Evolvulus alsinoides (Sanskrit: Sankhapuspi) is a small herbaceous plant from the Convolvulaceae family, with bright blue flowers. In Sanskrit, the plant is called Shankpushpi (Shankapushpi), which literally means “shell-shaped flower”. Shankapushpi is one of the traditional Ayurvedic remedies used to stimulate mental activity, increase cognitive abilities and improve mental health.

Alvine Evolvulus is a perennial plant.

There are several stems, prostrate or ascending, weak, with pressed or protruding hairs.

Leaves are almost sessile or with a short petiole, 1-2.5 cm X 5-10 mm. Inflorescence with one, sometimes several flowers, on filiform pedicels 2.5-3.5 cm long.

Bracts narrow-awl-shaped or narrow-lanceolate, 1.5-4 mm. Sepals are spear-shaped, 3-4 mm, pubescent. Corolla round, 7-10 mm in diameter. Stamens on thin threads fused to the base of the corolla tube. The ovary is smooth. The seed box is round, 4-chamber; 4 seeds or less, black, smooth.

It blooms year-round.

Homeland: about 100 species of Evolvulus come from North and South America, from where 2 species (Evolvulus alsinoides and Evolvulus nummularius) were widely naturalized in the subtropics and tropics of the eastern hemisphere.

Chemical composition

Shankapushpin; evolvin (alkaloid); the evolvoids A and B are caffeic acid having bonds with 2 molecules of 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-butaneterol and 2 caffeic acid molecules associated with glucose; the evolvoids C, D and E are kempferol triglycosides, the evolvoids C (4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- (1 → 2) -α-l-ramnopyranosil- (1 → 6) -β-d-glucopyranoside), D (O-methyl derivative of C) and E (di-O-methyl derivative of C); other campferol glycosides, such as 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- (1 → 2) -β-d-glucopyranoside, 4′-O-α-l-ramnopyranosil- (1 → 6) -β-d- glucopyranoside, 7-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- (1 → 6) -β-d-glucopyranoside, and 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-7-O α-l-rhamnopyranoside; vitexin and 4-methoxyvitexin, quercetin as 3-O-β-glucopyranoside; betaine; scopoletin (0.0018-0.002% dry weight) and scopolin (coumarin and coumarin glucoside); umbelliferone (coumarin) 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-butanetetrol; 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and caffeic acid; β-sitosterol; sodium (0.5 +/- 0.006 g / kg), potassium (16.64 +/- 0.08 g / kg), copper (35.45 ppm), iron (6.523.07 ppm), zinc (89.84 ppm), magnesium ( 526.31 ppm) and manganese (114 ppm).

Traditional application

• to improve cognitive functions – memory, concentration and learning ability;
• as a tonic to maintain performance during periods of intense mental stress;
• to stabilize the emotional state.

In Ayurvedic practice, plants capable of enhancing mental activity are classified as “Medhya Rasayana.” The term “Medhya” in Sanskrit means “intelligence”, and “Rasayana” means therapeutic procedures or drugs that, when used regularly, improve physical and spiritual health, and therefore can increase life expectancy. One of the most famous plants in this category is Alvine Evolvulus.

More recently, a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the components of the Evolvulus alsine. The results confirm that the active substances of the evolvulus have anti-stress properties. They increase the body’s resistance to adverse effects and can help stabilize the emotional state. There is information that the active substances of the plant enhance cerebral circulation and thus affect brain activity. Some sources compare the effect of evolvulus with the effect of the nootropic drug “piracetam”. It is also noted that large quantities of the plant can cause some drowsiness and a decrease in activity, but they do not have a toxic effect on the body.

It is part of Sobereks ultra.