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Shivlingi

Shivlingi is the seed of a climbing plant, Bryonia laciniosa, used in traditional Indian herbal medicine and containing plant compounds such as saponins. People mostly look at it for male reproductive health, and the evidence is very limited: in rats, testosterone, sperm count and mating behavior all rose. Every finding came from animal or lab studies, and no human trials exist, so it is unclear whether any of this applies to people.

Sources: PMID 20032987; PMID 40840731; PMID 35477469

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
1
Outcomes
6
Graded outcomes
0006

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 condition, plus general outcomes

General

General: outcomes studied for Shivlingi
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Sperm Parameters and Male Fertility

Multiple animal studies show Bryonia laciniosa seed extract increases sperm count, motility, and spermatogenesis in rats and zebrafish. A zebrafish infertility model showed dose-dependent restoration of fertility and fecundity. In vitro studies on bull spermatozoa also showed beneficial effects on sperm parameters.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect3 studies

Studies that measured sperm parameters and male fertility

Testosterone

In rodent models, ethanolic extract of Bryonia laciniosa seeds (50-150 mg/kg for 28 days) significantly increased serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels in healthy male rats, diabetic male rats, and cadmium-exposed rats. No human trials exist.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect2 studies

Studies that measured testosterone

Sexual Behavior (Male)

In male albino rats, Bryonia laciniosa seed extract (50-150 mg/kg/day for 28 days) significantly increased mount frequency and intromission frequency while reducing mount and intromission latencies, indicating enhanced sexual behavior and libido.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect2 studies

Studies that measured sexual behavior (male)

Blood Glucose

In neonatally streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, ethanol extract of B. laciniosa seeds (250-500 mg/kg) and its saponin fraction (100-200 mg/kg) administered for 10 weeks significantly decreased blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies

Studies that measured blood glucose

Liver Protection

Luffa echinata fruit extracts showed hepatoprotective activity comparable to silymarin against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A separate study found Bryonia laciniosa phytosome suspension protected against alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis in rats, restoring hepatic histoarchitecture and antioxidant defenses.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect1 study

Studies that measured liver protection

Antioxidant Status

Antioxidant Status: outcomes studied for Shivlingi
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Antioxidant Status

In vitro and animal studies across all three Shivlingi-related species show antioxidant activity. Diplocyclos palmatus fruits demonstrated scavenging activity against hydroxyl, nitric oxide, and DPPH radicals. Bryonia laciniosa reduced MDA levels and enhanced catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity in cadmium-exposed rats.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured antioxidant status

Key findings

  • Sperm Parameters and Male FertilityImproves (the measure goes up)
  • TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Sexual Behavior (Male)Improves (the measure goes up)

Shop Shivlingi

Third-party tested Shivlingi products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

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Studies cited

8 studies from PubMed

  1. Ameliorative effect of Bryonia laciniosa L. on the reproductive functions of diabetic male rats: combined in vivo and molecular dynamics studyJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025 · PMID 40840731
  2. Super-critical fluid extract of Bryonopsis laciniosa (Shivlingi) seeds restores fertility in zebrafish models through revival of cytological and anatomical featuresJournal of Ovarian Research, 2022 · PMID 35477469
  3. Phyto-constituents profiling of Luffa echinata and in vitro assessment of antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer and anti-acetylcholine esterase activitiesSaudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2021 · PMID 34220238
  4. Efficient extraction of cucurbitacins from Diplocyclos palmatus: Optimization using response surface methodology, extraction methods and study of some important bioactivitiesSaudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2020 · PMID 32034276
  5. Anti-diabetic effects of ethanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa seeds and its saponins rich fraction in neonatally streptozotocin-induced diabetic ratsJournal of Biologically Active Products from Nature, 2014 · PMID 25598641
  6. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Bryonia laciniosa seed extract and its saponin fraction in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in ratsJournal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2012 · PMID 23112536
  7. Effects of Bryonia laciniosa seeds on sexual behaviour of male ratsInternational Journal of Impotence Research, 2010 · PMID 20032987
  8. Hepatoprotective activity of Luffa echinata fruitsJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2001 · PMID 11390135