Botanical Name: Adhatoda vasica, Justicia adhatoda
Common Name : Adatodai, Arusa, Adulsa, Bakas, Malabar Nut Tree
Plant Family: Acanthaceae
Kingdom : Plantae

History: Adhatoda consists of the fresh or dried leaves of Adhatoda Vasica. Adhatoda leaves have been used extensively in Ayurvedic Medicine for over 2000 years primarily for respiratory disorders. Adhatoda Vasica was traditionally used by midwives at the time of delivery because of its uterotnoic activity. Due to its anti-implantation activity, adhatoda should not be used while pregnant.
Uses of Parts: Leaves, roots, flowers and stem bark
Adhatoda vasica is commonly used for:

• bleeding due to idiopathic (unknown) thrombocytopenic (blood does not have enough platelets) purpura (excessive bruising)
• moderate hypotensive activity (lowers blood pressure)
• pulmonary diseases
• assists uterine involution (rolling or turning inward)
• menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding)
• postpartum (after childbirth) hemorrhage
• uterine stimulant activity
• dyspepsia
• local bleeding due to peptic ulcer and/or piles (hemorrhoids)
• acute and chronic bronchitis often combined with the herbs Licorice and Marshmallow for soothing the respiratory tract
• allergic asthma, often combined with the herbs Albizia, Baical Skullcap, Eyebright and Tylophora
• antihistamine effects (the leaves may be dried and smoked to relieve asthma)
• broncho-dilation effects
• emphysema
• obstructive airway disease (chronic) often combined with the herbs Polygala, Grindelia, Euphorbia and Elecampane
• phthisis (wasting of the body as in tuberculosis)
• relieves cough and breathlessness
  Other Conditions
• bleeding gums (applied locally)
• diphtheria
• gives relief in pyorrhoea, a gum disease (applied locally)
• intermittent fever
• Tuberculosis (all strains of inhibited by the essential oil)
• typhus fever
  

Precautions
Caution:
Contraindicated in pregnancy except at during the birthing process . Adhatoda vasica is reported to have oxytocic (stimulates contractions of the uterus) and abortifacient (substance that induces abortion) effects.
Large doses cause
diarrhea , irritation of the alimentary canal , vomiting .
Drug Interactions:
Do not use Adhatoda without first talking to your practitioner or healthcare provider .



Chemical Composition
Several alkaloids are present in the leaves and the chief principle is a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicine; the yield of the alkaloid from different samples in India ranged from 0.541 to 1.105 per cent on dry basis. Vasicine is accompanied by l- vasicinone., deoxyvasicine and maiontone, Some minor alkaloids viz. Vasicol, adhatodinine and vasicinol also present.

Pharmacological Action
Antiasthmatic,
Antispasmodic (respiratory tract),
Bronchodilator,
Expectorant (relaxing),
Oxytocic.
The pharmacological activities of vasicine and vasicinone are well known. The /-forms of vasicine and vasicinone are more active than their racemic forms. Recent investigations on vasicine showed bronchodilatory activity (comparable to theophylline) both in vitro and in vivo. Vasicinone showed bronchodilatory activity in vitro but bronchoconstrictory activity in vivo; it is probably biotransformed in vivo, causing bronchoconstriction. Both the alkaloids in combination (1:1) showed pronounced bronchodilatory activity in vivo and in vitro. Vasicine also exhibited strong respiratory stimulant activity, moderate hypotensive activity and cardiac-depressant effect; vasicinone was devoid of these activities. The cardiac-depressant effect was significantly reduced when a mixture of vasicine and vasicinone was used. Vasicinone (dl-form) showed no effect on the isolated heart, but probably the l-form is a weak cardiac stimulant. Clinical trials of a commercial drug containing vasicinone and vasicinone have not revealed any side effects while treating bronchial asthma. The drug is known to possess abortifacient activity and hence should not be used during pregnancy.