Family : Acanthaceae

Synonyms : Adhatoda zeylanica

English : Vasaka

Hindi : Aduss, Arusa

Gujarati : Aduso, Ardusi, Adulso

Sanskrit : Vrsa, Atarusa, Vasa

Part used : Leaves

Botanical Description: It is a shrub with lance-shaped leaves 10 to 15cm in length by four wide. They are oppositely arranged, smooth-edged, and borne on short petioles. When dry they are of a dull brownish-green colour. They are bitter-tasting. When a leaf is cleared with chloral hydrate and examined microscopically the oval stomata can be seen. They are surrounded by two crescent-shaped cells at right angles to the ostiole. The epidermis bears simple one- to three-celled warty hairs, and small glandular hairs. Cystoliths occur beneath the epidermis of the underside of the blade.

Modern Pharmacological Action: The leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica possesses significant anticestodal efficacy. It is used as an expectorant, and bronchodilator, whereas the alcoholic extract is weakly antibacterial. The alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone are potent bronchodilators. Vasicinone, oxidation product of vasicine is more potent bronchodilator besides having anti-anaphylactic activity. Vasakin a non-nitrogenous principle obtained from alcoholic extract is antidiabetic.