Adathoda Vasica

 

 

 

 

 

English:                   Malabar nut                                                                

Botanical:                Adhatoda vasica                                                         

                                                                                                              

Common names:      Justicia adhatoda, Adulsa Arusa, Adathodai, Bakash, Adathoda, Adalodakam, Adusoge, Addasaramu                                                                                          

Family name:          Acanthaceae

It is also called Simha mukhi since the flowers of this plant are in the shape of lion head.

Vaidya mata: This plant is like mother to doctors. Kaphahari: Which balances Kapha in the body.

 

Description Of plant:      Dense shurb
Leaves : elliptic or elliptic lanceolate, accuminate
Flowers: In dense spikes, white, calyx deeply 5 lobed
Fruit : Four seeded capsule
Seeds: glabrous

Adhatoda is a medicinal plant of common occurrence in Kerala. Botanically, the plant is a profusely branching shrub growing up to a height of 1.5 metres. Two major species are important medicinally viz., Adhatoda vasica (Valiya adalodakam) and Adhatoda beddomei (Chittadalodakam or cheriya adalodakam). Chittadalodakam is the medicinally important species mostly seen in Kerala.  

Chemical constituents:   Vasicine, b-sitosterol, kaempferol, vasakin

Constituents  : A Volatile essentiol oil, fat resin, a bitter non volatile, alkaloid called 
 vasicine, an organicacid "ADOTHODIC ACID" The antiseptic properties of the leaves is due to the volatic princeple.
  Action    : Expectorant, diuretic, anti-spasmodic and alterative.

Parts used are : Leaves - primary source of medicine and are leaves are rich source of vitamin C. The leaves of the plant contain two major alkaloids called vasicine, and vasicinone 1,2.

¨      Roots

¨      Flowers

¨      Stem Bark

¨      fruits

3. Properties and Action According to Indigenous Medical Systems:

• Rasa: Bitter
• Vipaka: Spicy
• Veerya: Seetaveerya

Though the crop grows in a variety of climatic and soil conditions, alluvial soils are best suited for raising the crop. The plant is tolerant to shade but is susceptible to water logging. It can be cultivated either as a pure crop or as an intercrop in coconut and rubber plantations in the initial 3-4 years.

Adhatoda is propagated by tender stem cuttings. Stem cuttings of 15-20 cm long and 3-4 nodes are ideal for planting. It is better to root the cuttings in nursery before transplanting in the main field. Nursery preparation can be done in March-April. For this, the tender stem cuttings are planted in poly bags filled with farm yard manure, top soil and sand in the ratio 1:1:1. Cuttings will root readily and will be ready to transplant to main field after two months.

Rooted cuttings of adhatoda can be planted on mounds or on ridges. Plough and level the main field thoroughly and ridges or mounds are prepared 60 cm away from each other. With the commencement of rainfall, rooted cuttings are planted on the ridges with a plant to plant spacing of 30 cm. If grown on mounds, up to 5 cuttings may be planted on a single mound. In sloppy areas cuttings are planted directly by making pits with a sharp pole. Adequate care should be taken to prevent water logging as it may promote rotting.

4. Uses:

• The extraction of leaf is a good medicine for Asthma and cough.
• It is a good medicine to stop internal and external bleedings like bleeding gums, piles and peptic ulcers.
• It is a good ingredient in decoctions for all types of fever due to kapha and pitta doshas.
• It is expectorant, antispasmodic and good blood purifier.
• It speeds up the child birth.
• It has sedative properties
• There are different alkaloids present in adathoda and is used in the treatment of bronchitis,  rheumatism, etc. It is part of many Ayurvedic medicines.
• It is a special remedy for Pthisis or consumption
• An infusion of fresh pavatta leaves, two or three tablespoons mixed with one teaspoon of ginger juice and bee’s honey is known to be effective for the treatment of  coughs accompanied by a heavy chest.
• Its roots are known to be used as coffee powder for chronic bronchitis
• A poultice or the leaves is applied over fresh wounds, rheumatic joints and inflammatory swellings.
• A warm decoction of the leaves is reported to have used for scabies and other skin diseases, neuralgic pains and bleeding from the nose.
• Alkaloid fraction isolated from Adathoda vasica shows anti inflammatory activity.
•  Vasicinone, an alkaloid present in the leaves and roots of Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae) possesses     potent antiallergic activity in mice, rats and guinea pigs.
• Adathoda vasica extract exhibit anti tussive activity in anaesthetized guinea pigs and rabbits and in     unanaesthetized guinea pigs.
• Alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica shows pronounced protection against allergen-induced bronchial     obstruction in guinea pigs.
• Roots of Adathoda vasica L. is used in rheumatism, pneumonia and cough, while leaves are used as antiseptic, expectorant, antispasmodic, and demulcent.[ Muhammad Hamayun¹, Sumera Afzal² and Mir Ajab Khan^3, THNOPHARMACOLOGY, INDIGENOUS COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES OF SOME FREQUENTLY USED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF UTROR AND GABRAL, DISTRICT SWAT, PAKISTAN, African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines,bAfrican Ethnomedicines Network Vol. 3, Num. 2, 2006, pp. 57-73 ]
• It relieves breathlessness.
•  It is also prescribed commonly for local bleeding due to peptic ulcer, piles etc.
• ts local use gives relief in pyorrhoea and in bleeding gums.
• vasicine, and vasicinone, are shown to be having bronchodilator and antihistaminic effects. These alkaloids are said to exist in combination with an acid that has been named adhatodic acid.