Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Parijata

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Parijata (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Oleaceae family. Included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. [Nyctanthes arbor-tristis: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant in Traditional and Contemporary Medicine](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41213599/).

Key facts
Botanical nameNyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
FamilyOleaceae · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Pharmacopoeia statusIncluded in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Recognized in Indian traditional medicine systems (AYUSH). No dedicated WHO monograph. Listed in various national herbal pharmacopeias of Southeast Asian countries.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3683008 · Wikidata Q764525 · NCBI Taxonomy 41398

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishParijata
Latin/BotanicalNyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Antimalarial activity via arbortristosides disrupting plasmodium schizont maturation and erythrocytic stages
  • Anti-inflammatory action through inhibition of COX-2 and LOX pathways and suppression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta
  • Immunomodulatory effects via stimulation of T-cell proliferation, NK cell activity and macrophage activation
  • Hepatoprotective mechanism through restoration of antioxidant enzyme levels and reduction of lipid peroxidation (MDA)

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Antipyretic and antimalarial use for fevers validated through Plasmodium berghei-infected mouse models and clinical observations
  • Anti-arthritic use confirmed through adjuvant-induced arthritis models with significant reduction in paw edema and joint inflammation
  • Anthelmintic activity validated against Ascaridia galli and Pheretima posthuma in vitro
  • Hepatoprotective effects confirmed against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rodent models

What do recent clinical trials show?

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Most pharmacological studies lack proper dosage standardization, positive and negative controls; clinical human trials are limited
  • Leaves decoction used traditionally for fever is generally safe at recommended doses; excessive use may cause gastric irritation. Not recommended during pregnancy without medical supervision.

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (leaf powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Swarasa (fresh juice), Ark (distillate), Taila (oil)

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g leaf powder daily; 15-30 mL leaf decoction twice daily; 10-15 mL fresh leaf juice; 500-750 mg standardized extract daily

Bioavailability: Nyctanthic acid and arbortristosides show moderate oral bioavailability (20-35%). Iridoid glycosides undergo hydrolysis by intestinal beta-glucosidases releasing aglycones with enhanced absorption. Arbortristoside-A demonstrates anti-malarial activity with Tmax of 2-3 hours. Phenolic glycosides from leaves are moderately absorbed and undergo Phase II metabolism (glucuronidation, sulfation).

Optimal Timing: For fever: decoction taken early morning on empty stomach (traditional protocol). For arthritis and chronic conditions: after meals, twice daily. Fresh juice: morning on empty stomach.

Standardized Extract: Parijata leaf extract (8:1) standardized to arbortristosides >1.5%, nyctanthic acid >0.8%, total iridoid glycosides >3%. Fresh juice preserved with sodium benzoate (0.1%) for short-term shelf life.

Shelf Life: Dried leaf: 12-18 months; Fresh juice: 2-3 days refrigerated (preserved: 3-6 months); Extract: 24 months; Tablets/Capsules: 24-36 months

Storage: Dried leaves: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, RH <55%, protected from light. Extracts: amber containers, below 25 deg C. Fresh juice: 2-8 deg C. Taila: room temperature, amber glass.

Marker Compounds: Arbortristoside-A, Arbortristoside-C, Nyctanthic acid, Nyctanthin, Iridoid glycosides, D-mannitol, Tannic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Oleanolic acid

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction (traditional Kwatha)
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-70% ethanol)
  • Methanol extraction for iridoid glycoside enrichment
  • Fresh juice expression for Swarasa
  • Steam distillation for Ark preparation
  • Ethyl acetate fractionation for arbortristosides

Synergistic Combinations

  • Guduchi (anti-pyretic and immune modulation synergy)
  • Tulsi (antimicrobial and febrifuge combination)
  • Chirayata (anti-malarial and bitter tonic)
  • Pippali (bioenhancer for improved absorption)
  • Haridra (anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective)

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 reviews3

  1. Aggarwal A, Mehta DK, Bhardwaj A and others. 2026. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant in Traditional and Contemporary MedicinePlanta medica. PMID 41213599 · doi:10.1055/a-2706-7358
  2. Tipugade O, Sawale J, Jadhav N. 2026. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.: comprehensive insights into its medicinal, phytochemical and safety profilesNatural product research. PMID 39873741 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2025.2456086
  3. Agrawal J, Pal A. 2013. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn--a critical ethnopharmacological reviewJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 23376280 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.01.024

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Singh BR, Yadav JP, Dwivedi AR and others. 2026. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis attenuates hyperglycemia: an integrated experimental and computational investigationDaru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. PMID 42658420 · doi:10.1007/s40199-026-00646-6
  2. Gahtori R, Tripathi AH, Chand G and others. 2024. Phytochemical Screening of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Plant Extracts and Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity AnalysisApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 37140779 · doi:10.1007/s12010-023-04552-4
  3. Sana T, Khan M, Siddiqui BS and others. 2024. Anti-inflammatory and urease inhibitory iridoid glycosides from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis LinnJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 38380570 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117368
  4. Gupta D, Singh S, Tiwari AK and others. 2024. Quantification of Arbortristoside-A isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis using HPLC: Method development and pharmaceutical applicationsJournal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences. PMID 38199059 · doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2023.123985
  5. Chabattula SC, Patra B, Gupta PK and others. 2024. Anti-cancer Application of Nat-ZnFe(2)O(4) Nanoparticles on 2D Tumor ModelsApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 37318689 · doi:10.1007/s12010-023-04582-y
  6. Sharma VK, Prateeksha P, Singh SP and others. 2024. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis bioactive extract ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation through the inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathwayJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37925001 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117382
  7. Parekh S, Arkatkar A, Soni A and others. 2023. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis alkaloids activates p53 independent cell death receptor and necroptosis pathways in HepG2 cells3 Biotech. PMID 37162805 · doi:10.1007/s13205-023-03594-z
  8. Sharma A, Goel A, Lin Z. 2023. In Vitro and In Silico Anti-Rheumatic Arthritis Activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristisMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37630377 · doi:10.3390/molecules28166125
  9. Noorafsha, Kashyap AK, Kashyap A and others. 2022. Biosynthesis and biophysical elucidation of CuO nanoparticle from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn LeafApplied microbiology and biotechnology. PMID 35941256 · doi:10.1007/s00253-022-12105-8

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