“Jivak (Microstylis wallichi) An Endangered plant species of Asthavarga- Mentioned in Jivaniya Gana”

Abstract

Medicinal plants can be used to successfully make both conventional and alternative medicines. It is challenging to standardize plant products because of their diverse composition, which can be found in whole plants, plant parts, or extracts made from them. To ensure the consistent quality of herbal medications, it is imperative to appropriately manage the starting material. A plant called Asthvarga is present among them. Two of the eight ingredients in the vitality-boosting polyherbal ayurvedic preparation "Astavarga" are jeevak (Malaxis acuminata D.Don), a critically endangered medicinal plant family. The botanical identities of these plants are somewhat unclear and confusing in the literature on ayurveda. In Jivaniya mahakashaya and Balya Mahakashaya, Acharya Charak makes reference. The genus Malaxis is one of the Orchidaceae family's plants that has a great affinity for the land. There are about 200 species of this genus in the globe, and most of them are found in tropical alpine habitats close to mountains. The author of this research article covered every detail on jeevak (Malaxis acuminata D.Don).