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Adhatoda vasica Nees.
{{#seo:
|title=Charak Samhita
|titlemode=append
|keywords= *vasa, Adhatoda vasica Nees., Malabar nut* Therapeutic use, herbs, researches on dravya, Charak Samhita, Dravyaguna, carakasamhitaonline, carakasamhita, caraka samhita, Ayurveda, Charak Samhita English translation, ancient Ayurveda text, Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, Charak, Charaka Samhita, agnivesha, atreya, gopal basisht, yogesh deole, charak samhita wikipedia edition, charak samhita new edition, charaka samhita new edition, carak samhita new edition, caraka samhita new edition, research on charak samhita, text book charak samhita, fundamental principles of ayurveda, basic concepts of ayurveda,
|description=
|image=http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/resources/assets/ogimgs.jpg
|image_alt=charak samhita
|type=article
}}
 
{{Infobox
{{Infobox
|title = Vasa
|title = Vasa
Line 8: Line 17:
|label3 = Family
|label3 = Family
|data3 = Acanthaceae
|data3 = Acanthaceae
|Label4 = Availability
|label4 = Availability
|data4 = Available
|data4 = Available
|label5 = Contributors
|label5 = Contributors
|data5 = --
|data5 = [[Team Dravyaguna]]
|label6 = Year of publication  
|label6 = Year of publication  
|data6 = 2024
|data6 = 2026
|label7 = Publisher  
|label7 = Publisher  
|data7 = [[Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre]]
|data7 = [[Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre]]
|label8 = DOI  
|label8 = DOI  
|data8 = Awaited
|data8 = Awaited
}}
}}


==English name<ref>Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:76.</ref>==
Malabar nut


==Therapeutic Uses<ref>Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:76.</ref>==
'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhatoda_vasica Adhatoda vasica Nees. ]''', popularly known as '''Vasa''', is a well-known evergreen, sub-herbaceous bush native to India and Southeast Asia. It is widely revered in [[Ayurveda]] as the foremost expectorant and bronchodilatory drug of choice for managing respiratory ailments, cough, asthma, and bleeding disorders. Modern studies have focused mainly on its quinazoline alkaloids and on its antitussive, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory and antitubercular effects, which are summarised below.
Bronchial asthma (svasa), Jaundice (kamala), Cough (kasa), Tuberculosis (kshaya), Skin diseases (kustha), Diabetes mellitus (prameha), Intrinsic haemorrhage (raktapitta)
 
== English name ==
Malabar nut<ref name="API1986">The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:76.</ref>


== Therapeutic Uses ==
Bronchial asthma (svasa), Jaundice (kamala), Cough (kasa), Tuberculosis (kshaya), Skin diseases (kustha), Diabetes mellitus (prameha), Intrinsic haemorrhage (raktapitta).<ref name="API1986"/>


==Other Varieties/ Other botanical names==
== Other Varieties / Other Botanical names ==
Adeloda serrata Raf.
* Adeloda serrata Raf.
Adhatoda pubescens Moench
* Adhatoda pubescens Moench
Adhatoda vasica Nees
* Adhatoda vasica Nees
Adhatoda zeylanica Medik.
* Adhatoda zeylanica Medik.
Dianthera latifolia Salisb.
* Dianthera latifolia Salisb.
Ecbolium adhatoda (L.) Kuntze
* Ecbolium adhatoda (L.) Kuntze
Gendarussa adhadota (L.) Steud.
* Gendarussa adhadota (L.) Steud.
==Bhavaprakasha Nighantu<ref>3. Prof. K.C.Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint.2015, Chaukhambha vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p.306.</ref>== – 2
1. Raktapushpa – Graptophyllum pictum Griff.
2. Krushna – Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.


==Synonyms in Charak Samhita==
== Botanical Profile & Traditional Context ==
Vrushaka, Vrushamula, Simhika, Atarushaka, Tamra, Aturasa, Simhasya(flowers are resemble like mouth of a lion), Simhika, Bhishakmata, Tamra, Vrusha.  
In traditional medicine, Vasa is classified as a vital drug for pacifying Pitta and Kapha doshas. Its bitter taste and cold potency make it exceptional for clearing respiratory obstructions, stopping internal bleeding, and alleviating inflammatory swellings.


==Synonyms in Bhavprakasa nighantu<ref>Prof. K.C.Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint.2015, Chaukhambha vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p.308 - 309.</ref>==
== Bhavaprakasha Nighantu ==
Vaasaka, Vaasika, Vajidanta (flowers of vasa are white in colour as like that of teeth of horse), Simhaparna
Mentioned 2 types<ref name="Chunekar2015">Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 306.</ref>
# Raktapushpa – Graptophyllum pictum Griff.
# Krushna – Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.


== Synonyms in Charak Samhita ==
Vrushaka, Vrushamula, Simhika, Atarushaka, Tamra, Aturasa, Simhasya (flowers resemble the mouth of a lion), Bhishakmata, Vrusha.
== Additional Synonyms in Bhavprakasha Nighantu ==
Vaasaka, Vaasika, Vajidanta (flowers of vasa are white as teeth of a horse), Simhaparna.<ref name="ChunekarNighantu">Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 308-309.</ref>
== Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
== Ayurvedic pharmacological properties ==
|+ Properties
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Properties
! Sr.no. !! Pharmacological criteria !! Properties
|'''Sr.no.'''
|'''Pharmacological criteria'''
|'''Properties'''
|-
|-
|1
| 1 || Taste (rasa) || Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya)
|Taste (rasa)
|Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya)
|-
|-
|2
| 2 || Potency (veerya) || Cold (sheeta)
|Potency (veerya)
|Cold (sheeta)
|-
|-
|3
| 3 || Post digestion effect (vipaka) || Pungent (katu)
|Post digestion effect (vipaka)
|Pungent (katu)
|-
|-
|4
| 4 || Qualities (guna) || Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha)
|Qualities (guna)
|Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha)
|-
|-
|5
| 5 || Actions (karma) || Pacify Kapha and Pitta
|Actions (karma)
|Pacify Kapha and Pitta
|}
|}


==Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions ==
== Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Herbs and their activities'''
|+ Herbs and their activities
|'''Sr.no.'''
|'''Reference in Charak Samhita'''
|'''Activity'''
|-
|-
|1
! Sr.no. !! Reference in Charak Samhita !! Activity
|Sutra  sthana 3/3
|Siddhatama  churna pradeha
|-
|-
|2
| 1 || Cha.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 3/3 || Siddhatama churna pradeha (external application)
|Sutra Sthana 14/31
|Dravya for  Nadi Sweda
|-
|-
|3
| 2 || Cha.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 14/31 || Dravya for Nadi Sweda (fomentation)
|Ch  Su 27/96
|Shaka Varga
|-
|-
|4
| 3 || Cha.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 27/96 || Shaka Varga (group of vegetables)
|Vimana  Sthana 8/143
|Tiktaskandha
|-
|-
|5
| 4 || Cha.Sa. [[Vimana Sthana]] 8/143 || Tiktaskandha (group of bitter drugs)
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa sthana 1/1/64
|In formulation  of chyavanaprasha
|-
|-
|6
| 5 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 1/1/64 || In formulation of Chyavanaprasha
|Cha.sa.Chi.3/222
|As an ingredient of Vasadi Ghrita.
|-
|-
|7
| 6 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 3/222 || As an ingredient of Vasadi Ghrita
|Cha.sa.Chi.3/247
|Used in niruha basti.
|-
|-
|8
| 7 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 3/247 || Used in niruha basti (enema)
|Cha.sa.Chi.3/258
|As an ingredient of Chandanadhya taila.
|-
|-
|9
| 8 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 3/258 || As an ingredient of Chandanadhya taila
|Cha.Sa.Chi.4/65
|As an ingredient of Atarushakadi kwatha.
|-
|-
|10
| 9 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 4/65 || As an ingredient of Atarushakadi kwatha
|Cha.Sa.Chi.4/88
|As an ingredient of Vasaghrita.
|-
|-
|11
| 10 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 4/88 || As an ingredient of Vasaghrita
|Cha.Sa.Chi5/126
|Ingredient in Vasa Ghrit  for Pittaj Gulma
|-
|-
|12
| 11 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 5/126 || Ingredient in Vasa Ghrita for Pittaj Gulma
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 8/105
|Ghrit preparation in treatment of Daha
|-
|-
|13
| 12 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 8/105 || Ghrita preparation in treatment of Daha (burning sensation)
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 12/67
|As a Snan dravya for Bahyaprayogarth
|-
|-
|14
| 13 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 12/67 || As a Snana dravya for bahyaprayogartha
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 12/72
|As an Unmardan dravya in Kaphaj Shvayathu
|-
|-
|15
| 14 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 12/72 || As an Unmardan dravya in Kaphaj Shvayathu
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/44
|Used in  avasechana in arsha roga
|-
|-
|16
| 15 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/44 || Used in avasechana in arsha roga (hemorrhoids)
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/153
|As an  ingredient of dvitiya phalarista
|-
|-
|17
| 16 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/153 || As an ingredient of dvitiya phalarista
|Cha. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/214
|Used for  parisechana in rakta arsha
|-
|-
|18
| 17 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/214 || Used for parisechana in rakta arsha
|Cha. Sa. Ch. 15/125
|As an  ingredient of candanadhya ghrit
|-
|-
|19
| 18 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/125 || As an ingredient of candanadhya ghrita
|Cha.Sa. Chi.23/243
|As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita.
|-
|-
|20
| 19 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 23/243 || As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita
|Cha.sa.Chi.26/52 
|Used in Sarva  mutrakruchhra.
|-
|-
|21
| 20 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/52 || Used in Sarva mutrakruchhra
|Cha.sa.Chi.26/60
|As an ingredient of  Pashanbhedadi  churna.
|-
|-
|22
| 21 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/60 || As an ingredient of Pashanbhedadi churna
|Cha.sa.Chi.26/69
|As an ingredient of Karpasmooladi yoga.
|-
|-
|23
| 22 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/69 || As an ingredient of Karpasmooladi yoga
|Cha.sa.Chi.26/239
|Used in Kaphaja netra roga  for Aaschotana karma.
|-
|-
|24
| 23 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/239 || Used in Kaphaja netra roga for Aaschotana karma
|Cha.Sa.Chi.28/170
|As an ingredient of Vrushamuladi taila.
|-
|-
|25
| 24 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 28/170 || As an ingredient of Vrushamuladi taila
|Cha.Sa.chi.29/152
|-
|As an ingredient of Triphaladi kalka in tridoshaja shola.
| 25 || Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 29/152 || As an ingredient of Triphaladi kalka in tridoshaja shola
|}
|}


== Dose ==
* Swarasa (Juice): 10–20 ml
* Kwatha (Decoction): 10–20 ml<ref name="API1986"/>


== Important Formulations ==
As per A.P.I.<ref name="API1986"/>
* Vasakavaleha


==Current availability ==
== Current Availability ==
Available
Available
==Current researches ==
* In India: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam.
* Out of India: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania.
 
== Phytoconstituents ==
=== Quinazoline alkaloids ===
Vasicine is the main alkaloid of the plant. A second alkaloid, vasicinone (C<sub>11</sub>H<sub>10</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), was isolated in crystalline form from the leaves and found to be a much weaker base than vasicine. It is identical to the quinazolone obtained by oxidising vasicine with hydrogen peroxide, and it was reported as a bronchodilator alkaloid.<ref name="Amin1959">Amin AH, Mehta DR. A bronchodilator alkaloid (vasicinone) from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Nature. 1959;184(Suppl 17):1317. doi:10.1038/1841317a0</ref>
 
=== Volatile oil (leaves) ===
Hydrodistillation of the leaves gave 0.096% (v/w) essential oil. GC-MS identified eleven compounds, of which borneol (58.60%) was the most abundant.<ref name="Sarker2011">Sarker AK, Chowdhury JU, Bhuiyan HR. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil collected from Adhatoda vasica leaves. Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2011;46(2):191–194. doi:10.3329/bjsir.v46i2.8185</ref>
 
== Therapeutic Efficacy: Pharmacological Evidence ==
The evidence summarised below is from animal and in vitro studies. No controlled human clinical trial of Vasa alone was verified during the preparation of this monograph.
 
=== Bronchodilatory and anti-asthmatic activity (Svasa) ===
In a screening of traditional antiasthmatic plants, alkaloids from ''Adhatoda vasica'' that had not been described before gave pronounced protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs (10 mg/ml, by aerosol).<ref name="Dorsch1991">Dorsch W, Wagner H. New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional medicine? International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology. 1991;94(1–4):262–265. doi:10.1159/000235378. PMID: 1937886</ref>
 
=== Antitussive activity (Kasa) ===
The antitussive effect of an ''Adhatoda vasica'' extract was studied against coughing induced by mechanical or chemical stimulation in animals, which supports the traditional use of Vasa in cough.<ref name="Dhuley1999">Dhuley JN. Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1999;67(3):361–365. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00074-4. PMID: 10617073</ref>
 
=== Anti-inflammatory activity ===
Five alkaloids from the chloroform fraction (vasicine, vasicinone, vasicine acetate, 2-acetyl benzylamine and vasicinolone) showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Vasicine inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema by 59.51% at 20 mg/kg, and vasicinone inhibited CFA-induced paw oedema by 63.94% at 10 mg/kg.<ref name="Singh2013">Singh B, Sharma RA. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Phytomedicine. 2013;20(5):441–445.</ref>
 
=== Antitubercular activity (Kshaya) ===
Vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine, isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves, significantly inhibited ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'', including a multi-drug-resistant strain, in vitro. The authors suggested they could be evaluated further as antitubercular drug leads.<ref name="Ignacimuthu2010">Ignacimuthu S, Shanmugam N. Antimycobacterial activity of two natural alkaloids, vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine, isolated from Indian shrub Adhatoda vasica Ness. leaves. Journal of Biosciences. 2010;35(4):565–570. doi:10.1007/s12038-010-0065-8</ref>
 
=== Other traditional uses ===
Experimental evidence for the traditional uses in internal bleeding (raktapitta), jaundice (kamala) and diabetes (prameha) was not verified during the preparation of this monograph, so no efficacy claim is made for them.
 
== Safety, Toxicity, and Precautions ==
* '''Uterine effects:''' Several scientific reports in the last decades have described oxytocic (uterine-stimulating) and abortifacient effects of vasicine and of alkaloids derived from the plant. A critical review concluded that these reports raise questions about the safety of ''Adhatoda vasica'' as a herbal medicine, so it should be avoided in pregnancy and used only under qualified supervision.<ref name="Claeson2000">Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G, Bruhn JG. Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000;72(1–2):1–20. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00225-7. PMID: 10967448</ref>
 
== Summary of Therapeutic Profile ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|+ Therapeutic Applications of ''Adhatoda vasica'' (preclinical evidence)
! Indication !! Experimental finding !! Type of evidence
|-
| '''Bronchial asthma (Svasa)''' || Protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction by alkaloids; vasicinone reported as bronchodilator || Guinea pig model
|-
| '''Cough (Kasa)''' || Antitussive effect against mechanically and chemically induced cough || Animal models
|-
| '''Inflammatory swelling''' || Vasicine and vasicinone reduced paw oedema || Rat models
|-
| '''Tuberculosis (Kshaya)''' || Vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine inhibited ''M. tuberculosis'' || In vitro
|}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="API1986">The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:76.</ref>
<ref name="Chunekar2015">Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 306.</ref>
<ref name="ChunekarNighantu">Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 308-309.</ref>
<ref name="Amin1959">Amin AH, Mehta DR. A bronchodilator alkaloid (vasicinone) from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Nature. 1959;184(Suppl 17):1317. doi:10.1038/1841317a0</ref>
<ref name="Sarker2011">Sarker AK, Chowdhury JU, Bhuiyan HR. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil collected from Adhatoda vasica leaves. Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2011;46(2):191–194. doi:10.3329/bjsir.v46i2.8185</ref>
<ref name="Dorsch1991">Dorsch W, Wagner H. New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional medicine? International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology. 1991;94(1–4):262–265. doi:10.1159/000235378. PMID: 1937886</ref>
<ref name="Dhuley1999">Dhuley JN. Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1999;67(3):361–365. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00074-4. PMID: 10617073</ref>
<ref name="Singh2013">Singh B, Sharma RA. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Phytomedicine. 2013;20(5):441–445.</ref>
<ref name="Ignacimuthu2010">Ignacimuthu S, Shanmugam N. Antimycobacterial activity of two natural alkaloids, vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine, isolated from Indian shrub Adhatoda vasica Ness. leaves. Journal of Biosciences. 2010;35(4):565–570. doi:10.1007/s12038-010-0065-8</ref>
<ref name="Claeson2000">Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G, Bruhn JG. Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000;72(1–2):1–20. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00225-7. PMID: 10967448</ref>
}}
 
[[Category: Database of herbs and minerals | Herbs]]
[[Category: Database of herbs and minerals | Herbs]]
  This article is under development ..

Latest revision as of 09:31, 18 October 2026


Vasa
Section/Chapter Herb database/Vasa
Botanical name(s) Adhatoda vasica Nees.
Family Acanthaceae
Availability Available
Contributors Team Dravyaguna
Year of publication 2026
Publisher Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre
DOI Awaited


Adhatoda vasica Nees. , popularly known as Vasa, is a well-known evergreen, sub-herbaceous bush native to India and Southeast Asia. It is widely revered in Ayurveda as the foremost expectorant and bronchodilatory drug of choice for managing respiratory ailments, cough, asthma, and bleeding disorders. Modern studies have focused mainly on its quinazoline alkaloids and on its antitussive, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory and antitubercular effects, which are summarised below.

English name

Malabar nut[1]

Therapeutic Uses

Bronchial asthma (svasa), Jaundice (kamala), Cough (kasa), Tuberculosis (kshaya), Skin diseases (kustha), Diabetes mellitus (prameha), Intrinsic haemorrhage (raktapitta).[1]

Other Varieties / Other Botanical names

  • Adeloda serrata Raf.
  • Adhatoda pubescens Moench
  • Adhatoda vasica Nees
  • Adhatoda zeylanica Medik.
  • Dianthera latifolia Salisb.
  • Ecbolium adhatoda (L.) Kuntze
  • Gendarussa adhadota (L.) Steud.

Botanical Profile & Traditional Context

In traditional medicine, Vasa is classified as a vital drug for pacifying Pitta and Kapha doshas. Its bitter taste and cold potency make it exceptional for clearing respiratory obstructions, stopping internal bleeding, and alleviating inflammatory swellings.

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

Mentioned 2 types[2]

  1. Raktapushpa – Graptophyllum pictum Griff.
  2. Krushna – Justicia gendarussa Burm. f.

Synonyms in Charak Samhita

Vrushaka, Vrushamula, Simhika, Atarushaka, Tamra, Aturasa, Simhasya (flowers resemble the mouth of a lion), Bhishakmata, Vrusha.

Additional Synonyms in Bhavprakasha Nighantu

Vaasaka, Vaasika, Vajidanta (flowers of vasa are white as teeth of a horse), Simhaparna.[3]

Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties

Properties
Sr.no. Pharmacological criteria Properties
1 Taste (rasa) Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya)
2 Potency (veerya) Cold (sheeta)
3 Post digestion effect (vipaka) Pungent (katu)
4 Qualities (guna) Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha)
5 Actions (karma) Pacify Kapha and Pitta

Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions

Herbs and their activities
Sr.no. Reference in Charak Samhita Activity
1 Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 3/3 Siddhatama churna pradeha (external application)
2 Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/31 Dravya for Nadi Sweda (fomentation)
3 Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 27/96 Shaka Varga (group of vegetables)
4 Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 8/143 Tiktaskandha (group of bitter drugs)
5 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 1/1/64 In formulation of Chyavanaprasha
6 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/222 As an ingredient of Vasadi Ghrita
7 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/247 Used in niruha basti (enema)
8 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 3/258 As an ingredient of Chandanadhya taila
9 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 4/65 As an ingredient of Atarushakadi kwatha
10 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 4/88 As an ingredient of Vasaghrita
11 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 5/126 Ingredient in Vasa Ghrita for Pittaj Gulma
12 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 8/105 Ghrita preparation in treatment of Daha (burning sensation)
13 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 12/67 As a Snana dravya for bahyaprayogartha
14 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 12/72 As an Unmardan dravya in Kaphaj Shvayathu
15 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/44 Used in avasechana in arsha roga (hemorrhoids)
16 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/153 As an ingredient of dvitiya phalarista
17 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 14/214 Used for parisechana in rakta arsha
18 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 15/125 As an ingredient of candanadhya ghrita
19 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/243 As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita
20 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/52 Used in Sarva mutrakruchhra
21 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/60 As an ingredient of Pashanbhedadi churna
22 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/69 As an ingredient of Karpasmooladi yoga
23 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 26/239 Used in Kaphaja netra roga for Aaschotana karma
24 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/170 As an ingredient of Vrushamuladi taila
25 Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 29/152 As an ingredient of Triphaladi kalka in tridoshaja shola

Dose

  • Swarasa (Juice): 10–20 ml
  • Kwatha (Decoction): 10–20 ml[1]

Important Formulations

As per A.P.I.[1]

  • Vasakavaleha

Current Availability

Available

  • In India: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam.
  • Out of India: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania.

Phytoconstituents

Quinazoline alkaloids

Vasicine is the main alkaloid of the plant. A second alkaloid, vasicinone (C11H10N2O2), was isolated in crystalline form from the leaves and found to be a much weaker base than vasicine. It is identical to the quinazolone obtained by oxidising vasicine with hydrogen peroxide, and it was reported as a bronchodilator alkaloid.[4]

Volatile oil (leaves)

Hydrodistillation of the leaves gave 0.096% (v/w) essential oil. GC-MS identified eleven compounds, of which borneol (58.60%) was the most abundant.[5]

Therapeutic Efficacy: Pharmacological Evidence

The evidence summarised below is from animal and in vitro studies. No controlled human clinical trial of Vasa alone was verified during the preparation of this monograph.

Bronchodilatory and anti-asthmatic activity (Svasa)

In a screening of traditional antiasthmatic plants, alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica that had not been described before gave pronounced protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs (10 mg/ml, by aerosol).[6]

Antitussive activity (Kasa)

The antitussive effect of an Adhatoda vasica extract was studied against coughing induced by mechanical or chemical stimulation in animals, which supports the traditional use of Vasa in cough.[7]

Anti-inflammatory activity

Five alkaloids from the chloroform fraction (vasicine, vasicinone, vasicine acetate, 2-acetyl benzylamine and vasicinolone) showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Vasicine inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema by 59.51% at 20 mg/kg, and vasicinone inhibited CFA-induced paw oedema by 63.94% at 10 mg/kg.[8]

Antitubercular activity (Kshaya)

Vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine, isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves, significantly inhibited Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including a multi-drug-resistant strain, in vitro. The authors suggested they could be evaluated further as antitubercular drug leads.[9]

Other traditional uses

Experimental evidence for the traditional uses in internal bleeding (raktapitta), jaundice (kamala) and diabetes (prameha) was not verified during the preparation of this monograph, so no efficacy claim is made for them.

Safety, Toxicity, and Precautions

  • Uterine effects: Several scientific reports in the last decades have described oxytocic (uterine-stimulating) and abortifacient effects of vasicine and of alkaloids derived from the plant. A critical review concluded that these reports raise questions about the safety of Adhatoda vasica as a herbal medicine, so it should be avoided in pregnancy and used only under qualified supervision.[10]

Summary of Therapeutic Profile

Therapeutic Applications of Adhatoda vasica (preclinical evidence)
Indication Experimental finding Type of evidence
Bronchial asthma (Svasa) Protection against allergen-induced bronchial obstruction by alkaloids; vasicinone reported as bronchodilator Guinea pig model
Cough (Kasa) Antitussive effect against mechanically and chemically induced cough Animal models
Inflammatory swelling Vasicine and vasicinone reduced paw oedema Rat models
Tuberculosis (Kshaya) Vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine inhibited M. tuberculosis In vitro

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:76.
  2. ↑ Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 306.
  3. ↑ Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Reprint 2015, Chaukhambha Vishvabharti, Guduchyadi Varga, verse no. 88-89, p. 308-309.
  4. ↑ Amin AH, Mehta DR. A bronchodilator alkaloid (vasicinone) from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Nature. 1959;184(Suppl 17):1317. doi:10.1038/1841317a0
  5. ↑ Sarker AK, Chowdhury JU, Bhuiyan HR. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil collected from Adhatoda vasica leaves. Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2011;46(2):191–194. doi:10.3329/bjsir.v46i2.8185
  6. ↑ Dorsch W, Wagner H. New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional medicine? International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology. 1991;94(1–4):262–265. doi:10.1159/000235378. PMID: 1937886
  7. ↑ Dhuley JN. Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1999;67(3):361–365. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00074-4. PMID: 10617073
  8. ↑ Singh B, Sharma RA. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Phytomedicine. 2013;20(5):441–445.
  9. ↑ Ignacimuthu S, Shanmugam N. Antimycobacterial activity of two natural alkaloids, vasicine acetate and 2-acetyl benzylamine, isolated from Indian shrub Adhatoda vasica Ness. leaves. Journal of Biosciences. 2010;35(4):565–570. doi:10.1007/s12038-010-0065-8
  10. ↑ Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G, Bruhn JG. Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000;72(1–2):1–20. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00225-7. PMID: 10967448
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