Mashaparni
Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng.
Mashaparni (Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng.) is a plant drug, from the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as a Jivaniya (life-promoting) and Balya (strength-promoting) herb.
| Botanical name | Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng. |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) · other entries in this family |
| Order | Fabales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as a Jivaniya (life-promoting) and Balya (strength-promoting) herb |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 8777864 · Wikidata Q15234919 · NCBI Taxonomy 45683 |
The evidence at a glance
9papers on this site for this drug, published 1996 to 2021, 7 with a DOI.
- 9Laboratory 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 | Mashaparni |
| Latin/Botanical | Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Vitexin (C-glycosyl flavone)
- Bergenin (C-glycoside of 4-O-methylgallic acid)
- Daidzin (isoflavone glycoside)
- 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol
- Coumarins
- Free phenols and tannins
- Amino acids (lysine, leucine, isoleucine, arginine, valine, histidine)
- Unsaturated fatty acids
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory action primarily mediated by vitexin through dose-dependent inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, reducing leukotriene synthesis
- Antidiabetic mechanism through improvement of insulin sensitivity, with coumarins-containing fraction showing efficacy in type 2 diabetes mouse models
- Immunomodulatory mechanism involving enhancement of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, demonstrated through antigen challenge models
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for inflammatory conditions and rheumatism. A study that isolated vitexin reported it as a key 5-LOX inhibitor with anti-inflammatory activity.
- Traditionally used as a body strengthener and vitality enhancer. Experimental studies have reported immunomodulatory properties.
- Traditionally used in Prameha (metabolic disorders). In vivo studies with coumarin-rich fractions have reported antidiabetic potential.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Used in Ayurvedic formulations including Chyawanprash; reported protein content of 22.86%, along with mineral and amino acid content
- No significant adverse effects documented in preclinical pharmacological studies; however, systematic toxicological evaluation is limited
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Tablets, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Taila (medicated oil)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g whole plant powder per day; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg standardized extract twice daily
Optimal Timing: With meals for nutritive and tonic effects; morning with milk for Rasayana benefits; Taila application for musculoskeletal complaints
Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight containers. Protect from moisture and light. Ghrita in glass containers at room temperature. Taila in amber glass bottles.
Marker Compounds: Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Lupeol, Galactomannan, Flavonoid glycosides
Synergistic Combinations
- Mudgaparni (classical pair in Jivaniya Gana)
- Bala (strength-building combination)
- Ashwagandha (musculoskeletal tonic)
- Shatavari (nutritive Rasayana)
- Dashamula (anti-Vata polyherbal)
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 studies9
- 2021. Exposure of Teramnus labialis (L.F.) Spreng Seeds to Liquid Nitrogen Does Not Affect Nutritional Status of Field Grown Adult PlantsCryo letters. PMID 33970987
- 2019. Seed Cryostorage Enhances Subsequent Plant Productivity in the Forage Species Teramnus Labialis (L.F.) SprengCryo letters. PMID 30955029
- 2016. Lactogenic activity of Teramnus labialis (Linn.) fruit with special reference to the estimation of serum prolactin and cortisol level in nursing ratsIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 28066113 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.194856
- 2014. Flavonol content, oil%, and fatty acid composition variability in seeds of Teramnus labialis and T. uncinatus accessions with nutraceutical potentialJournal of dietary supplements. PMID 25054688 · doi:10.3109/19390211.2014.937048
- 2008. Genetic diversity for seed mineral composition in the wild legume Teramnus labialisPlant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). PMID 18563569 · doi:10.1007/s11130-008-0078-8
- 2004. A novel bioactive flavonol glycoside from Teramnus labialis sprengNatural product research. PMID 15595611 · doi:10.1080/14786410310001620646
- 2000. Antihyperglycemic activity of Teramnus labialis (Fabaceae)Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 10715850 · doi:10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80075-6
- 1999. Chemical analysis and nutritional assessment of Teramnus labialis (L.) Spreng. (Fabaceae)Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). PMID 10798345 · doi:10.1023/a:1008101805505
- 1996. 5S rRNA genes in tribe Phaseoleae: array size, number, and dynamicsGenome. PMID 18469906 · doi:10.1139/g96-056
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.