January to March. The tree can be seen all over India till 3000 feet altitude.

Properties, part used, dosage

Medicinal properties of Puntrajiva:
Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet), Katu (Pungent),
Guna (Qualities) – Guru (Heavy), Picchila (Slimy)
Vipaka – Madhura (Undergoes sweet taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold)
Karma (Actions) – Vatapitta shamaka (reduces vitiated vata and pitta dosha)
Pharmacological actions – Anti inflammatory, Analgesic, Antipyretic

The seeds are sweet-salt and pungent mixed in taste, dry but heavy in quality and cold in potency. This acts as Kapha Vatahara. It is aphrodisiac, diuretic and laxative in nature.

The synonym ‘Yastipuspha’ given to this drug may be in relation to its ability to correct the menstrual cycles. I personally give this drug to treat anovulatory cycles and quite significant benefits are found in at least 12-15 patients.

Part used- Seed, Leaf
Dosage-
Seed powder- 1 to 3 g
Leaf juice- 10 to 20 ml

Uses

• Ayurvedic classics have highlighted the importance of Putranjivaka as the one which helps in progenation. The powder of the seed is given in a dose of 1-3 g with milk to improve the sperm count in males and help in maintaining the fetus in pregnant women.
• The paste of the leaf is applied over the area affected with burning sensation.
• Fresh juice of Putranjivaka is given in a dose of 10-15 ml to treat elephantiasis and the paste of the leaf is applied over the affected leg.
• Cold infusion prepared from the leaves of Putranjiva roxburghii is given in a dose of 20-30 ml to treat difficulty in micturition.
• The seeds of the Putranjivaka are made into paste and applied as collyrium to treat eye diseases.

Putrajivaka for infertility

• The herb putrajivaka is said to be the best one for treating infertility in both men and women.
• Males who take Putrajivaka have been shown to produce more sperm and semen.
• Putrajivaka aids in the maturity of ovarian follicles seen in female ovaries and aids in inducing ovulation.
• Prana Vata is where Putrajivaka primarily affects.
• Maturity and increase in the size of ovarian follicles takes place in the ovary; When the size of the ovarian follicle stays smaller (5-7 mm) or if ovulation doesn’t occur, Putrajivaka powder can be taken with milk.

Putrajiva Home Remedies

Allergic skin rashes

1. Fine paste of the seed marrow for allergic skin rashes:
Fresh seeds are collected and its marrow is obtained. This is rubbed well with water and fine paste is applied over the urticarial or allergic rashes.

Headache

2. Seed paste for headache
Fine paste of the seeds is applied over the scalp or forehead in cases of acute headache .It gives instant benefit, if applied by making it lukewarm.

Irregular menstruation

3. Fine powder of the seeds with palm jaggery and sesame seed decoction in irregular menstruation:
 This is my unique combination while treating irregular menstruation. Fine powder of the seeds 1-2 grams is added to sesame seed decoction in which palm jaggery is dissolved. This is taken twice daily, from 12 days of menstruation till the commencement of the next cycle.

Three consecutive cycles helps to correct the cycles quite effectively. Any other complaints are also to be treated accordingly by any other suitable medicines.

Fever, cold

4. Leaf or bark decoction in fever and cold:
Mature bark or leaves are taken and decoction is made. To this 1 pinch of pepper powder or ginger powder is also added while administering. This is effective in colds, rhinitis and headache.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu)

Sanskrit verse

Traditional uses

Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor
Guru – heavy to digest
Vishtambhi – constipative.
Srushtavinmutra – causes production of urine and feces
Hima – coolant
Kaphavata prada – can increases Kapha and Vata Dosha
Pittashamana – balances Pitta Dosha
Dahahara – Relieves burning sensation, as in gastritis, neuropathy, burning sensation in eyes etc
Trushnahara – Relieves thirst

Adverse effects

No adverse effect is known or reported after the normal use of Putranjivaka.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic Medicines containing Putranjivaka:
Lucap capsule: This is a proprietary ayurvedic medicine useful to treat dysmenorrhea, iron deficiency anemia, vaginitis and menorrhagia and corrects postpartum disorders.

Research

Research articles related to Putranjiva roxburghii:
Hypoglycemic activity: In the present study diabetes was induced in albino rat models with alloxan monohydrate. Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. has been claimed to possess antidiabetic properties by many of the leaves of Putranjiva roxburghii. The results showed that it has significant antihyperglycemic effect in an experimental model of diabetes mellitus.
Anti- bacterial and Anti- oxidant activity: For antibacterial activity the methanolic extracts of 12 plants leaves were extracted. The antibacterial testing in vitro was done following disc diffusion method against Bacillus subtilis, Erwinia herbicola, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas putida Staphylococcus aureus Klebsiella pnemoniae ,Vibrio cholera.Amongst the leaf methanolic extracts tested, the extracts of Aegle marmelos (L.) Corre, Anethum graveolens L and Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small showed significant antibacterial activity against the bacterial pathogen. Putranjiva roxburghii Wall showed highest antibacterial activity followed by Artabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) Bhandari. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of potent extract. Putranjiva roxburghii Wall showed appreciable antioxidant activity.

Cytotoxic action: The present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxicity of methanol extract of seeds of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall (Euphorbiaceae). The preliminary phytochemical screening of methanol extract showed the presence of phenols, alkaloids, saponins, steroids, flavonoids and glycosides. The extract showed cytotoxicity with LC₅₀ of 427.74 μg/ml in brine shrimp lethality assay.

Chemical constituents

Chemical composition of Putranjiv:
The oil extracted from seed contains isopropyl and2-butylisothio-cyanates as the main constituents and 2-methyl-butyl isothiocyanate as a minor component. The iso-thiocyanates are produced on enzymatic hydrolysis of glycosidic progenitors present in the kernels, viz. gluco putranjivin, gluco-cochlearin and gluco jiaputin respectively. An additional glucoside, gluco- cleomin, has been identified in the seed kernel. A glycosidic pattern similar to that in the seed is reported in the shoots and roots. The fruit pulp contains a large portion of mannitol and small quantities of saponin glucosides and alkaloids. The seed coat gave putranjivoside, putranoside A, B, C and D, beta- sitosterol and tis beta-D-glucoside. The leaves have amentoflavone and its derivatives, beta-amyrin and its palmite, polyphenols, putranjiva saponin A,B,C, and D and stigmasterol. The bark contains friedelin, friedelanol, friedelanone, friedelan-3,7-di-one (putranjivadione), 3-alpha-hydro- xyfriedelan- 7-one (roxburgholone), carboxylic acid, putric acid, putranjivic acid.

Classical categorization

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu- Vatadi varga
Kaiyyadeva Nighantu- Oushadhi varga
Raja Nighantu- Prabadradi varga

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Putranjivaceae
Genus: Putranjiva Wall.

Sanskrit synonyms

Synonyms of Putrajeevak:
Garbhakar, Garbhada, Sutajeevaka – Which strengths the uterus and retains the fetus
Yashtipushpa – flowers resemble licorice
Artha Sadhaka, Mantrartha Siddhikrut – used for spiritual purposes
Kuta, Pavitra – Sacred

Morphology

Morphology of Putranjiva roxburghii:
Putrajivak is a moderate sized evergreen tree growing to a height up to 12m with pendant branches and dark gray bark having horizontal lenticels. The leaves are simple, alternate, distichous, stipule triangular, acute, caduceus, petiole 0.4-1 cm long, nearly glabrous, plano convex in cross section. The flowers are unisexual, male flowers in axillary clusters and yellow in color.

Author: Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
Click to consult Dr Prashanth BK

Sthanika Karma (Systemic Action)

External Application – Seed and leaf paste are used to relieve burning sensation. Seed can be used for Anjana in eye diseases.

Internal administration-
Digestive System – Seed powder is indicated in excessive thirst, constipation etc.

Circulatory System – Sothahara, indicated in Elephantiasis

Excretory System – increases urine output, indicated in dysuria

Reproductive system – Helps to retain pregnancy. Aphrodisiac, indicated in decreased semen count (Male infertility), Female infertility, Threatened abortion.