# Nikochaka

Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/nikochaka/

> Nikochaka (Alangium salviifolium) is a plant drug, also called Ankolah, Akola and Nikocaka. Its traditional uses remain uncertain until its botanical identity is settled. The name may appear in specific Nighantu (Ayurvedic lexicon) texts such as Dhanvantari Nighantu, Raja Nighantu, or Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, which would need targeted scholarly investigation.

## Key facts

- **Botanical name:** Alangium salviifolium
- **Family:** Unknown
- **Pharmacopoeia status:** Not identifiable in WHO or any standard pharmacopoeial reference; requires specialist ethnobotanical research for positive identification

## Names in the Indian languages

Every name form this project holds for this drug, with the script form first and the
transliteration after it. Sources per name are on the canonical page.

| Language | Names |
| --- | --- |
| Sanskrit | अङ्कोलः (aṅkolaḥ) |
| Hindi | अकोल (akola), निकोचक (nikocaka) |
| Tamil | அழிஞ்சில், அங்கோலம் |
| Urdu | Chilgoza pine. Edible pine, Neosa pine |

## Names and identification

| Language | Name |
|----------|------|
| English | Nikochaka |
| Latin/Botanical | *Uncertain - possibly a regional/historical Ayurvedic name with unclear botanical identity* |

## Key Phytochemical Constituents

- Identification uncertain - insufficient data available
- No standardized phytochemical profile established
- Requires further ethnobotanical investigation
- May correspond to a plant referenced only in specific Nighantu texts

## How does it work?

- Cannot be determined without positive botanical identification
- Pharmacological mechanisms remain undocumented for this specific name

## Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

- Traditional uses remain uncertain until the botanical identity is settled
- Name may appear in specific Nighantu (Ayurvedic lexicon) texts such as Dhanvantari Nighantu, Raja Nighantu, or Bhavaprakasha Nighantu requiring targeted scholarly investigation

## What do recent studies show?

- No specific published research was found for the term 'Nikochaka' in available scientific databases. The herb may be a rare or obsolete Sanskrit name requiring specialist Ayurvedic lexicography for positive identification.

*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

- Safety profile cannot be established without confirmed botanical identity
- Use of unidentified herbs poses significant safety risks; proper botanical authentication is essential before any medicinal application
- Specialist consultation with Ayurvedic pharmacognosy experts (Dravyaguna Vijnana specialists) recommended for identification

## What is it made of?

### Key Active Markers

- Identification uncertain - insufficient data available
- No standardized phytochemical profile established
- Requires further ethnobotanical investigation
- May correspond to a plant referenced only in specific Nighantu texts

## Dosage forms and preparation

**Dosage Forms:** Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Lepa (paste for external use)

**Standard Dosage:** No dosage can be given until the botanical identity is confirmed.

**Storage:** Store in airtight containers below 25 deg C, RH <60%, protected from light. Double-sealed polyethylene-lined containers recommended for bulk powder.

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Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/nikochaka/

## Sources

- Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database (700+ herbs, CC-BY-4.0)
- Web research (clinical trials, WHO monographs, safety databases)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Published by Age Ayurveda in the Nighantu. Educational reference only, not medical advice.
Incorporates material from the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database under CC BY 4.0.