Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Palasha

Butea monosperma

Palasha (Butea monosperma) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Butein is rapidly absorbed (Tmax ~1 h) but undergoes extensive glucuronidation. Seed proteins (lectins) have very low oral bioavailability due to proteolytic degradation.

Key facts
Botanical nameButea monosperma
FamilyFabaceae · other entries in this family
OrderFabales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 8234570 · Wikidata Q942203 · NCBI Taxonomy 56060

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishPalasha

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Tikta, KatuPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, RukshaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (seed/bark powder), Kwatha (bark decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Lepa (paste), Kshara (alkali preparation), Eye drops (traditional)

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g seed powder daily (anthelmintic dose); 3-6 g bark powder daily; 20-40 mL bark decoction twice daily; Palasha Kshara 500 mg - 1 g with honey

Bioavailability: Butrin, isobutrin, and palasitrin (chalcones) from flowers show moderate bioavailability (20-35%). Butein is rapidly absorbed (Tmax ~1 h) but undergoes extensive glucuronidation. Seed proteins (lectins) have very low oral bioavailability due to proteolytic degradation. Kshara (alkaline preparation) may enhance bioavailability of certain phytochemicals by increasing intestinal pH and solubility.

Optimal Timing: Anthelmintic seed powder: early morning on empty stomach for 3-7 days. Bark decoction: between meals. Kshara: with honey or warm water after meals.

Standardized Extract: Palasha flower extract standardized to butrin >5% and butein >2%. Bark extract (6:1) standardized to total tannins >10%. Kshara preparation with pH 10-12, total alkalinity as specified in API.

Shelf Life: Bark/seed powder: 18-24 months; Flower extract: 18-24 months; Kshara: 24-36 months (stable alkaline preparation); Tablets: 24-36 months

Storage: Powders and extracts: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, RH <55%, protected from light (especially flower preparations). Kshara: airtight glass or HDPE container, protected from moisture absorption. Seeds: cool, dry, pest-free storage.

Marker Compounds: Butrin, Isobutrin, Butein, Palasitrin, Monospermin, Gallic acid, Lupeol, Beta-sitosterol, Butin

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction of bark
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-70% ethanol) of flowers for butrin
  • Sequential extraction of seeds (defatting with hexane, then ethanol extraction)
  • Traditional Kshara preparation (incineration and aqueous leaching)
  • Methanol extraction for flavonoid-rich fractions

Synergistic Combinations

  • Vidanga (anthelmintic synergy)
  • Palasha Kshara + Gomutra (urinary calculi dissolution)
  • Haridra (anti-inflammatory and wound healing)
  • Kutaja (anti-diarrheal and anti-dysenteric)
  • Triphala (digestive and detoxification combination)

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 reviews2

  1. Hiremath KY, Veeranagoudar DK, Bojja KS. 2024. Butea monosperma as a collective phytomedicine and environmentally sustainable, conservative, and beneficial plantArchives of Razi Institute. PMID 39736959 · doi:10.32592/ARI.2024.79.3.465
  2. Khan AU, Akram M, Daniyal M and others. 2020. Awareness and current knowledge of epilepsyMetabolic brain disease. PMID 31605258 · doi:10.1007/s11011-019-00494-1

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Mondal S, Ganguly A, Nandi A and others. 2025. Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal multi-target mechanisms of Butea monosperma stem bark extract in ulcerative colitisScientific reports. PMID 41249410 · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-24091-8
  2. Behera BP, Mishra SR, Mahapatra KK and others. 2024. SIRT1-activating butein inhibits arecoline-induced mitochondrial dysfunction through PGC1α and MTP18 in oral cancerPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 38723523 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155511
  3. Mankotia P, Sharma K, Sharma V and others. 2023. Curcumin-loaded Butea monosperma gum-based hydrogel: A new excipient for controlled drug delivery and anti-bacterial applicationsInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 37141967 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124703
  4. Karia P, Patel KV, Rathod SSP. 2018. Breast cancer amelioration by Butea monosperma in-vitro and in-vivoJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 29366766 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.026
  5. Kaur V, Kumar M, Kaur P and others. 2017. Hepatoprotective activity of Butea monosperma bark against thioacetamide-induced liver injury in ratsBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 28237915 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.01.165
  6. Singh A, Kaur M, Choudhary A and others. 2015. Effect of Butea monosperma leaf extracts on cyclophosphamide induced clastogenicity and oxidative stress in micePharmacognosy research. PMID 25598640 · doi:10.4103/0974-8490.147215
  7. Harish M, Ahmed F, Urooj A. 2014. In vitro hypoglycemic effects of Butea monosperma Lam. leaves and barkJournal of food science and technology. PMID 24493888 · doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0496-8
  8. Choedon T, Shukla SK, Kumar V. 2010. Chemopreventive and anti-cancer properties of the aqueous extract of flowers of Butea monospermaJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 20307637 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.03.011
  9. Sharma N, Garg V. 2009. Antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Butea monosperma leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic miceIndian journal of biochemistry & biophysics. PMID 19374261
  10. Chaudhury RR. 1993. The quest for a herbal contraceptiveThe National medical journal of India. PMID 8241931

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.