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Medasaka

Litsea glutinosa

Medasaka (Litsea glutinosa) is a plant drug, also called Medasakah and Maida lakarii. Saponin glycosides undergo intestinal hydrolysis. Sapogenins show improved absorption with lipid vehicles. Mucilaginous fraction provides local GI effects without systemic absorption. Overall moderate bioavailability for steroidal components.

Key facts
Botanical nameLitsea glutinosa
FamilyLauraceae · other entries in this family
OrderLaurales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 7304140 · Wikidata Q10743709 · NCBI Taxonomy 136122
Names in other languages
Sanskritमेदसकः (medasakaḥ)
Hindiमैदा लकड़ी (maidā lakaṛī)
Tamilபிசின்பட்டை

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MEDASAKAH (Stem Bark) monograph on Litsea chinensis syn. L. glutinosa, Hindi "Maida Lakdee"; India Flora Online (IISc) Hindi "Maidah-lakadi, Maidah, Menda".; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, MEDASAKAH monograph, Sanskrit "Medasakah".; India Flora Online (IISc), Litsea glutinosa herbsheet, Tamil "Pisinpatty".. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2018 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

  • 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 1Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 10Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. 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
EnglishMedasaka

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Madhura, KashayaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Guru, SnigdhaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Taila (medicated oil), Avaleha (confection)

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g powder per day in divided doses; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg extract capsules twice daily

Optimal Timing: With meals for nutritive effects; morning with warm milk for Rasayana action; Ghrita preparation with meals

Storage: Same requirements as Meda. Store dried material below 25 deg C with desiccant protection. Ghrita and Taila at room temperature in glass or stainless steel containers. Protect from moisture and light.

Marker Compounds: Stigmasterol, Beta-sitosterol, Polysaccharides (mucilage), Saponin glycosides

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.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1

  1. Goh MPY, Samsul RN, Mohaimin AW and others. 2024. The Analgesic Potential of Litsea Species: A Systematic ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38731572 · doi:10.3390/molecules29092079

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Jamaddar S, Raposo A, Sarkar C and others. 2022. Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potentials of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Robinson: A Literature-Based ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36678501 · doi:10.3390/ph16010003

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Khanka S, Somani C, Sharma K and others. 2024. Litsea glutinosa extract promotes fracture healing and prevents bone loss via BMP2/SMAD1 signalingThe Journal of endocrinology. PMID 38492310 · doi:10.1530/JOE-23-0351
  2. Bulbul IJ, Hossain MJ, Haque MR and others. 2024. Two rare flavonoid glycosides from Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob.: experimental and computational approaches endorse antidiabetic potentialityBMC complementary medicine and therapies. PMID 38302935 · doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04337-0
  3. Sahoo S, Rath D, Kar DM and others. 2023. Hepatoprotective potency of Litsea glutinosa (L.) C.B. Rob. leaf methanol extract on H(2)O(2)-induced toxicity in HepG2 cellsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36567040 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.116076
  4. Anjum N, Hossain MS, Rahman MA and others. 2023. Deciphering antidiarrheal effects of Meda pata (Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob.) leaf extract in chemical-induced models of albino ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36791925 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116189
  5. Shafiq S, Zahan R, Yesmin S and others. 2022. Phytochemical Analysis and Understanding the Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of Methanol Extract from Litsea glutinosa: In Vitro and In Vivo StudiesMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36296555 · doi:10.3390/molecules27206964
  6. Dao MU, Le HS, Hoang HY and others. 2021. Natural core-shell structure activated carbon beads derived from Litsea glutinosa seeds for removal of methylene blue: Facile preparation, characterization, and adsorption propertiesEnvironmental research. PMID 33220248 · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.110481
  7. Tan YF, Wang RQ, Wang WT and others. 2021. Study on the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of laurolitsine from Litsea glutinosa in Sprague-Dawley ratsPharmaceutical biology. PMID 34219593 · doi:10.1080/13880209.2021.1944221
  8. Wisetkomolmat J, Suksathan R, Puangpradab R and others. 2020. Natural Surfactant Saponin from Tissue of Litsea glutinosa and Its Alternative Sustainable ProductionPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 33182339 · doi:10.3390/plants9111521
  9. Mohammad N, Dahayat A, Yadav M and others. 2018. Genetic diversity and population structure of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) in Central IndiaPhysiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology. PMID 30042620 · doi:10.1007/s12298-018-0556-x
  10. Zhang X, Jin Y, Wu Y and others. 2018. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemia effects of the alkaloid-rich extract from barks of Litsea glutinosa in ob/ob miceScientific reports. PMID 30140027 · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-30823-w

Reference lists that include it

Stigmasterol

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

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