Adhatoda vasica

Introduction
Adhatoda vasica is a small, evergreen shrub with a multitude of uses in traditional Ayurveda. Vasica is most well-known for its effectiveness in treating respiratory conditions. The leaf buds of Vasica are chewed, sometimes with ginger, by yogis, or sadhus, because of their stimulant effect on the respiratory system. Vasica is an antispasmodic and expectorant, and has been used for centuries with much success to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory condiitons. More recently, the herb has been studied for its potential in treating tuberculosis.1 All parts of Adhatoda vasica have medicinal value. A powdered form of the herb, boiled in sesame oil, is used to heal ear infections and arrest bleeding. Boiled leaves of Vasica, in the form of a poultice, are used to treat rheumatic pain, and to relieve the pain of urinary tract infections. Adhatoda vasica is also believed to have abortifacient properties. It is used in some parts of India to stimulate uterine contractions, thus speeding childbirth.3 The plant is also used to stop bleeding in conditions such as peptic ulcers, gingivitis, excessive menstrual bleeding and hemorrhoids.

Names
English: Malabar Nut Hindi: Adosa Sanskrit: Vasaka Adhatoda is also known by a variety of ethnic and regional names, including Adulsa, Arusha, Justicia adhatoda, Adulsa Arusa, Adathodai, Bakash, Adalodakam, Adusoge, Addasaramu, Lions Muzzle, and Stallions Tooth.

Habitat
Native to India and the foothills of the Himalayas, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, Adhatoda vasica is cultivated in tropical areas, and grows to an elevation of 1300 meters above sea level. Adhatoda grows well in a wide variety of soils, but it thrives in dry areas.

Botanical Characteristics
Adhatoda vasica is a small, evergreen, perennial shrub, which reaches an average height of three meters. Its branches are opposite and ascending. The broad, leathery leaves, which are sometimes used as an insecticide, measure from 10 to 15 centimeters in length, and are about 4 centimeters in width. They are pubescent; light green on top and darker green beneath. The leaves grow in an opposite formation, and are entire, lanceolate, and shortly petiolate, tapering towards both apex and base. When dry, the leaves become brownish-green and have a bitter taste. Their smell is similar to strong tea. Adhatodas stem is soft and makes a good charcoal. The flowers are large, dense, terminal spikes with large, attractive white petals, streaked with purple on the lower lip. The fruit is a small, clavate, longitudinally channelled capsule, containing four globular seeds. The leaves, roots, flowers and bark of Adhatoda are all used for medicinal purposes.

Chemical Composition
The vast variety of pharmacological uses of Adhatoda is believed to be the result of its rich concentration of alkaloids.5,6 The prominent alkaloid found in Adhatodas leaves is the quinazoline alkaloid known as vasicine.7 In addition to vasicine, the leaves and roots of Adhatoda contain the alkaloids l-vasicinone, deoxyvasicine, maiontone, vasicinolone and vasicinol.9 Research indicates that these chemicals are responsible for Adhatodas bronchodilatory effect.10,11 Also present in the chemical constitution of Adhatoda are phytosterols and triterpenes including daucosterol, a-amyrin and epitaraxerol. The flavonoids apigenin, astragalin, kaempferol, quercetin, vitexin, isovitexin, violanthin, 2"~O-xylosylvitexin, rhamnosylvitexin, and 2' -hydroxy-4glucosyloxychalcone have been isolated from Adhatodas leaves and flowers.12,13 The oil isolated from Adhatodas leaves has been found to contain more than 50 fatty acids and hydrocarbons. The richest concentration of these is in the form of decane. The hydroxyalkanes 37-hydroxyhexatetracont~l-en-15-one and 29-methyltriacontan-l-ol and linolenic, arachidonic, linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids are also present.15,16 A ketone, 4-heptanone, forms the major compound in the volatile oil isolated from Adhatodas flowers. Also present are at least 36 other compounds, including 3-methylheptanone.14

Pharmacological Activity
Antit-tubercular activity Adhatoda has been studied for its potential in fighting tuberculosis.22 Chemical synthesis of one of Adhatodas alkaloids, vasicine, produces bromhexine and ambroxol two widely-used mucolytics. Both of these chemicals have a pH-dependent growth inhibitory effect on mycobactcrium tuberculosis. Indirect effects of Adhatoda on tuberculosis include increased lysozyme and rifampicin levels in bronchial secretions, lung tissue and sputum, suggesting that Adhatoda may play an important adjunctive role in the treatment of tuberculosis.23,24 Anti-asthmatic and bronchdilatory activity Adhatoda has been used in traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years to treat respiratory disorders. Both vasicine and vasicinone - the primary alkaloid constituents of Adhatoda - are well-established as therapeutical respiratory agents.17 Extracts of Adhatodas leaves and roots are useful in treating bronchitis, and other lung and bronchiole disorders, as well as common coughs and colds. A decoction of the leaves of Adhatoda has a soothing effect on irritation in the throat, and acts as an expectorant to loosen phlegm in the respiratory passages. A 1999 study evaluating the antitussive activity of Adhatoda extract in anesthetized guinea pigs and rabbits and in unanesthetized guinea pigs showed the plant to have a good antitussive activity.18 Given intravenously, it was 20-40% as active as codeine when coughing was mechanically and electrically induced in the study animals. The antitussive activity of Adhatoda was similar to codeine against coughing induced by irritating aerosols.18 Recent investigations using vasicine showed bronchodilatory activity both in vitro and in vivo.19 Vasicinone showed bronchodilatory activity in vitro but bronchoconstrictory activity in vivo, suggesting that it is probably biotransformed in vivo, causing bronchoconstriction. In combination, the two alkaloids showed bronchodilatory activity both in vivo and in vitro. Vasicine also exhibited strong respiratory stimulant activity, moderate hypotensive activity and cardiac-depressant effect, while vasicinone was devoid of these activities. The cardiac-depressant effect was significantly reduced when a mixture of vasicine and vasicinone was used.20,21

Abortifacient and uterotonic activity Adhatoda has abortifacient and uterotonic properties, making it usedful for inducing abortion and for stimulating uterine contractions in order to speed childbirth.3 Studies on human subjects have shown that the alkaloid vasicine has significant uterotonic activity. This action appears to be influenced by the presence or absence of certain estrogens. In research on the activity of vasicine in stimulating uterine contractions, human myometrial strips taken from the uterusi of both pregnant and nonpregnant women were treated with Adhatoda. The herb was found to induce uterine contractions, with an effectiveness similar to the drug oxytocin.32 Similar results in humans were observed in a survey study conducted in two towns of Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1987. During the research period, the antireproductive properties of Adhatoda were anecdotally confirmed by local women.29 Animal studies have also demonstrated vasicas abortifacient properties. Aqueous or 90% ethanol plant extracts were given orally to test rats and guinea pigs for 10 days after insemination. Leaf extracts of Adhatoda vasica were 100% abortive at doses equivalent to 175 mg/kg.30 Adhatoda was also shown to have an abortifacient effect on guinea pigs, with effectiveness varying depending on the stage of pregnancy. The effects were more marked when estrogens were used as a priming influence, indicating that the actions of vasicine was probably mediated via the release of prostogladins.31 Wound healing activity Adhatodas effectiveness in promoting wound healing was evaluated in an animal study. For the purposes of the study, wounds were created along the vertebral columns of buffalo calves, and alcoholic and chloroform extracts of Adhatoda in a powdered form were applied. As compared to control animals, the calves treated with Adhatoda vasica showed significantly improved healing. Vasica improved breaking strength, tensile strength, absorption and extensibility in the wound repair tissue. In addition, the levels of elastin, collagen, hydroxyproline, hexosamine and zinc were greatly increased in the animals treated with Adhatoda. The alcoholic extract of the herb was found to be the most effective.33

Anti-allergy activity Adhatoda has been found to reduce ovalbumin and PAF-induced allergic reactions. An extract containing the alkaloid vascinol and 20% vasicine inhibited ovalbumin-induced allergic reactions by about 37% at a concentration of 5 mg.34 Vasicinone has been shown to be a potent antiallergen in tests on mice, rats and guinea pigs.35 Cholagogue activity In laboratory experiments on cats and dogs, Adhatoda was found to increase bile activity when the animals were given an intravenous dose of 5 mg/kg. In dogs, the amount of excreted bile increased by 40-100%. The animals also showed an increase in bilirubin excretion.36 Anti-ulcer activity Adhatoda was studied for its anti-ulcerogenic activity against ulcers induced by ethanol, pylorus, and aspirin. Adhatoda leaf powder showed a considerable degree of anti-ulcer activity in experimental rats when compared with controls. The highest degree of activity was observed in the ethanol-induced ulceration model.37 These results suggest that in addition to its classically established pharmacological activities, Adhatoda has immense potential as an anti-ulcer agent . Further research showed that a syrup of Adhaloda improved symptoms of dyspepsia.38 Anti-bacterial activity Adhatodas antibacterial properties have been clinically evaluated.26 A leaf extract was investigated for antibacterial activity using paper disc and dilution methods. In-vitro screening showed a strong activity of Adhatodas alkaloids against the bacteria Pseudomonos oeruginosa. Significant antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria strains Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staph epidermidis and the gram-negative E. coli were also noted.27 In another study, Adhatoda was tested for its capacity to inhibit the growth of bacteria in untreated water. At pH 7, growth of the bacterial population was inhibited by 82%. At pH 6.5, several coliform bacterial strains were also

inhibited. These findings suggest a possible application of Adhatoda in the improvement of drinking water quality.28 Insecticidal activity Adhatoda has been used for centuries in India as an insecticide. Its leaves have been shown to control insect pests in oil seeds, in both laboratory and warehouse conditions.39 Research has shown Adhatodas alkaloid, vasicinol, to have an antifertility effect against several insect species by causing blockage of the oviduct.40 The same study showed that essential oils taken from Adhatoda reduced feeding activity in specific granary pests. Research has also proven Adhatodas effectiveness as an insect repellent.41 Ethnoveterinary usage Adhatoda has been used successfully in veterinary medicine for thousands of years in India.25 It is effective for a variety of animal conditions including coughs, colds, and diseases such as abscesses, anthrax, throat diseases, asthma, tuberculosis, jaundice, scabies, urticaria, rheumatism, pneumonia, hematuria and contagious abortion.

Safety profile
Excessive doses of Vasica may cause diarrhea and vomiting. The herb should not be used by pregnant women, because of its capacity to induce abortion. No adverse effects of using Adhatoda in concert with other drugs or medicines have been observed.

Dosage
Liquid extract: 2-5 ml Leaf juice: 10-20 ml Flower juice: 10-20 ml Root decoction: 40-80 ml

Ayurvedic properties
Adhatoda vasica pacifies vitiated pitta and kapha, and has therapeutic action against cough, bronchitis, asthma, inflammation, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, eye diseases, and bloody diarrhea.

Guna: Laghu (light), ruksha (dry) Rasa: Tikta (bitter), kashaya (astringent) Veerya: Shita (cold) Vipaka: Katu (pungent) Dosha: Pacifies kapha and pitta

Further reading
Nadkarni AK1976 Indian materia medica, vol 1. Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd, Bombay SairamTV 1999 Home remedies, vol II. Penguin India, New Delhi Kirtikar KR, Basu BD, An LCS 1975 Indian medicinal plants, vol 3. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 1989 Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia, part I, vol I. Government of India, New Delhi Council of Scientific and Industrial Research 1985 The wealth of India. PID, CSIR, New Delhi Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 1966 Indian pharmacopoeia. Government of India, New Delhi

References
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24

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41

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