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Synonym: Adhatoda, Adulsa, Malabar nut
Biological source: It consists of dried, as well as, fresh leaves of the plant Adhatoda vasica Nees,
Family : Acanthaceae.
Geographical source: Vasaka is indigenous to India, where it is found in sub-Himalayan track upto an altitude of 1000 rn, and in Maharashtra especially, in Konkan region. Besides .India, it is found in Myanmar, SriLanka and Malaya.
Macroscopic characters:
Colour: Green
Taste: Bitter
Odour : Characteristic.
Size: 10 – 30 cm length and width of 4 - 10 cm.
Shape: lanceolate, lanceolate. The margin is crenate with acuminate apex
Chemical constituents:
Vasaka leaves contain Quinazoline alkaloid derivatives such as
Vasicine,
Vasicinone and
6-hydroxy vasicine.
The drug also contains volatile oil, betain and vasakin.
It is also reported that vasaka contains adhatodic acid.
Biochemically,
Vasicine========>Oxidised=======> Ketonic derivative Vasicinone
The latter exerts main activity as bronchodilator.
Vasicine
Vasicinone
Adhatodine
Uses
Vasaka is used as expectorant and bronchodilator.
The large doses are irritant and cause vomitting and diarrhoea.
The pharmacological investigations have shown that vasicine also shows oxytocic property similar to oxytocin and methyl ergometrine.
Vasicine also shows abortificient action and both the actions are due to release of prostaglandins.
Bromhexine HCI is a synthetic derivative of vasicine which changes the structure of bronchial secretions and reduces viscosity of sputum
References:
1. Trease D. & Evans W.C.: Text Book of Pharmacognosy: W.B. Saunders.
2. Tyler V. E. Brady L. R. & Robbers J. E.: Pharmacognosy; Lea Feibger, USA.
3. Wallis T. E.; Text Book of Pharmacognosy; CBS Publishers, Delhi.
4. Kokate C. K., Purohit A. P. & Gokhale S. B.: Pharmacognosy; Nirali Publications, Pune.
5. Harbone J. B.: Phytochemical Methods: A guide to modern techniques Analysis: Chapman & Hall, London.
6. Bruneton J.: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants: Intercept Limited.
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