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Ashwattha

Ficus religiosa L.

Ashwattha (Ficus religiosa L.) is a plant drug, also called Asvatthah, Pippala and Pippalah, from the Moraceae family. In vitro studies using disc diffusion and MIC assays have reported activity against E. coli and Candida albicans. Listed in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy as a plant used in traditional medicine systems; included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Key facts
Botanical nameFicus religiosa L.
FamilyMoraceae · other entries in this family
OrderRosales
Pharmacopoeia statusListed in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy as a plant used in traditional medicine systems; included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. No specific WHO monograph dedicated to F. religiosa as of 2025.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5361935 · Wikidata Q3071706 · NCBI Taxonomy 66387
Names in other languages
Sanskritअश्वत्थः (aśvatthaḥ), Pippala, पिप्पलः (pippalaḥ)
Hindiपीपल (pīpala)
EnglishPipal tree
Tamilஅரச மரம், Arara, Arasamaram, Arasan, Arasu, Ashwarthan, அரசு
MalayalamArayal
TeluguRavichettu
KannadaAralegida, Aralimara, Arlo, Ashvatthanara, Ashwatha, Basri, Ranji
MarathiPimpal, Pipal
BengaliAshud, Asvattha
GujaratiJari, Piparo, Piplo
PunjabiPipal
OriyaAswatha
AssameseAhant
KashmiriBad

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Monier-Williams p.115, quoted in the Pandanus record for Ficus religiosa: "aśvattha, as, m. ... the holy fig tree, Ficus Religiosa, AV.; ŚBr. &c."; API Vol I monograph title AŚVATTHA, botanical source Ficus religiosa Linn.; Monier-Williams p.627, quoted in the Pandanus record for Ficus religiosa: "pippala, m. the sacred fig-tree, Ficus Religiosa (commonly called Peepal) MBh. Yājñ. Var."; API Vol I, AŚVATTHA, Sanskrit: Pippala; Platts p.295: "پيپل पीपल pīpal [S. पिप्पलः], s.m. The holy fig-tree, Ficus religiosa"; API Vol I, AŚVATTHA (Ficus religiosa Linn.), Hindi: Pipala, Pipal; MMPND Sorting Ficus, HINDI: पीपल Pipal, Pipali, Pipli; Tamil Lexicon p.118: "அரசு aracu: 01 1. Pipal, l. tr. Ficus religiosa"; API Vol I, AŚVATTHA, Tamil: Arasu; Pandanus, Tamil: aracu, acuvattam; Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras p.117: "அரசமரம் araca-maram, n. அரசு +. Pipal, l. tr., Ficus religiosa"; API Vol I, AŚVATTHA, Tamil: Ashwarthan, Arasamaram, Arasan, Arasu, Arara. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.

  • 5Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 7Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishSacred fig (Pipal tree)
Latin/BotanicalFicus religiosa L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antidiabetic action through alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition by flavonoids and phenolics
  • Anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2 inhibition and suppression of NF-kB signaling by bergapten and quercetin
  • Neuroprotective effects through acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant-mediated reduction of oxidative neuronal damage
  • Wound healing via promotion of fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis and angiogenesis

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Animal studies have reported lower blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetic models.
  • Preclinical studies have reported faster epithelialization and increased tensile strength in wound models.
  • Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in carrageenan-induced paw edema and acetic acid-induced writhing models.
  • Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Candida albicans has been reported in in vitro studies using disc diffusion and MIC assays.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Oral supplementation of leaf extract at high doses adversely affected behavioral aspects in male albino mice models; dose-dependent caution recommended
  • Generally regarded as safe in traditional therapeutic doses; no significant acute toxicity reported in standard pharmacological studies up to 2000 mg/kg in rodent models

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Stigmasterol
  • Sitosterol
  • Lanosterol
  • Bergapten
  • Bergenin
  • Quercetin
  • Myricetin
  • Kaempferol

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Twak Kwatha (bark decoction), Ghana Vati, Kshirapaka (bark boiled in milk)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g bark powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; 500mg-1g extract capsule; fruit powder 3-5g

Optimal Timing: Bark decoction is traditionally taken morning and evening. Fruit powder with honey before meals. Kshirapaka at bedtime.

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C. Airtight containers. Bark stores well due to high tannin content (natural preservative effect).

Marker Compounds: Bergapten, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Lanosterol, n-Octacosanol, Leucoanthocyanidin, Leucocyanidin, Phytol, Serotonin (leaves)

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) and Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis) in Panchavalkala Kwatha
  • With Lodhra for wound healing
  • With Ashoka for female reproductive disorders
  • With Haridra for anti-diabetic applications

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

  1. Chen M, Liu J, Zou S and others. 2025. A review on the ethnopharmacology, metabolites, pharmacological uses, and toxicology of Ficus hirta (Moraceae) VahlFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 40385474 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1545348
  2. Rawat R, Kumar H, Singh N and others. 2024. Comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemistry and pharmacological profile ofJournal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan. PMID 39380237 · doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2024.05.012
  3. Shim KH, Sharma N, An SSA. 2022. Mechanistic Insights into the Neuroprotective Potential of Sacred Ficus TreesNutrients. PMID 36432418 · doi:10.3390/nu14224731
  4. Murugesu S, Selamat J, Perumal V. 2021. Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Properties, and Recent Applications of Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosaPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 34961220 · doi:10.3390/plants10122749
  5. Singh D, Singh B, Goel RK. 2011. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa: a reviewJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 21296646 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.046

Laboratory and animal studies7

  1. Pinipay F, Rokkam R, Botcha S and others. 2025. Metabolomic and network Pharmacology insights into the anti-inflammatory and anti-urolithiatic potential of Ficus religiosa seedsScientific reports. PMID 41203807 · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-26906-0
  2. Ahmad S, Daud Ali M, Alotibi AM and others. 2023. Phytochemical profiling and anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity of Ficus religiosa L. and molecular docking study against iNOS, TNF-α enzymePakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 37869923
  3. Ashalatha KL, Arunkumar KP, Gowda M. 2023. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of sacred fig (Ficus religiosa)BMC genomics. PMID 37046210 · doi:10.1186/s12864-023-09270-z
  4. Kar A, Mahar D, Biswas S and others. 2023. Phytochemical profiling of polyphenols and thyroid stimulatory activity of Ficus religiosa leaf extract in 6-propyl-thiouracil-induced hypothyroid ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37062529 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116479
  5. Baliyan S, Mukherjee R, Priyadarshini A and others. 2022. Determination of Antioxidants by DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Ficus religiosaMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35209118 · doi:10.3390/molecules27041326
  6. Chakraborty A, Mahajan S, Bisht MS and others. 2022. Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa species reveal evolutionary mechanisms of longevityiScience. PMID 36164650 · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.105100
  7. Cagno V, Civra A, Kumar R and others. 2015. Ficus religiosa L. bark extracts inhibit human rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infection in vitroJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 26528588 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.042

Reference lists that include it

Kaempferol, Quercetin, Stigmasterol

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.