Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Agastya

Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.

Agastya (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Fabaceae family. Recognized in regional WHO traditional medicine directories; documented in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy as a widely used medicinal food plant in Southeast Asian countries.

Key facts
Botanical nameSesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.
FamilyFabaceae · other entries in this family
OrderFabales
Pharmacopoeia statusRecognized in regional WHO traditional medicine directories; documented in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy as a widely used medicinal food plant in Southeast Asian countries
Taxon identifiersGBIF 8281950 · Wikidata Q947251 · NCBI Taxonomy 206309

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishAgastya
Latin/BotanicalSesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antioxidant: Phenolic compounds and flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin) scavenge ROS and inhibit lipid peroxidation
  • Anticancer: Flavonoids and alkaloids activate caspase cascades and induce apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway
  • Anti-fibrotic: Leaf extracts modulate TGF-beta signaling and reduce collagen deposition in fibrotic tissue

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Anti-inflammatory use validated through inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators and reduction of edema in animal models
  • Hepatoprotective traditional use confirmed by reduction of liver enzymes (ALT, AST) in hepatotoxicity models
  • Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of leaf flavonoids supports traditional antidiabetic use

What do recent clinical trials show?

Recent safety updates

  • Widely consumed as a food vegetable in Southeast Asia; flowers and leaves are edible with a long history of safe dietary use
  • No significant adverse effects reported in animal toxicity studies; however, pregnant women should consult practitioners before medicinal use due to limited safety data

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Pushpa swarasa (flower juice), Capsule, Lehyam (confection)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; 10-20ml flower juice

Bioavailability: Good oral bioavailability for water-soluble constituents (flavonoids, amino acids). Lipophilic compounds benefit from co-administration with ghee or warm milk. The high protein and free amino acid content enhances overall nutrient absorption.

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water or honey for respiratory conditions; with food for nutritional supplementation

Standardized Extract: Standardized to minimum 1.5% total flavonoids. Flower extract standardized to oleanolic acid content (min 0.5%).

Shelf Life: 18 months (powder); 2 years (capsules/tablets); 3 months (fresh juice, refrigerated)

Storage: Store in airtight containers away from light. Powder and capsules below 25°C, RH < 60%. Fresh preparations require refrigeration (2-8°C).

Marker Compounds: Oleanolic acid, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Cyanidin glycosides (red variety), Sesbanimide

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction (traditional Kashaya method)
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (60:40)
  • Cold-pressed juice from fresh flowers
  • Soxhlet extraction with ethanol for alkaloid enrichment

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Vasa (Adhatoda) for respiratory conditions
  • With Haridra for anti-inflammatory synergy
  • With Yashtimadhu for bronchial support

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1

  1. Martins LF, Cueva SF, Lage CFA and others. 2024. A meta-analysis of methane-mitigation potential of feed additives evaluated in vitroJournal of dairy science. PMID 38353472 · doi:10.1016/S0022-0302(23)00819-6

Randomised controlled trials1

  1. Unnawong N, Cherdthong A, So S. 2021. Crude saponin extract from Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers pod meal could modulate ruminal fermentation, and protein utilization, as well as mitigate methane productionTropical animal health and production. PMID 33674897 · doi:10.1007/s11250-021-02644-z

Other clinical studies and reviews3

  1. Mokhtar FA, Ahmed M, Al Dhanhani AS and others. 2025. Distribution, Phytochemical Insights, and Cytotoxic Potential of the Sesbania Genus: A Comprehensive Review of Sesbania grandiflora, Sesbania sesban, and Sesbania cannabinaPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39861127 · doi:10.3390/ph18010064
  2. Pattanaik SK, Anil PM, Jena S and others. 2025. Interlinking diabetes and Alzheimer's disease: A pathway through medicinal plant-based treatmentsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40484255 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120092
  3. Gunawardana SLA, Jayasuriya WJABN. 2019. Medicinally Important Herbal Flowers in Sri LankaEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 31263504 · doi:10.1155/2019/2321961

Laboratory and animal studies7

  1. Patel MN, Maheshvari J, Patel N. 2025. The Role of Sesbania grandiflora-Derived Biotin and Bambusa arundinacea-Derived Silica Extracts in Promoting Hair, Skin, and Nail Health: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical StudyCureus. PMID 40896024 · doi:10.7759/cureus.89118
  2. Sethuraman V, Janakiraman K, Krishnaswami V and others. 2021. Combinatorial analysis of quercetin and resveratrol by HPTLC in Sesbania grandiflora/phyto-based nanoformulationsNatural product research. PMID 31496285 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2019.1662012
  3. Tjahjandarie TS, Tanjung M, Saputri RD and others. 2021. Two new 2-arylbenzofurans from Sesbania grandiflora L. and their cytotoxicity towards cancer cellNatural product research. PMID 32945195 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2020.1821016
  4. Arthanari S, Periyasamy P. 2020. Phenolic composition, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic effects of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Agastya) - An edible medicinal plantAyu. PMID 35813364 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_198_19
  5. Anantaworasakul P, Hamamoto H, Sekimizu K and others. 2017. Biological activities and antibacterial biomarker of Sesbania grandiflora bark extractDrug discoveries & therapeutics. PMID 28458298 · doi:10.5582/ddt.2017.01013
  6. Gandhi AD, Vizhi DK, Lavanya K and others. 2017. In vitro anti- biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Sesbania grandiflora extract against Staphylococcus aureusBiochemistry and biophysics reports. PMID 29090281 · doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.10.004
  7. Panigrahi G, Panda C, Patra A. 2016. Extract of Sesbania grandiflora Ameliorates Hyperglycemia in High Fat Diet-Streptozotocin Induced Experimental Diabetes MellitusScientifica. PMID 27313954 · doi:10.1155/2016/4083568

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