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Prasarini

Paederia foetida L.

Prasarini (Paederia foetida L.) is a plant drug, also called Gandhapatra, Prasarani and Sarani, from the Rubiaceae family. Documented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; recognized in WHO SEARO traditional medicine inventories; used in multiple Asian traditional medicine systems.

Key facts
Botanical namePaederia foetida L.
FamilyRubiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderGentianales
Pharmacopoeia statusDocumented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; recognized in WHO SEARO traditional medicine inventories; used in multiple Asian traditional medicine systems
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2909527 · Wikidata Q1209690 · NCBI Taxonomy 60087
Names in other languages
SanskritGandhapatra, Prasarani, Sarani
HindiGandha Prasarini
TamilMudiyar Kundal
MalayalamTala nili
TeluguGontima goru-Teega
KannadaHesarani, Prasarini bail
MarathiHiranvel
GujaratiPrasarini
PunjabiPrasarini
AssameseBhedilata

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.

  • 3Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 9Laboratory 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. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishPrasarini
Latin/BotanicalPaederia foetida L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Asperuloside (iridoid glycoside)
  • Paederoside
  • Paederosidic acid
  • Scandoside
  • Ursolic acid
  • Ellagic acid
  • Stigmasterol
  • Sitosterols

How does it work?

  • Anti-inflammatory: Iridoid glycosides (asperuloside, paederoside) inhibit NF-kB pathway and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta)
  • Antinociceptive: Ursolic acid and iridoids act on central and peripheral pain pathways, inhibiting PGE2 synthesis and modulating opioid receptors
  • Gastroprotective: Enhances mucosal PGE2 production, increases gastric mucus layer thickness, and reduces HCl secretion through H+/K+-ATPase inhibition

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

  • Traditionally used as an anti-rheumatic (Vatahara). Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in carrageenan and formalin models.
  • Traditionally used for diarrhea. Animal studies have reported reduced gastrointestinal motility and fluid accumulation in a castor oil-induced diarrhea model.
  • Traditionally used to protect the stomach. Research has reported a PGE2-mediated increase in gastric mucus secretion and a protective effect against ulcers.

What do recent studies show?

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

  • Traditionally consumed as a vegetable in Northeast India with a good safety record; acute toxicity studies show no mortality at 2000 mg/kg in rodents
  • Foetid odor (from sulfur-containing compounds) may cause nausea in some individuals; limited data on chronic toxicity and drug interactions

What is it made of?

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Taila (medicated oil), Churna, Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Ghrita, Lepa (paste)

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g powder daily; 20-30 mL decoction twice daily; 500-750 mg standardized extract twice daily; Prasarini Taila for external massage

Optimal Timing: Oral: after meals to reduce odor-related nausea. Prasarini Taila: warm oil massage before bath, or at bedtime for joint conditions. Ghrita: early morning on empty stomach for Vata conditions.

Storage: Dried herb: airtight (odor containment critical), below 25 deg C. Taila: amber glass, room temperature. Capsules: blister packaging to contain odor. All forms: protect from moisture and light.

Marker Compounds: Paederoside, Asperuloside, Paederosidic acid, Ursolic acid, Oleanolic acid, Sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Methyl mercaptan (volatile marker)

Synergistic Combinations

  • Nirgundi (musculoskeletal pain and Vata disorders)
  • Bala (nerve and muscle strength combination)
  • Rasna (rheumatic conditions - Maharasnadi Kwatha)
  • Ashwagandha (strength and recovery)
  • Eranda Taila (joint mobility and inflammation)
  • Dashmool (comprehensive Vata management)

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. Dwivedi J, Wal P, Wagh VD and others. 2025. Paederia Foetida Linn (Rubiaceae): Chemical Diversity, Phytopharmacological Potential, Quantitative Analysis and Clinical ApproachesCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 39781725 · doi:10.2174/0113862073314773241115100620
  2. Sarma MK, Saha D, Das BK and others. 2023. A delve into the pharmacological targets and biological mechanisms of Paederia foetida Linn.: a rather invaluable traditional medicinal plantNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology. PMID 37099165 · doi:10.1007/s00210-023-02496-4
  3. Wang L, Jiang Y, Han T and others. 2014. A phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical profile of Paederia foetida and P. scandensNatural product communications. PMID 25115105

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Yunita M, Syarif RA, Kusuma RJ and others. 2026. Acute oral toxicity and hepatic responses to Paederia foetida leaf extract in Wistar ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 41871630 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2026.121569
  2. Santajit S, Thavorasak T, Horpet D and others. 2025. Phytochemical inhibition of quorum sensing and biofilm formation by Paederia foetida Linn. against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: An integrated in vitro and in silico investigationVeterinary world. PMID 41064837 · doi:10.14202/vetworld.2025.2181-2193
  3. Phankhieo S, Laoung-On J, Quiggins R and others. 2025. Antioxidant Activity of Paederia foetida Linn. Leaf Extract and Its Effect on Bovine Sperm QualityVeterinary sciences. PMID 40872725 · doi:10.3390/vetsci12080775
  4. Feng Z, Li J. 2025. Hepatoprotective effect of Paederia foetida on paracetamol-induced hepatobiliary disease in rats via alteration of inflammatory and Nrf2/HO-1 pathwayActa cirurgica brasileira. PMID 40802356 · doi:10.1590/acb409925
  5. Pakaprot N, Khamphaya T, Kwankaew P and others. 2024. Neuroprotective effects of Paederia foetida Linn. on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in ratsVeterinary world. PMID 39507784 · doi:10.14202/vetworld.2024.1972-1982
  6. Santajit S, Tunyong W, Horpet D and others. 2024. Unveiling the Antimicrobial, Anti-Biofilm, and Anti-Quorum-Sensing Potential of Paederia foetida Linn. Leaf Extract against Staphylococcus aureus: An Integrated In Vitro-In Silico InvestigationAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39061295 · doi:10.3390/antibiotics13070613
  7. Ferdous J, Rahman ME, Sraboni FS and others. 2023. Assessment of the hypoglycemic and anti-hemostasis effects of Paederia foetida (L.) in controlling diabetes and thrombophilia combining in vivo and computational analysisComputational biology and chemistry. PMID 37738820 · doi:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107954
  8. Borgohain MP, Chowdhury L, Ahmed S and others. 2017. Renoprotective and antioxidative effects of methanolic Paederia foetida leaf extract on experimental diabetic nephropathy in ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 28111217 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.035
  9. Chanda S, Deb L, Tiwari RK and others. 2015. Gastroprotective mechanism of Paederia foetida Linn. (Rubiaceae)--a popular edible plant used by the tribal community of North-East IndiaBMC complementary and alternative medicine. PMID 26335308 · doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0831-0

Reference lists that include it

Ellagic acid, Oleanolic acid, Stigmasterol, Ursolic acid

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.