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Botanical Name :Adhatoda vasica, Justicia adhatoda
Sanskrit name :
Vasaka
English Name :
Malabar nut
Family : Acanthaceae
Plant Parts Used :
Leaves
Description of
Adhatoda vasica:
It is a small evergreen, subherbacious bush. The Leaves are 10 to 16 cms
in length, minutely pubescent and broadly lanceolate. The inflorescence
is dense, short pedunculate, bractate and spike terminal. The corolla is
large and white with lower lip streaked purple. The fruit is a 4-seeded
small capsule.
Traditional
uses:
The plant is recommended for a variety of ailments such as bronchitis,
asthma, fever, jaundice etc. The leaves & roots are efficacious in
coughs, arthritis, diarrhoea & dysentery and have the best haemostatic
quality. Leaves are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, effective in skin
disorders, cardiotonic. This is one of the most potent anti tuberculosis
drug. Vasicine is also reported for its anthelmintic and weak
hypotensive activity. |
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Phytochemistry:
The major bioactive
constituent of Adhatoda vasica is a pyrralazoquinoline alkaloid –
vasicine. The other alkaloids include vasicol, adhatonine, vasicinone,
vasicinol, vasicinolone etc. The other constituents include aliphatic
hydroketones viz., 37-hydroxyhexateracont-1-en-15-one and 37-hydroxy
hentetracontan-19-one; common phytosterols viz., a-sitosterol and its
D-glucose.
Pharmacology:
Adhatoda vasica has been evaluated for various pharmacological
activities. Adhatoda vasica has been found to be potent bronchodilator
and expectorant. Adhatoda vasica is also reported to have abortifacient,
uterotonic, antimycobaterial, wound healing, hypotensive, myocardial
depressant and hypoglycemic activity.
Marker constituents:
Vasicine
& Vasicinone.
Main uses:
Bronchodilator, expectorant, uterotonic.
Herbal Extract packing:
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