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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Adhatoda zeylanica
Medic.
/ Adhatoda vasica
Nees (Acanthaceae)
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Malabar Nut,
Vasaka |
Vasa, Shwetavasa,
Vasaka |
Arusa, Bansa
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| Habitat |
Distributed
throughout India, up to an altitude of 1,300 m.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A.zeylanica
is an evergreen, gregarious, stiff, perennial shrub. The leaves
are elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, entire, hairy,
light green above, dark below and leathery; the flowers are
large, white with red-or yellow-barred throats and in spikes,
with large bracts; the capsules are longitudinally channelled;
the seeds globular.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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Several alkaloids are present in the drug and its chief principle
is a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicine. The leaves are rich in vitamin
C and carotene and yield an essential oil.
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| Indications |
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The shrub is the source of the drug, vasaka, well known in indigenous
systems of medicine for its beneficial effects, particularly in
bronchitis. The leaves, flowers, fruits and roots are extensively
used for treating cold, cough, whooping-cough, chronic bronchitis
and asthma. It acts as a sedative-expectorant, antispasmodic and
anthelmintic. The leaf-juice is stated to cure diarrhea, dysentery
and glandular tumour, and, is given as an emmenagogue. The powder
is reported to be used as a poultice on rheumatic joints, as a counter-irritant
on inflammatory swellings, on fresh wounds, urticaria and in neuralgia.
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| Product
Range |
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Diakof (CoughCare Sfree), Evecare (MenstriCare), Geriforte (GeriCare
/ StressCare), Koflet (CoughCare), Lukol, Styplon, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet,
HimROP Vet, Styplon Vet, Vasaka, Chyavanaprasha.
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