Priyangu
Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.
Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.) is a plant drug, from the Lamiaceae family. Anti-inflammatory activity confirmed in carrageenan-induced paw edema models. Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (fruit indicated for emesis and giddiness).
| Botanical name | Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (fruit indicated for emesis and giddiness). No dedicated WHO monograph. Classified in Indian traditional medicine pharmacopeias under Verbenaceae. |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5609508 · Wikidata Q5021993 · NCBI Taxonomy 536997 |
The evidence at a glance
11papers on this site for this drug, published 2015 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 11Laboratory 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 | Priyangu |
| Latin/Botanical | Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Calliterpenone (diterpenoid)
- Calliterpenone monoacetate
- Luteolin
- Apigenin
- Ursolic acid
- Betulinic acid
- Beta-sitosterol
- Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory: Calliterpenone and luteolin inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators; demonstrated in carrageenan-induced edema models.
- Uterine tonic action: Traditional Garbhashaya Shodhana (uterine cleansing) attributed to combined terpenoid and flavonoid activity on uterine smooth muscle.
- Antipyretic: Reduces elevated body temperature through prostaglandin synthesis inhibition, comparable to paracetamol in animal models.
- Antimicrobial: Flavonoids and terpenoids disrupt microbial cell membranes; laboratory studies have reported activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
- Antidiabetic: Alpha-glucosidase inhibition and insulin-sensitizing effects demonstrated in preclinical diabetes models.
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema models.
- Experimental studies have reported Analgesic activity comparable to standard analgesics.
- Experimental studies have reported antipyretic effects in fever models.
- Laboratory studies have reported antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens.
- Animal studies have reported anti-arthritic activity in a Freund’s adjuvant arthritis model.
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
- Limited toxicity data available.
- Traditionally contraindicated during first trimester of pregnancy despite gynecological applications. Should be used under qualified practitioner guidance.
- No significant adverse effects reported in available preclinical studies; however, comprehensive toxicological profiling is lacking.
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Luteolin
- Apigenin
- Sitosterol
- Calliterpenone
- Calliterpenone monoacetate
- Ursolic acid
- Betulinic acid
- Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (flower/bark powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Lepa (paste), Taila (oil), Anjana (collyrium)
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g flower powder twice daily; 15-20 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg standardized extract twice daily; topical paste as needed
Optimal Timing: For gynecological conditions: begin 5-7 days before expected menses, continue through menstruation. General use: after meals. Topical: as needed, morning and evening.
Storage: Dried flowers: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, RH <50%, protected from light. Extracts: amber containers, cool and dry. Taila: amber glass, room temperature.
Marker Compounds: Betulinic acid, Calliterpenone, Lupeol, Beta-sitosterol, Ursolic acid, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Oleanolic acid
Synergistic Combinations
- Ashoka (uterine health and menorrhagia management)
- Lodhra (astringent and gynecological synergy)
- Nagakesara (hemorrhagic conditions)
- Chandana (complexion-enhancing formulation)
- Manjistha (blood purification and skin health)
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 studies11
- 2026. Three new diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Callicarpa macrophyllaNatural product research. PMID 40403162 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2025.2505602
- 2025. Phytochemical analysis of different Callicarpa species based on integrating metabolomics and chemometricsPhytochemical analysis : PCA. PMID 39313958 · doi:10.1002/pca.3451
- 2023. Five undescribed abietane-type diterpenes of Callicarpa macrophyllaFitoterapia. PMID 37524125 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105629
- 2023. Environmentally-Friendly Pesticidal Activities of Callicarpa and Karomia Essential Oils from Vietnam and Their MicroemulsionsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 36732885 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202200210
- 2022. The complete chloroplast genome of Callicarpa macrophylla VahlMitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 36299710 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2022.2134749
- 2022. Calliterpenone, a natural plant growth promoter from a medicinal plant Callicarpa macrophylla, sustainably enhances the yield and productivity of cropsFrontiers in plant science. PMID 36226284 · doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.960717
- 2021. Two new terpenoids from the leaves of callicarpa macrophyllaNatural product research. PMID 31303054 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2019.1639180
- 2019. Three new labdane-type diterpenoids from Callicarpa macrophylla VahlNatural product research. PMID 30445877 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2018.1509336
- 2017. β-Selinene-Rich Essential Oils from the Parts of Callicarpa macrophylla and Their Antioxidant and Pharmacological ActivitiesMedicines (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 28930267 · doi:10.3390/medicines4030052
- 2017. Three New Abietane-Type Diterpenoids from Callicarpa macrophylla VahlMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 28534843 · doi:10.3390/molecules22050842
- 2015. Bioactive Diterpenoids from the Leaves of Callicarpa macrophyllaJournal of natural products. PMID 26110519 · doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00018
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.