ADHATODA VASICA

Presented by : Amisha
M.Sc. ( 2nd semester )
H.A.P.P.R.C
H.N.B.G.U ( srinagar )
Destination & source : Pauri road
srinagar ( uttrakhand )
 INTRODUCTION
• Adhatoda vasica Nees [synonym: Justicia
adhatoda] of the Acanthaceae family is a
well-known plant drug in Ayurvedic and
Unani medicine and the plant has been used
in the indigenous system of medicine in India
for more than 2000 years . It is commonly
known as Malabar nut tree .
 PLANT DESCRIPTION
• Evergreen shrub 1-3 feet
in height.
• Leaves are large and
lance shaped.
• Stem herbaceous above
woody below.
• Flower spikes are small
irregular, zygomorphic ,
bisexual and hypogynous.
• It has capsular four
seeded fruits.
Destination & source : Pauri road srinagar
( uttrakhand )
 VERNACULAR NAMES
• HINDI : Adosa, adalsa, vasaka
• SANSKRIT : Amalaka, bashika
• BENGALI : Basak
• TAMIL : Adatodai
• MARATHI : Vasuka
• TELUGU : Adasaram
• MALAYALUM : Ata-lotakam
 CLASSIFICATION
• KINGDOM : Plantae
• ORDER : Lamiales
• FAMILY : Acanthaceae
• GENUS : Justicia
• SPECIES : J. adhatoda
• COMMON NAME : Vasaka
 ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
• It is an evergreen shrub growing throughout
Indo Malayan region, Punjab in the North,
and Bengal and Manipur in the South-East to
Tranvacore of Kerala, at an altitude of 1350
m. The plant is also seen distributed in Sri
Lanka, Upper and Lower Myanmar, southern
China, Laos, and the Malay- Peninsular and
Indonesian Archipelago.
Destination & source : Dang road srinagar
( uttrakhand )
 IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS
• SARBAT EJAZ
• SARBAT TULSI
• SARBAT SADAR
• SARBAT VASAC
• SYRUP BASAKARISTA
• BASADI KWATH
• BASABOLEHO
(SOURCE : BNUF & BNAF, 2010 )
 BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• Main constituent : Vasicine as a chief alkaloid
• Main phytochemicals are alkaloids,
phytosterols , polyphenolics and glycosides

Chemical compounds found in leaves and

roots of this plant includes essential oils,
fats, resins, sugar, gum, amino acids,
proteins and vitamin C .
• The Percentage (%) of Various Chemical Compounds Analysed
from Edible Parts of Adhatoda vasica .

Entry Constituent % (Leaves) (Root)

1. Dry matter 50.4 66.4
2. Moisture 15.3 24.6
3. Berberine - - 0.3
4. Protein 6.5 8.5
5. Fat 1.6 2.5
6. Sugar 16.4 2.6
7. Fiber 6.4 5.2
8. Sodium 1.4 2.4
9. Sulphur 1.3 1.2
10. Calcium 1.5 3.1
11. Iron 1.2 0.7
12. Zinc 0.6 0.5
• Root sample Bioactive compounds(%)
• Protein 8.5%
• Vasicine 7.5%
• Vitamin C 5.2%
• Fats 2.5%
Adhatoda vasica seed oil composition(Dweck 1995)
25.8 % deep yellow oil composed of glycerides -
Arachidic 3.1 %
Behenic 11.2 %
Linoceric 10.7 %
Cerotic 5%
Oleic 49.9 %
Linoleic acid 12.3 %
 • Leaf sample Bioactive compounds(%)
• Sugar 16.4%
• Fiber 5.2 %
• Vasicinone 3.5 %

Source : Asian journal of medical and biological research . IISN- 4472

 ETHNOMEDICINAL USES
• It is used as an herbal remedy for treating cold, cough,
whooping cough and chronic bronchitis and asthma, as
sedative expectorant, antispasmodic and anthelmintic. It
is an official drug and is mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia
of India. The leaves, roots, flowers and bark of Adhatoda
are all used for medicinal purposes. It is well known for
preparation of medicine for bronchitis, asthma and other
pulmonary infections. Glycodin, a famous product used
for the cure of bronchitis is extracted from the leaves of
this plant. It has been used by European herbal
practitioners as an antispasmodic, expectorant and
febrifuge. It is also known for its antiarthritis, antiseptic,
antimicrobial, expectorant, sedative and antituberculosis
properties .
• Entry Parts Uses Country wise -
• 1. Leaves : An infusion of the leaves is an excellent agent
for the destruction of white ants, flies, and mosquitoes.
(India )
• 2. Leaves :The extract obtained by boiling leaves along with
fruit of Phyllanthus emblica, mixed with honey is used in
asthma.
(India)
• 3. Leaves : The fresh juice of leaves is mixed in honey and
ginger juice, is recommended for all types of cough, chronic
bronchitis and asthma.
(Pakistan)
• 4. Leaves : Leaf juice is prescribed in malarial fever. ( Nepal )
• 5. Leaves are macerated and the extract is drunk orally for
cough and phlegm congestion during cold.
(Bangladesh )
• 6. Leaves Bruised fresh leaves are used to treat snake
bites. India, Sri Lanka .
• 7. Leaves Infusion of leaves is used to relieve headache.
Myanmar, Pakistan .
• 8. Root Paste of the fresh root is applied on abdomen
and vagina minutes before childbirth for easy delivery.
• 9. Root & Flower Used for apiculture. The root is useful as
an expectorant, antispasmodial and the infusion is used as
an anthelmintic. Fresh flowers are used in high fever and
gonorrhea.
• 10. Leaves & Flowers The leaves and flowers possess
expectorant and antiasthmatic properties ,India .
• 11. Leaves & Bark Juice made from the bark and leaves
are used for vomiting and as an antihelmintic. Bangladesh

• 12. Fruit The fruits are used for cold, antispasmodic and
bronchitis ,Pakistan .
 WHOLE PLANT
• Cough syrup used in combination
with Ginger, Tulsi. ( Act as
expectorant and antispasmodic ,
Atal -1980 )
• Also for treatment of -
• Excessive phelgm and
menorrhagia in Sri Lanka (
Kirtikar and Basu ,1975 )
• Bleeding piles ( Ahmad et al.
2009 )
• Impotence and sexual disorders
(Pushpangadan et al , 1995 )
Destination & source : Pauri road
srinagar ( uttrakhand )
 LEAVES
• The various preparation of leaves
are used for curing
bleeding,hemorrahge,skindiseases,
wounds headache and leprosy in
southeast Asia (Adnan et al
2010)
• Bruished leaves are used for snake-
bites in India and Sri Lanka (Roberts
, 1931 )
• Yellow leaves are exploited for
cough (Lal and Yadav , 1983)
• The plant leaves are used for
checking postpartum haemorrhage Destination & source : Pauri road
and urinary trouble (Pushpangadan srinagar ( uttrakhand )
et al ., 1995 )
 ROOT
• The extract of its roots is
commonly used by rural
population against diabetes ,
cough , and certain liver disorders.
(Bhat et al., 1978)
• The paste , powder and decoction
of root is used for curing
tuberclosis,diptheria, malarial
fewer, leucorrhoea and eye
disease in southeast Asia (Dymock
et al., 1890)
 FLOWER
• The fresh flowers are used for
opthalmia and various
preparation of flowers are
used for treatment of cold
asthma bronchitis cough
antispasmodic fewer and
gonorrhoea in south east Asia
( Dymock et al., 1890)
• The flowers are also used as
antiseptic to improve blood
circulation and hectic heet of
blood (Kirtikar and Basu , Destination & source : Pauri road
1975) srinagar ( uttrakhand )
 FRUIT
• The fruit is used to cure cold spasm
bronchitis jaundice diarrhoea dysentery fever
and as laxative.
 PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
• Extracts of Adhatoda vasica are widely used
in pharmaceuticals and traditional systems of
medicines for a number of ailments. (Claeson
et al., 2000)
 ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY
• The leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica exhibits
morderate antibacterial activity
(Sarkar et al., 2009)
• against strains of Bacillus subtilis (11mm) ,
vibrio cholera (15mm) in petroleum ether
extract and ethenol extract as well.
 ANTI-ASTHEMATIC AND
BRONCHODILATOR ACTIVITY
• It has been used in traditional medicine to
treat respiratory disease.
• Both vasicinone and vasicine the primary
alkaloid constituents of Adhatoda are well
established as therapeutically respiratory
agents . ( Dorsch and Wagner , 1991 )
 ANTI-ULCER ACTIVITY
• The leaves of Adhatoda vasica shows anti-
ulcer activity. ( against ethanol-induced by
ehtanol ulceration model )
• Adhatoda vasica has immense potential as
an anti-ulcer agent. Further research shows
that a syrup of Adhatoda improved
symptoms of dyspepsia ( chaturvedi et al.,
1983 )
 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY
• Vasicine , the chief alkaloid showed anti-
inflammatory effect. ( sermivasarao et al.,
2006)
 ABORTIFACIENT ACTIVITY
• Vasicine was found to have uterogenic activity in
different species including human beings.
• It was shown that the effect was influenced by
the priming degree of the uterus by estrogens.
• Vasicine initiated rhythmic contractions of
myometrial strips from both non-pregnant and
pregnant uteri with the effect which was
comparable to oxytocin and mathergin
( Atal,1980 )
 CARDIOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY
• In combination of vasicine and vasicinone
significant reduction in cardial depressant
effects was observed.
• No effect was observed by vasicinone
(D-form ) , however L form was found to be
weekly effective stimulating cardiac muscles.
 RADIOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY
• The ethanol extract of Adhatoda leaf when
orally at a dose of 800 mg kg_1 body weight per
mouse for 15 consecutive days , then exposed to
radiation , death of Adhatoda pretreated
irradiated mice was reduced to 70% in 30 days.
• This pretreatment significantly prevented
radiation induced chromosomal damage in bone
marrow cells, which suggest it has
radioprotective effects on testis.
 INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY
• Adhatoda vasica has been used for centuries in
India as an insecticide.
• Its leaves has been shown to control insect pests
in oil seeds, in both laboratory and warehouse
conditions .
• Research has shown that its main alkaloid ,
vasicinol , to have an antifertility effect against
several insect species by causing blockage of the
oviduct.
• It has also proven that its effectiveness as an
insect repellent ( Saxena et al ., 1986 )
 ANTI-TUBERCULAR ACTIVITY
• This effect of A. vasica was studied by Berry.
• Bromohexine and ambroxol- two widely used
mucolytics , semi-synthetic derivatives of
vasicine from Adhatoda have growth inhibitory
effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosi.
( Grange et al., 1996 )
• Indirect effects on tuberclosis includes increased
lysozyme and rifampicin levels in bronchial
secretions , lung tissue and sputum, suggesting
it plays an significant role in treatment of
tuberclosis. ( Narimaian et al., 2005 )
 ANTICHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY
• Vasicinone obtained from the roots,
produced transient hypotension in cats,
contraction of isolated intestine and
depression of isolated heart in guinea pigs,
thus showing good anticholinesterase activity
.
( Lahiri and Prahdan, 1964 )
 SUCRASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY
• The methanolic extract from the leaves
showed excellent sucrase inhibitory with
sucrose as a substrate ( Hong et al., 2008)
• The alkaloids , vasicine and vasicinol
inhibited sucrase activity, though did not
show inhibitory effects on intestinal maltase,
isomaltase . Thus it can be explored as a
natural antidiabetic agent.
 REFERANCE
• Title of review : Therapeutic uses of
Adhatoda vasica.
• Name of journal : Asian journal of medical
and biological research.
• Author name : Tofazzal Hossain
• Date : May 2016
• Adhatoda vasica : phytochemical and
pharmacological profile The natural product
journal, 2011 , Manipur univ. India.
THANKS