Introduction
The medicinal properties of Adhatoda vasica
Nees (Natural Order: Acanthaceae), called Vasa or Vasaka in Sanskrit,
have been known in India and several other countries for thousands
of years. The plant has been recommended by Ayurvedic physicians
for the management of various types of respiratory disorders.
Origin
The plant is distributed all over the plains of India & in
lower Himalayan ranges, ascending to a height of 1,500m.
Chemical
composition / key active constituents
A bioactive pyrroloquinazoline alkaloid, vaccine
about 1.3%, includes other alkaloids viz., vasicol, adhatonine,
vsicinone, vasicinol, vasiciolone, aliphatic hydroketones viz.,
hydroxyhexateracont-l-en-15 one and 37 hydroxy hentetracontam-19-one.
Pharmacology
The bronchodilatory & expectorant properties of the leaves
are attributed to vasicine. The Drug possesses abortifacient
activity & significant antimicrobial activity against gingival
inflammation and pyorrhea.
Remedies
Antimicrobial, Antitussive, Anticancer, useful in infinite atopical
dermatitis, Bronchodilatory, Expectorant.
Dosage
1-2
gm of the drug is prescribed as an expectorant either in the form
of liquid extract
(1-2 ml) or syrup (2-4 ml).
References:
1)
BHMA 1983 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, BHMA, Bournemouth.
2) Bradley, P.R. (ed.) 1992 British Herbal Compendium, Volume
1, BHMA, Bournemouth.
3) Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.
4) Hoffmann, D. 1990 The New Holistic Herbal, Second Edition,
Element, Shaftesbury.
5) Lust, J. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam, London.
6) Mills, S.Y. 1993 The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine, Penguin,
London (First published in 1991 as Out of the Earth, Arkana)
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