Vasaka consists of the dried and fresh leaves of the plant Adhatoda vasica (vasaka scientific name), belonging to the family Acanthaceae. It is also known as adhatoda, adulsa and malabar nut.
English: Justicia adhatoda, Acanthaceae, Adulsa, Malabar Nut, inflorescence. The fresh leaves are used in homeopathy as remedy: Justicia adhatoda (Just.) Deutsch: Justicia adhatoda, Acanthaceae, Indisches Lungenkraut, Malabarnuss, Infloreszenz. Die frischen Bätter werden in der Homöopathie als Arzneimittel verwendet: Justicia adhatoda (Just.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This plant is indigenous to India and is found in sub-himalayan tract and especially in Maharashtra in Konkan region. It is also found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It is not cultivated on commercial basis. It is included in different formulations of Ayurveda. It is obtained from garden plants and wild sources. It is propagated by stem cuttings and by seed germination. It is obtained in all seasons of the year.
Vasaka leaves contain quinazoline alkaloids such as vasicine, vasicinone and 6-hydroxy vasicine. Biochemically, vasicine is oxidised to its ketonic derivative vasicinone, which exerts the bronchodilator activity. The drug also contains volatile oil, betain and vasakin. Vasaka also contains adhatodic acid.