Plaksha
Ficus lacor Buch.-Ham.
Plaksha (Ficus lacor Buch.-Ham.) is a plant drug, from the Moraceae family. Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.
| Botanical name | Ficus lacor Buch.-Ham. |
|---|---|
| Family | Moraceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Rosales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. No WHO monograph available. Classified under Panchavalkal (group of five barks) in Ayurvedic formulary. |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5572206 · Wikidata Q5446612 · NCBI Taxonomy 66384 |
The evidence at a glance
4papers on this site for this drug, published 2012 to 2023, every one with a DOI.
- 4Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Plaksha |
| Latin/Botanical | Ficus lacor Buch.-Ham. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Sorbifolin
- Scutellarein
- Lupeol
- Alpha-amyrin
- Beta-amyrin
- Lanosterol
- Beta-sitosterol
- Caffeic acid
- Bergenin
- Methyl ricinolate
- Leucoanthocyanidins
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and COX enzymes mediated by flavonoids sorbifolin and scutellarein
- Proposed antidiabetic action through alpha-glucosidase inhibition and enhancement of insulin sensitivity by triterpenoids
- Proposed wound-healing action through astringent tannin action, antimicrobial activity and promotion of collagen synthesis
- Immunostimulatory effects via modulation of macrophage activity and enhancement of phagocytic index
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for wounds and ulcers. Clinical and preclinical studies on non-healing ulcers have reported wound-healing and anti-ulcer activity.
- Traditionally used for inflammation and pain. Preclinical studies in carrageenan-induced paw edema models have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
- Traditionally used for its Hemostatic (stops bleeding) action. In vitro clotting studies have reported clotting activity, along with astringent tannin activity.
- Traditionally used for diarrhea. Preclinical studies have reported reduced gastrointestinal motility.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- No significant toxicity reported in traditional use at recommended Ayurvedic doses; limited formal toxicological studies available
- Latex may be irritant; topical application should be patch-tested first in sensitive individuals. Pregnancy use not studied sufficiently.
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Scutellarein
- Lupeol
- Lanosterol
- Sitosterol
- Bergenin
- Sorbifolin
- Alpha-amyrin
- Beta-amyrin
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Kwatha (bark decoction), Churna (bark powder), Capsule, Tablet, Kshara (alkali preparation), Lepa (paste), Vaginal douche
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder daily; 20-40 mL bark decoction twice daily; 500 mg - 1 g standardized extract twice daily; Kshara 500 mg - 1 g
Optimal Timing: Bark decoction: morning and evening between meals. For gynecological conditions: as directed, often paired with menstrual cycle timing. Kshara: after meals with honey or warm water.
Storage: Dried bark: cool, dry, pest-free storage. Powder: airtight, below 25 deg C, RH <55%. Kshara: moisture-proof containers (highly hygroscopic). Use HPMC capsules for tannin compatibility.
Marker Compounds: Leucocyanidin, Friedelin, Beta-sitosterol, Beta-sitosterol glucoside, Lupeol, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Bergapten
Synergistic Combinations
- Ashoka (uterine tonic - Ashokarishta-like combinations)
- Nyagrodha (combined Ficus species, traditionally used for hemorrhage)
- Udumbara (tri-Ficus formula for gynecological health)
- Lodhra (traditionally used for leucorrhea)
- Durva (hemostatic 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.
Laboratory and animal studies4
- 2023. Metabolomics and molecular networking approach for exploring the anti-diabetic activity of medicinal plantsRSC advances. PMID 37869390 · doi:10.1039/d3ra04037b
- 2023. GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy based metabolite profiling of Panchvalkal kwath (polyherbal formulation)Natural product research. PMID 34661480 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.1990919
- 2013. Therapeutic Effect of Ficus lacor Aerial Roots of Various Fractions on Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic RatsISRN pharmacology. PMID 24167737 · doi:10.1155/2013/634106
- 2012. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on Ficus Microcarpa L. filAncient science of life. PMID 24167337 · doi:10.4103/0257-7941.118550
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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.