Overview Description
Adhatoda vasica is a tall, much-branched, dense, evergreen shrub, with large, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are dense, short spikes; stalks of the spikes shorter than leaves. leaf-like structures called bracts, present on the spikes; these are conspicuously veined, which grows in the plains of India and in the lower regions of himalaya. It is a potent ayurvedic plant that enhances the respiratory system, extensively used in medicine as a remedy for colds, cough, nasal congestion, bronchitis, asthma and other upper respiratory tract infections, bleeding disorders, etc.
The leaves contain phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids. The most important is vasicine, a quinazoline alkaloid.The vasicine yield has been measured as 0.541 to 1.1% by dry weight.
Benefits and Uses
Can help respiratory congestion, cough, bronchitis and asthma. It works by expanding the airways and is well-known as an ayurvedic medicine for expectorants to help expel phlegm.
It may also help tuberculosis as it has antimicrobial properties.
Adhatoda Vasaka has anti-inflammatory properties that is good for joint pain and helps reduce arthritis swelling
It may also be beneficial in cases of thirst, fever, vomiting, bleeding disorders and leprosy.
It helps gut health as it has powerful digestive stimulant properties in the breaking down of food particles in the stomach and intestine. This can promote secretion of bile juices that increase the uptake of essential nutrients.
Adhatoda Vasaka can also help eliminate abdominal gas, bloating, stomach cramps and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
It helps improve blood count and regulates blood pressure as well as having anticoagulant and anti-fibrinolytic properties, and may help prevent the formation of clots.
It has shown to have a role in reducing ulcers.
Vasaka can reduce uric acid to diminish the pain with gout.
It has shown to help uremia, which is a chronic condition due to increased amounts of urea that is normally excreted by the kidneys. Bioactive components in vasaka help eliminate toxic wastes through urine and increase urinary functions.
Vasaka may treat skin infections, acne, warts, boils, eczema, blisters, itching etc. and can also smooth out skin tone, clearing blocked pores, and reduce signs of aging.
Forms and Sources
Adhatoda vasica, Adhathodai, Vasa, Arusha, Malabar nut, adulsa, adhatoda, vasa, vasaka.
Side Effects and Interactions
Do not take it if pregnant as it impacts the uterus. It also lowers blood sugar level.
How to Label
Adhatoda Vasaka Extract 1% (Adhatoda vasica) leaves
Research & Studies (References)
Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals
After oral administration to the guinea-pig the antitussive activity of AV was similar to codeine against coughing induced by irritant aerosols.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874199000744
Medicinal uses and Pharmacological activity of Adhatoda vasica
Adhatoda vasica possesses numerous biological activities proved by many experimental studies. It represents a class of herbal drug with very strong conceptual or traditional base as well as a strong experimental base for its use. Thus, this plant has great potential to be developed as drug pharmaceutical industries, but before recommending it for clinical use in these conditions, there is a need to conduct clinical use in these conditions, there is a need to conduct clinical trials and prove its clinical utility.
https://www.florajournal.com/vol2issue1/april2014/23.1.pdf
A complete over review on Adhatoda vasica a traditional medicinal plants
The literature survey revealed that Adhatoda vasica has been widely studies for its phytochemical and pharmacological activities. It present in class of herbal drug with very strong conceptual or traditional base. Adhatoda vasica is an important source of vasicine, vasicinone, vasicolone and some other Alkaloids. In this reviews some pharmacological studies has been concluded like like antibacterial, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antitussive, radiomodulation, antiinflammatory and antiulcer, abortifacient, antiviral, thrombolytic, antimutagenic, cardiovascular protection, hypoglycaemic, antitubercular, antioxidant and some more studies are done. Furthermore studies are summarized in mentioned review papers.
Inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase by Adhatoda vasica Nees
These results suggest a use of the extract of A. vasica as an antidiabetic agent and show a possibility that compounds 1 and 2 could be an useful treatment for metabolic disorders.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814607012587
WOUND HEALING EFFECT OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF ADHATODA VASICA
On the basis of the results obtained in the present investigation it is possible to conclude that the methanolic, chloroform and Diethyl ether extract ointment (10%w/w) of Adhatoda vasica has significant wound healing activity. In both extract ointment, the methanolic extract ointment (10%w/w) showed significant effect when compare to standard drug and other two extract in excision wound model.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.185.4609&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Justicia adhatoda L. in comparison with vasicine
The present study revealed that J. adhatoda has broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and a potential source of antimicrobial agents that could be useful for chemotherapy and control of infectious diseases.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2221169112604523
Anticestodal activity of Adhatoda vasica extract against Hymenolepis diminuta infections in rats
The study shows that the leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica possesses significant anticestodal efficacy and supports its use in the folk medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874108003899
Therapeutic use of Adhatoda vasica
modern medicine searched its active ingredients and found out that vasicine, oxyvascicine and vasicinone are the alkaloids present in vasaka and in which vasicine is the active ingradient for expelling sputum from the body.
https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/AJMBR/article/view/29005
Anti-typhoid Activity of Adhatoda vasica and Vitex negundo
The obtained results showed that methanolic extract was effective as an antityphoid agent against Salmonella typhi. The demonstration of anti-typhoid activity of Adhatoda vasica and Vitex negundo is indeed a promising development, which will help to discover new chemical classes of medicines (medicines) that could be used against the infection, which exhibits (multi drug resistance) MDR against synthetic medicines (antibiotics).
Evaluation of Nootropic activity of Ethanolic and Aqueous Root Extracts of Adhatoda vasica nees in Rodents
The present study suggests that both extracts possessed a significant nootropic activity in mice and rats.
http://jpionline.phcog.interactivedns.com/index.php/ijpi/article/view/401
Kinetics and molecular docking of vasicine from Adhatoda vasica: An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for Alzheimer’s disease
The availability and multipharmacological action of vasicine including its safety margins make it a potential lead compound for treatment of AD, or for developing new, modified and more efficient active structures that fit with all requirements to combat AD.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629916000193
