Lavali
Meyna spinosa Roxb. ex Link
Lavali (Meyna spinosa Roxb. ex Link) is a plant drug, from the Rubiaceae family. Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; categorized as an unexplored ethnomedicinal plant requiring further scientific investigation; documented in regional ethnobotanical surveys of India.
| Botanical name | Meyna spinosa Roxb. ex Link |
|---|---|
| Family | Rubiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; categorized as an unexplored ethnomedicinal plant requiring further scientific investigation; documented in regional ethnobotanical surveys of India |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2908506 · Wikidata Q15472306 · NCBI Taxonomy 2601245 |
The evidence at a glance
3papers on this site for this drug, published 2013 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 3Laboratory 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.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Lavali |
| Latin/Botanical | Meyna spinosa Roxb. ex Link |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Ursolic acid
- Oleanolic acid
- Lupeol
- Betulin
- Scopoletin
- Phloroglucinol
- Secoxyloganin
- Iron (Fe)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Tannins
How does it work?
- Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NF-kB pathway, suppression of COX-2/iNOS expression, and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine production
- Scopoletin exerts antidiabetic effects through inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and aldose reductase enzymes
- Lupeol and betulin demonstrate hepatoprotective effects by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, catalase, GPx) and reducing lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used in tribal practice for diabetes. Preliminary pharmacological studies have reported antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic activity.
- Traditionally used in folk medicine for dysentery and skin infections. Antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens has been reported in vitro.
What do recent studies show?
- Boruah JLH, Gogoi M, Famhawite V and others 2025. Phytochemical Characterization, Prooxidant, Antiproliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Meyna spinosa Roxb. Ex Link Ripe Fruit. Chemistry & biodiversity. PMID 39715024 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202402342
Comprehensive review documenting antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, and hepatoprotective potential, noting the plant remains significantly under-researched.
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
- Limited formal toxicity studies have been conducted; the plant is used traditionally as food (ripe fruits eaten) and medicine in tribal communities of Northeast India
- Given the limited pharmacological investigation, standardized dose-toxicity relationship data is not yet available for clinical application
- Abortifacient activity documented in traditional use; strictly avoid during pregnancy; further comprehensive toxicity studies are recommended
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Tablets, Avaleha (confection), Svarasa (juice)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g fruit powder per day; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh juice
Optimal Timing: Between meals or in the morning; avoid in patients with kidney disorders
Storage: Fresh fruit at 5-10 deg C. Dried extracts in airtight, moisture-proof containers below 25 deg C with desiccant. Protect from light. Nitrogen-flush packaging recommended.
Synergistic Combinations
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.
Laboratory and animal studies3
- 2025. Phytochemical Characterization, Prooxidant, Antiproliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Meyna spinosa Roxb. Ex Link Ripe FruitChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 39715024 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202402342
- 2018. Safety Profile Investigations of Meyna spinosa (Roxb.) and Oroxylum indicum (Linn.) Extracts Collected from Northeast IndiaPharmacognosy magazine. PMID 29491630 · doi:10.4103/pm.pm_62_15
- 2013. Total phenolic, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity of the leaves of Meyna spinosa Roxb., an Indian medicinal plantChinese journal of natural medicines. PMID 23787182 · doi:10.1016/S1875-5364(13)60042-4
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.