Patala
Stereospermum chelonoides
Patala (Stereospermum chelonoides) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Lapachol is lipophilic and benefits from lipid-based delivery. Flavonoids (dinatin, scutellarein) show 15-30% bioavailability. Iridoid glycosides present are hydrolyzed by gut flora releasing aglycones with variable absorption kinetics.
| Botanical name | Stereospermum chelonoides |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. IV: PATALA (Stem Bark) |
| Also called | Stereospermum suaveolens DC. (nomenclatural synonym) Stereospermum colais (Buch.-Ham. ex Dillwyn) Mabb. (nomenclatural synonym) |
| Family | Bignoniaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 4092354 · Wikidata Q18182661 · NCBI Taxonomy 1401050 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Patala |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Snigdha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Madhura | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Arishtam
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder daily; 20-30 mL decoction twice daily; 500-750 mg standardized extract twice daily
Bioavailability: Lapachol and other naphthoquinones from Stereospermum suaveolens (Patala) have moderate oral bioavailability (25-40%). Lapachol is lipophilic and benefits from lipid-based delivery. Flavonoids (dinatin, scutellarein) show 15-30% bioavailability. Iridoid glycosides present are hydrolyzed by gut flora releasing aglycones with variable absorption kinetics.
Optimal Timing: After meals for general anti-inflammatory use. As part of Dashmool Kwatha: morning and evening between meals.
Standardized Extract: Patala stem bark extract (6:1) standardized to lapachol >0.5%, total flavonoids >3%. Root bark extract for Dashmool formulation with validated TLC/HPTLC profile.
Shelf Life: Bark powder: 18-24 months; Extract: 24-36 months; Tablets: 24-36 months; Arishtam: 5-10 years
Storage: Dried bark: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, protected from moisture and pest infestation. Extracts: amber containers, cool and dry. Arishtam: amber glass, room temperature.
Marker Compounds: Lapachol, Dinatin, Scutellarein, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, p-Coumaric acid, Stereolensin, Stereochenol A
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction of stem bark
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (60% ethanol)
- Methanol extraction for naphthoquinone isolation
- Sequential solvent extraction (hexane then ethanol) for fractionation
- Percolation for Arishtam preparation
Synergistic Combinations
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.