Botanical Name : Adhatoda vasica, Justicia adhatoda
Common Name : Adulsa
Plant Parts Used : Leaves, Roots, Flowers and Stem Bark
Description :
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. |
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Characteristics and Constituents :
The leaves of the plant contain an essential oil and alkaloids vasicine, N-oxides of vasicine, vasicinone, deoxyvasicine and maiontone. The roots are known to contain vasicinolone, vasicol, peganine and 2 - hydroxy - 4 - glucosyl - oxychalcone. The flowers contain ß-sitosterol-D-glucoside, kaempferol, its glycosides and quercetin. The growth in vitro of all the strains of M. tuberculosis was inhibited by the essential oil (2-20 µg/ml). Ultrastructurally the bacilli appeared abnormal and swollen. The active alkaloid-vasicine and its autooxidation product-vasicinone-have shown broncho- dilator and antihistaminic effects. The activity is comparable with theophylline. Uterine stimulant activity and moderate hypotensive activity of the alkaloids were reported. Thrombopoeitic activity of vasicine has been observed.
The leaf extract has been used for treatment of bronchitis and asthma for many centuries. It relieves cough and breathlessness. It is also prescribed commonly in ayurveda for bleeding due to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, local bleeding due to peptic ulcer, piles, menorrhagia etc. Large doses of fresh juice of leaves have been used in tuberculosis. Its local use gives relief in pyorrhoea and in bleeding gums.
Actions and Uses :
In ayurveda the human use of the leaf extract, is considered safe. The oil is shown to have low toxicity in mice and guinea pigs. The alcoholic extract has insecticidal and pesticidal activity. Teratogenic studies were safe. However, the uterotonic and aborti- facient activity prevents its use during pregnancy, particularly in high doses of extracts. |
