This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Vasaka contains bioactive alkaloids, primarily vasicine and vasicinone, which exert bronchodilator and mucolytic effects. These compounds help relax bronchial muscles and liquefy thick sputum, making it easier to expel. Notably, vasicine served as the chemical inspiration for the pharmaceutical drug bromhexine, validating its traditional mechanism for clearing respiratory congestion (Evidence Level: C).
Is Vasaka safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Vasaka is considered unsafe during pregnancy. The herb contains alkaloids like vasicine that possess uterine stimulant properties, which can induce uterine contractions. Consequently, taking Vasaka poses a risk of miscarriage or premature labor. It is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women and those with heavy menstrual bleeding (Evidence Level: C).
What is the recommended daily dosage for Vasaka leaf powder?
The standard adult dosage for Vasaka dried leaf powder is typically 2 to 4 grams daily. This is often administered as a decoction (herbal tea) or mixed with honey to improve palatability. Liquid extracts and capsules are also available; users should strictly follow product label instructions or practitioner advice (Evidence Level: Traditional).
Does Vasaka interact with any prescription medications?
There is limited clinical documentation regarding specific drug interactions for Vasaka. However, due to its bronchodilating properties, it may theoretically potentiate the effects of pharmaceutical bronchodilators used for asthma. Patients taking prescription respiratory or antihypertensive medications should consult a healthcare provider before combining therapies to avoid additive effects (Evidence Level: D).
What are the common side effects of Adhatoda vasica?
Common side effects of Vasaka generally involve mild gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some users may also experience headaches. These adverse effects are often dose-dependent. To minimize stomach upset, it is recommended to take the herb with food or honey rather than on an empty stomach (Evidence Level: Traditional).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica) is a medicinal shrub used extensively in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, primarily for treating respiratory ailments [PMID:35809281, PMID:38379997].
Background
Adhatoda vasica (L.), Nees, also known as Malabar nut or Adosa, is a shrub in the Acanthaceae family distributed across South and Southeast Asia [PMID:35809281, PMID:42015366].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used for approximately 2500 years in India to treat cough, asthma, bronchial infections, phlegm, bleeding hemorrhoids, nasal congestion, tuberculosis, skin diseases, leprosy, diabetes, and rheumatism [PMID:35809281, PMID:37063312, PMID:38379997].
Active compounds
The primary active constituents are pyrrolo-quinazoline alkaloids, including vasicine, vasicinone, deoxyvasicine, vasicinol, adhatodine, and adhatodinine [PMID:35809281, PMID:38379997, PMID:30733772]. Other identified compounds include flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin), tannins, saponins, and various amino acids [PMID:36771538, PMID:37381682, PMID:42015366].
Mechanism of action
Vasaka tea may protect airway epithelial cells by inhibiting TRPA1, attenuating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and inhibiting MUC5AC mRNA induction [PMID:37375837]. In mouse models of severe asthma, it attenuates airway resistance and inflammation by inhibiting HIF-1α levels through the restoration of its negative regulator, PHD2 [PMID:33565386]. In silico studies suggest its alkaloids may inhibit cyclooxygenases, with vasicine showing affinity for COX-2 and vasicinone for COX-1 [PMID:33715610].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCough
Extracts showed a 67% cough suppression in awake guinea pigs [PMID:23597834]; oral administration in guinea pigs showed antitussive activity similar to codeine against irritant aerosols [PMID:10617073].
Evidence DAsthma
Aqueous extract attenuated increased airway resistance and inflammation in acute allergic and severe asthmatic mouse models [PMID:33565386].
Evidence DBacterial Infections
Water extracts demonstrated inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus aureus [PMID:37381682].
Evidence DHepatotoxicity
Demonstrated ameliorative potential against hepatic impairments induced by anti-tubercular drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide) in female Wistar rats [PMID:33388427].
Safety & adverse effects
Reports on the oxytocic and abortifacient effects of vasicine and other alkaloids have raised questions regarding the safety of A. vasica [PMID:10967448, PMID:38379997].
Pregnancy & lactation
The plant possesses abortifacient properties [PMID:38379997].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies, animal models, and literature reviews (Level C and D). There is a lack of high-level clinical trial data (Level A or B) in the provided set.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 37654366 (2023) — Potential Uses of Adhatoda Vasica in Orthodontics. · Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
2.PMID: 35809281 (2022) — A systematic ethnobotanical review of Adhatoda vasica (L.), Nees. · Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
3.PMID: 38379997 (2024) — Exploring the pharmacological and chemical aspects of pyrrolo-quinazoline derivatives in Adhatoda vasica. · Heliyon
4.PMID: 37375837 (2023) — Inhibition of TRPA1, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Human Airway Epithelial Cell Damage, and Ectopic MUC5AC Expression by Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica; Malabar Nut) Tea. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5.PMID: 37063312 (2023) — Valorization of Adhatoda vasica leaves: Extraction, in vitro analyses and in silico approaches.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33634759 (2021) — Adhatoda vasica (Nees.): A Review on its Botany, Traditional uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities and Toxicity. · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
7.PMID: 35197762 (2022) — Therapeutic Potential of Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. · Saudi journal of biological sciences
8.PMID: 36895544 (2023) — Ayurgenomics in Anti-Viral Therapy: A Literature Synthesis. · Cureus
10.PMID: 36771538 (2023) — NMR-Based Metabolomics for Geographical Discrimination of Adhatoda vasica Leaves. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
11.PMID: 10967448 (2000) — Adhatoda vasica: a critical review of ethnopharmacological and toxicological data. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
12.PMID: 30733772 (2018) — In vitro biotechnological advancements in Malabar nut (Adhatoda vasica Nees): Achievements, status and prospects. · Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
13.PMID: 25805902 (2015) — Antibacterial Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Vasaka (Justicia adhatoda L.) Leaf Extract. · Indian journal of microbiology
14.PMID: 37381682 (2023) — Multifunctional analysis and antimicrobial activity of Adhatoda vasica: a traditional medicinal plant. · Drug metabolism and personalized therapy
15.PMID: 27565948 (2017) — Simultaneous determination of pyrroquinazoline alkaloids and flavonoids in Adhatoda beddomei and Adhatoda vasica and their marketed herbal formulations using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry. · Biomedical chromatography : BMC
16.PMID: 37903994 (2023) — Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Adhatoda vasica leaf extract and its application in photocatalytic degradation of dyes. · Discover nano
17.PMID: 23928380 (2014) — Detoxification of aflatoxin B1 by an aqueous extract from leaves of Adhatoda vasica Nees. · Microbiological research
18.PMID: 33388427 (2021) — Ameliorative potential of Adhatoda vasica against anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatic impairments in female Wistar rats in relation to oxidative stress and xeno-metabolism. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
19.PMID: 36046957 (2022) — Determination of chiral bioactive molecules in Justicia adhatoda leaves by GC-MS. · Chirality
20.PMID: 10617073 (1999) — Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced coughing in animals. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
21.PMID: 35488955 (2023) — A Comparative Analysis of Heavy Metal Effects on Medicinal Plants. · Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
22.PMID: 39219710 (2024) — In Vitro and in Silico Analysis of α -Amylase Inhibitory Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Adhatoda vasica Leaves. · Global advances in integrative medicine and health
23.PMID: 28331610 (2017) — A reappraisal of the mucoactive activity and clinical efficacy of bromhexine. · Multidisciplinary respiratory medicine
24.PMID: 33128525 (2020) — Herbal approach for the management of C0VID-19: an overview. · Drug metabolism and personalized therapy
25.PMID: 33953779 (2021) — Development and characterization of a nano-drug delivery system containing vasaka phospholipid complex to improve bioavailability using quality by design approach. · Research in pharmaceutical sciences
26.PMID: 33565386 (2021) — Adhatoda vasica rescues the hypoxia-dependent severe asthma symptoms and mitochondrial dysfunction. · American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology
27.PMID: 33715610 (2022) — Alkaloids of Adhatoda vasica Nees. as potential inhibitors of cyclooxygenases - an in-silico study. · Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
28.PMID: 35691257 (2022) — Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas putida enhance pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids accumulation in Adhatoda vasica hairy roots by biotization. · Journal of biotechnology
29.PMID: 34953112 (2022) — Adhatoda vasica and Calotropis procera as a resource of novel chemical compounds, their biological bioluminescence assay, and investigation of morphological features of bacterial growth through advanced technologies. · Microscopy research and technique
30.PMID: 42015366 (2026) — The Multifaceted Potential of Adhatoda vasica Nees: Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Activities and Biotechnological Applications. · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry