Ambasthaki

Cissampelos pareira L.

Ambasthaki (Cissampelos pareira L.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Menispermaceae family. Not in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as Laghu Patha/Ambastha; widely used in Latin American and African traditional medicine systems.

Key facts
Botanical name	Cissampelos pareira L.
Family	Menispermaceae · other entries in this family
Order	Ranunculales
Pharmacopoeia status	Not in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as Laghu Patha/Ambastha; widely used in Latin American and African traditional medicine systems
Taxon identifiers	GBIF 3033937 · Wikidata Q3291604 · NCBI Taxonomy 108409

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Ambasthaki
Latin/Botanical	Cissampelos pareira L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

Pareirarine (new isoquinoline alkaloid)
Magnoflorine
Magnocurarine
Salutaridine
Cissamine and hayatinine
Flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides

How does it work?

Antimalarial/antiplasmodial activity via isoquinoline alkaloid-mediated disruption of Plasmodium parasite metabolism
Anti-inflammatory action through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and NF-kB pathway modulation by magnoflorine
Anticancer activity through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines by alkaloid fractions
Antidiabetic effect via alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

Antimalarial and antipyretic (Jvara-nashaka) - strongly validated through identification of active antiplasmodial alkaloids
Menstrual regulation and uterine tonic (Artava-janana) - partially validated through smooth muscle studies
Anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic (Shotha-hara) - confirmed through in vivo anti-inflammatory models
Snakebite antidote (Visha-nashaka) - partially validated through antivenom studies in folk medicine

What do recent clinical trials show?

Thim-Uam A, Thepmalee C, Chaiwangyen W and others 2025. Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Evaluation of Stem and Leaf Extracts of Cissampelos pareira L. Mediators of inflammation. PMID 40689394 · doi:10.1155/mi/7555073
Identified exceptionally high phenolic (95.73 mg GAE/g in leaves) and flavonoid (82.68 mg CE/g in leaves) content; demonstrated significant anticancer activity against multiple cancer cell lines.
Bhatt V, Kumari S, Upadhyay P and others 2020. Chemical profiling and quantification of potential active constituents responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of Cissampelos pareira. Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 32726676 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113185
Identified and quantified specific isoquinoline alkaloids responsible for the potent antiplasmodial (antimalarial) activity of the plant, validating traditional use against fevers.
Kumari S, Anmol, Bhatt V and others 2021. Cissampelos pareira L.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33485976 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.113850
Comprehensive review documenting 54 phytomolecules isolated from the plant, primarily isoquinoline alkaloids, with validated antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer pharmacological activities.

Recent safety updates

Traditional use over centuries suggests relative safety at recommended doses; however, systematic toxicological studies are limited
May cause uterine contractions; strictly contraindicated during pregnancy; potential interactions with anticoagulant medications due to alkaloid content

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

Magnoflorine
Flavonoids
Glycosides
Pareirarine
Magnocurarine
Salutaridine
Cissamine and hayatinine

Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Avaleha (confection)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction twice daily; 500mg-1g extract capsule

Bioavailability: Moderate oral bioavailability. Cissampelos pareira (Patha/Ambasthaki) contains bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (hayatinine, cissampareine) with moderate lipophilicity and reasonable GI absorption. Alkaloid bioavailability enhanced by piperine co-administration. Traditional preparation with honey may improve mucosal absorption.

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water or honey for urinary and digestive indications

Standardized Extract: Root extract (10:1) standardized to minimum 2% total bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Hayatinine content minimum 0.5%.

Shelf Life: 2 years (powder); 3 years (capsules/tablets); 6 months (decoction with preservative)

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C. Protect from moisture and light. Airtight containers.

Marker Compounds: Hayatinine, Cissampareine, Pareirine, Curine, Cycleanine, Beta-sitosterol

Extraction Methods

Aqueous decoction (1:8, reduced to 1/4)
Hydroalcoholic extraction (70:30 ethanol-water)
Methanol extraction for alkaloid enrichment
Acid-base extraction for alkaloid isolation

Synergistic Combinations

With Gokshura for urinary tract disorders
With Pashanbheda for renal calculi
With Guduchi for fever management
With Kutaja for diarrhea and dysentery

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews5

Quazi SH, Pathak SS. 2023. Ayurgenomics in Anti-Viral Therapy: A Literature SynthesisCureus. PMID 36895544 · doi:10.7759/cureus.34649
Kumari S, Anmol, Bhatt V and others. 2021. Cissampelos pareira L.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacologyJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33485976 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.113850
Giovannini P, Howes MR. 2017. Medicinal plants used to treat snakebite in Central America: Review and assessment of scientific evidenceJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 28179114 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.02.011
Semwal DK, Semwal RB, Vermaak I and others. 2014. From arrow poison to herbal medicine--the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae)Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 24997389 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.054
Amresh G, Singh PN, Rao ChV. 2007. Antinociceptive and antiarthritic activity of Cissampelos pareira rootsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 17240096 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.026

Laboratory and animal studies7

Thim-Uam A, Thepmalee C, Chaiwangyen W and others. 2025. Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Evaluation of Stem and Leaf Extracts of Cissampelos pareira LMediators of inflammation. PMID 40689394 · doi:10.1155/mi/7555073
Shukla R, Rajpoot RK, Poddar A and others. 2021. Cocculus hirsutus-Derived Phytopharmaceutical Drug Has Potent Anti-dengue ActivityFrontiers in microbiology. PMID 34912307 · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.746110
Asif M, Dwivedi J, Yadav S. 2021. Anti-depressant, Anxiolytic, and the Muscle Relaxant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn. LeavesCentral nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry. PMID 33964866 · doi:10.2174/1871524921666210505101704
Bhatt V, Kumari S, Upadhyay P and others. 2020. Chemical profiling and quantification of potential active constituents responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of Cissampelos pareiraJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 32726676 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113185
Bala M, Kumar S, Pratap K and others. 2019. Bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids from Cissampelos pareira (†)Natural product research. PMID 29126362 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1402319
Singh BK, Pillai KK, Kohli K and others. 2016. Cissampelos pareira Linn. ameliorates thyroxin-induced cardiac hypertrophy in ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 26647106 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.11.043
Singh SG, Nishteswar K, Patel BR and others. 2016. Comparative antipyretic and analgesic activities of Cissampelos pareira Linn. and Cyclea peltata (Lam.) Hook. F. & ThomasAyu. PMID 28827957 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_208_14

Cite this page. Age Ayurveda. “Ambasthaki.” Age Ayurveda Nighantu. Last reviewed 18 September 2026. https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/ambasthaki/
Machine-readable source: Markdown. Reviewed 2026-09-18.

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