Ananta Mool: Hemidesmus Indicus Root — Uses, Evidence & Safety

Q: What is Ananta mool?

Ananta mool is the root of Hemidesmus indicus, the plant Ayurveda also calls Sariva (Indian sarsaparilla). The root is the medicinal part; see our Sariva article for the plant as a whole.

Q: What is Ananta mool traditionally used for?

Traditionally it is used as a bloodpurifying, cooling remedy for skin diseases, urinary and kidney disorders, fever, and rheumatic complaints (IJBio review). These are traditional uses, not clinically proven effects.

TL;DR

I went looking for a human trial of Ananta mool and came up empty. It is the root of Hemidesmus indicus, the same plant Ayurveda calls Sariva, traditionally used for skin and urinary complaints. Reviews describe antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other effects, but all from animal and laboratory studies. No clinical trial has tested whether it works in people.

What it is

Ananta mool (Hindi for "endless root") is the root of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br., a twining climber of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae (formerly placed in Asclepiadaceae) (systematic analysis, Amrita/JAPS 2024). It is the same plant Ayurveda calls Sariva, Indian sarsaparilla. Research papers use "sariva (Anantmool)" interchangeably, and the root is the part employed medicinally (in-vitro antacid evaluation, IJBio). (For the plant as a whole, see our Sariva article; this page focuses on the root as the official drug part.)

Chemically, the root is known for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, the compound behind its vanilla-like aroma, plus the coumarinolignan hemidesmin, lupeol, saponins, flavonoids, and tannins (IJSDR review, 2025). Nice chemistry. Whether any of it does anything in a person is the question the literature has not answered.

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani practice, Anantmool root is a traditional blood-purifying and cooling drug. The classical and folk uses recorded in reviews run long: skin diseases, urinary and kidney disorders, fever, rheumatism, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, burning sensations (IJBio review; Amrita/JAPS systematic analysis 2024). It is a common ingredient in traditional formulations for skin and urinary complaints. All of that is traditional use. Not clinical proof. The human evidence is assessed below, and I will not sugarcoat it.

What modern research says

The honest headline: no human trials

A 2025 review states the position plainly: "There are no clinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of H. indicus root extract in humans or any specific indication" (IJSDR review, 2025). Every pharmacological effect reported for the root comes from laboratory or animal work. That is the whole honest story, and everything below this paragraph is a footnote to it.

Preclinical findings (not human proof)

Antioxidant activity: a methanolic extract of the root bark showed free-radical scavenging in DPPH, superoxide, and nitric-oxide models and inhibited lipid peroxidation in liver homogenate (antioxidant evaluation, via Free Library).
Bone: an ethanol extract of the root (100–200 mg/kg/day for 90 days) prevented bone loss in ovariectomized rats, restoring bone-turnover markers and bone strength comparably to raloxifene, without uterine hypertrophy (Desai et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2017).
Antidiabetic potential (in vitro): root extract inhibited the carbohydrate-digesting enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase in laboratory assays, with molecular-modeling support (Computational Biology and Chemistry, 2023).
Antacid (in vitro): powdered and macerated root showed acid-neutralizing capacity in a laboratory model (IJBio).

A 2024 systematic analysis of the last decade of research catalogues reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial properties (overwhelmingly preclinical work) and concludes the plant is a candidate for further drug discovery, not an established treatment (Amrita/JAPS 2024). Candidate for drug discovery. That phrase should do all the work in this section.

Dosage

No pharmacopoeial or trial-validated human dose exists for Ananta mool: human dosing has never been studied in a clinical trial. Do not self-dose based on traditional references; any use should be directed by a qualified practitioner.

Safety & contraindications

There are no human safety trials of Ananta mool, so its safety profile in people is essentially unstudied. Long traditional use is not the same as tested safety. I say this because people constantly confuse the two. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is unknown; avoid use in both. Because efficacy and toxicity are both unquantified in humans, anyone considering it, especially people managing skin, kidney, or urinary conditions or taking prescription medicines, should consult a qualified clinician first.

FAQs

What is Ananta mool?

Ananta mool is the root of Hemidesmus indicus, the plant Ayurveda also calls Sariva (Indian sarsaparilla). The root is the medicinal part; see our Sariva article for the plant as a whole.

Is Ananta mool the same as Sariva?

Yes. "Anantmool" is the Hindi name for the same drug that Ayurvedic texts call Sariva, the root of Hemidesmus indicus. Research literature uses the two names interchangeably (IJBio).

Are there human clinical trials on Ananta mool?

No. A 2025 review states there are no clinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of H. indicus root extract in humans for any specific indication (IJSDR review). All reported effects come from animal and laboratory studies. I checked twice, because a zero is easy to miss. It is a real zero.

What is Ananta mool traditionally used for?

Traditionally it is used as a blood-purifying, cooling remedy for skin diseases, urinary and kidney disorders, fever, and rheumatic complaints (IJBio review). These are traditional uses, not clinically proven effects.

Is Ananta mool safe?

Its safety in humans has not been studied in any clinical trial, and safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is unknown. Do not assume traditional use equals tested safety. Consult a qualified clinician before use.

Sources

Kakadu SR et al. "Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plant Indian sarsaparilla Hemidesmus indicus (L.) used to [treat disease]." IJSDR. 2025;10(5), ijsdr.org
"Evaluation of Hemidesmus indicus root as an antacid by in-vitro [method]." International Journal of Bioassays. 2016, ijbio.com
"A systematic analysis of the ethnopharmacological relevance of an Indian traditional plant, Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. for the past 10 years." Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2024;14(1):37–44 (via Amrita), amrita.edu
"Evaluation of antioxidant properties of root bark of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. (Anantmul)." (in-vitro/ex-vivo study), thefreelibrary.com
Desai S et al. "Antiosteoporotic effect of Hemidesmus indicus Linn. on ovariectomised rats." J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;199:1–8 (ethanol root extract, 100–200 mg/kg/day for 90 days, ovariectomized rats), DOI · 10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.031
Kumari S et al. "HR-LCMS and evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of Hemidesmus indicus (anantmool): kinetic study, and molecular modelling approach." Computational Biology and Chemistry. 2023;105:107896 (in-vitro enzyme inhibition), DOI · 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107896

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.