Adhatoda Vasica: Benefits, Uses & Medicinal Properties
The herb Vasaka has a long history of use in the Ayurvedic tradition. It has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and bronchodilator properties that help with coughing, wheezing, and breathing problems. It also has anti-microbial and antioxidant activities.
This plant is a perennial undershrub found throughout India and the lower Himalayas. Its leaves and flowers contain an alkaloid called a vaccine.
1. It is a Natural Expectorant
Vasaka is a natural expectorant that expels out all the phlegm trapped in the lungs. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic properties which make it useful in treating various diseases like asthma, bronchitis, fever, and tuberculosis. It also balances Pitta dosha and is beneficial for the liver and gall bladder.
It also helps in reducing urea levels and other nitrogenous wastes from the blood. It is useful in treating dyspnea and rheumatic pains. The warm decoction of its leaves is used in healing wounds, scabies, and other skin disorders.
This herb has a strong bronchodilatory effect which is due to vasicine and its semi-synthetic derivatives (bromhexine and ambroxol). It also has anti-tuberculous activity and inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This herb can be taken by pregnant women but should not be consumed in excess as it can cause ill effects.
2. It is a Natural Anti-inflammatory
Adhatoda Vasica is known as an effective herbal anti-inflammatory, especially in reducing the symptoms of respiratory problems like cough, cold, bronchitis, and asthma. It expands the airways to clear congestion and eases out phlegm.
The herb has been shown to contain vaccine, a quinazoline alkaloid that has a potent bronchodilator and antiallergic properties. It also contains several other chemicals including Luteolin, Tritriacontane, B- Sitosterol, Kaempferol, and essential oils.
Studies have shown that this herb can help reduce the symptoms of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis. It has also been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, it has been found to have strong anti-tumor properties and can even prevent cancer cells from spreading. This herb is a popular ingredient in many Ayurvedic, Siddha, and homeopathic medicines. It has also been shown to have hepatoprotective activity and can improve liver function.
3. It is a Natural Analgesic
Known for its expectorant properties, the herb helps expels the phlegm that accumulates in the lungs thus relieving patients from cough and asthma. It is also an
effective natural herbal remedy for treating bronchitis. The vapor generated from the inhalation of its decoction helps reduce urea levels in the blood and eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body. It is effective in balancing Pitta and Kapha doshas and hence is useful for heart problems.
It has been found that ethanolic extract of the plant has antiulcer activity in animal studies. It prevents ulcer formation by inhibiting H2- H1 synthesis and promotes the healing of established ulcers. It also possesses antioxidant properties and scavenges free radicals. It is reported that the plant exhibits high anti-viral activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro. It also prevents oxidative damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in vivo. Buy Also Other Products in our website a tablet used for treating ED in men. It is taken an hour before physical activities. It is best to take it after a light meal: Tadalista and Bluemen
4. It is a Natural Anti-bacterial
Adhatoda Vasica belongs to the family Acanthaceae and is also known as “Vasaka” or “Baker’s Nut”. It is a small evergreen shrub which has numerous medicinal properties. It is effective in curing asthma, cough, cold, and other respiratory problems. It is also a natural antispasmodic and exhibits an expectorant effect. It also prevents oxidative damage caused by carbon tetrachloride in rats.
The quinazoline alkaloids vaccine and vasicinone present in the leaves of this plant are well-established as expectorant agents. They have bronchodilatory properties in guinea pigs and are effective in the treatment of histamine-induced bronchospasm. Moreover, acetone and methanol extracts of the plant have antibacterial activities against some gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. The acetone extract of the plant showed the highest zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The methanol extract of the plant also showed strong anti-corrosive activity.
5. It is a Natural Anti-fungal
The extract of leaves of Adhatoda Vasica has been found to have antifungal properties. It has been tested against Candida albicans fungus and showed a strong zone of inhibition. Its antioxidant properties have also been demonstrated.
The plant has been used in herbal medicine for a variety of ailments. It is used in India for rheumatic pain and as an anti-inflammatory. It is also used to treat a variety of respiratory infections. In addition, it is used to stimulate uterine contractions and facilitate childbirth.
The leaves of Adhatoda Vasica are used as a natural anti-fungal, thanks to their high concentration of quinazoline alkaloids. These include vasicinone and its oxidation product, vasodilator. Vasicinone has been demonstrated to possess bronchodilatory effects in vivo and in vitro. It is also known to have anthelmintic and antiseptic properties. The root of the plant has been used as an expectorant and for treating gonorrhea and high fever.
6. It is a Natural Anti-oxidant
The plant adhatoda is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids that have been shown to possess anti-oxidant activity. It has been shown to inhibit the oxidative stress-induced damage of rat liver and brain cells. Additionally, adhatoda can also
protect against the inflammatory response to viral infections.
Traditionally, the plant has been used as an expectorant in both Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. It is also used for treating several respiratory ailments including asthma and bronchitis. The adhatoda leaves are known to have significant bronchodilatory properties.
The present study evaluates the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and free radical scavenging activity of the methanol extracts from the leaves, stems, and flowers of adhatoda. The GC -MS analysis of the methanol extracts from the leaf, stem, and flower of the plant indicates the presence of medicinally vital phytocompounds.
7. It is a Natural Anti-parasitic
The leaves of Adhatoda Vasica are used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a natural anti-parasitic and can be used to treat respiratory infections like bronchitis and cough. It also has mucolytic, expectorant, and bronchodilator action. The pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids (vaccine) present in the plant are responsible for these properties.
The leaf juice (vasaka swarms) of this herb is incorporated in several Ayurvedic preparations. It is effective in treating malarial fever, fever caused by pitta and kapha, scabies, asthma, leprosy, and piles.
The acetone extract of this plant showed a high zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, it also showed strong activity against the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The plant is also used with other herbs to reduce uremia, which is the accumulation of urea and nitrogenous wastes in the bloodstream. This can be a result of kidney failure or chronic renal disease.
8. It is a Natural Anti-microbial
In the present era when antibiotics are not effective anymore due to resistance against them, it is essential to find new natural medicines with fewer side effects. Adhatoda Vasica is a plant that has good antimicrobial activity. Its ethanol extract shows a high zone of inhibition against tested bacteria and fungi.
The leaf of this herb is used as an expectorant in the treatment of asthma and cough. It also helps to remove excess phlegm from the lungs. It is also useful in the early stages of tuberculosis. This is due to its pitta balancing properties that help in normalizing the secretions of the liver and gall bladder.
Pyroloquinazoline alkaloids, vaccine and vasicinone, are the main active components of this plant. These alkaloids have bronchodilatory and weak cardiac stimulant action. The extract of this herb also exhibits antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
9. It is a Natural Anti-parasitic
Adhatoda Vasica is an important plant in Ayurveda, Siddha and Homeopathy. It is also known as Baker or Malabar Nut, it belongs to the Acanthaceae family and contains vaccine which is an alkaloid. It also has other phytochemicals like tannins,
Saponins, and phenolics. It also has antispasmodic and anthelmintic properties. It also exhibits anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging activity.
It is an effective herb for bronchitis, it expands the airways and reduces wheezing. It is also useful in the treatment of sinusitis, post-nasal drip and throat pain. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce inflammation and swelling of the soft palate. It is also helpful in treating peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer. It can also be used to treat high uric acid and gout. Warm decoction of this herb can also be applied on skin for scabies.
10. It is a Natural Anti-oxidant
Adhatoda is a very important medicinal plant in Ayurvedic tradition. It has been used as a remedy for many ailments and is effective in treating bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis. The leaf of this herb has excellent expectorant properties and helps in dissolving the phlegm trapped in the respiratory tract. This herbal plant also has antispasmodic and anthelmintic properties.
The phenolic compounds in the leaves of this herbal plant exhibit strong antioxidant activity. Vasicinone and vasicine, two alkaloids, also have strong bronchodilator properties. Furthermore, this plant is an excellent diuretic and helps in reducing urination by eliminating excess water from the body. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and sedative properties. This herb has been used in Ayurvedic treatment for centuries. However, only recently has it received attention from the scientific community. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed its efficacy.
