Plant Description:Vasaka is a tall, branched, dense evergreen shrub of about 2.2-3.5
meters height. It has large leaves. Its flowers are white in color with some purple. Its
fruits are capsular with four seeds.
Local Name:Bashok, Harbakash
English Name:Malabar nut
ScientificName:Justicia adhatoda
Scientific Classification:
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision:Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Justicia
Species: Justicia adhatoda
Local area:
Bangladesh
Sri-lanka
Nepal
India
Pakistan
Indonesia
Malaysia
China
panama
Plant Type: Sub-herbaceous bush
Plant Duration: perennial shrub
Plant usable Parts:
Fresh,
dried mature leaves,
roots,
flowers,
bark
Chemical Constituents:
The leaves of Adhatoda vasica
tannins, siphoning, phenolic and
The most important constituent is
It also contains Adhatodine, Adhatonine, Adhavasinone, Anisotine, Vasakine,
Vasicinol, Vasicinolone, Vasicinone, Vasicol, Beta sitosterol, Betaine etc
.
.
contains phytochemicals such as alkaloids,
flavonoids.
vasicine ,a quinazoline alkaloid
Vasicine
.
.Medicinal Uses:
Abortifacient: induces abortion.
Anthelmintic: expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites
from the body.
Anti-asthmatic: Against asthma.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces swelling. It possess strong antiinflammatory
activity.
Antioxidant: Neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals and other substances.
Antiseptic: Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of
infectious agents.
Antitussive: prevent or relieve a cough. Animal studies show that Adhatoda
extract exerts considerable antitussive activity comparable to codeine due to the
presence of vasicinone and vasicinol.
Antiulcer: tending to prevent or heal ulcers.
Bronchodilator: causes widening of the bronchi. Vasicine and vasicinone
possess in vitro and in vivo bronchodilatory activity and inhibit allergeninduced bronchial obstruction.
Expectorant: promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to
treat coughs.
Hepatoprotective: Protects liver.
Oxytocic: Hastening or facilitating childbirth, especially by stimulating
contractions of the uterus.
Rubefacient: produces redness of the skin on topical application by causing
dilation of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation.
Wound healing: Vasak increases rate of healing.Contraindication:
Its medicinal formulations should be taken only after consultation of physician.
Larger doses can cause irritation and vomiting.
It is not recommended during pregnancy except in assisting delivery.
Expecting mother shouldn’t take vasaka as it heavily impacts the uterus.
Care should be exercised when taking this herb with other drugs or supplements
that exhibit expectorant or antispasmodic effects.
It lowers the blood sugar level, therefore diabetic patients should care of it.
Children shouldn’t use it.
