Rohitaka
Tecomella undulata
Rohitaka (Tecomella undulata) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Apigenin derivatives show improved absorption when taken with piperine (1.5-2x increase). Tannin content may reduce absorption if taken with iron supplements. Kwatha must be refrigerated (2-8 deg C) after opening.
| Botanical name | Tecomella undulata |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. VI: ROHITAKA (Stem Bark) |
| Also called | Aphanamixis polystachya (attribution recorded without a cited source) |
| Family | Bignoniaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 4093643 · Wikidata Q311815 · NCBI Taxonomy 680229 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Rohitaka |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Kwatha (decoction), Churna (powder), Ghana vati (solid extract tablet), Asava/Arishta, Capsule, Syrup
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder per day; 50-100 mL kwatha twice daily; 500-1000 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily
Bioavailability: Moderate bioavailability for flavonoid glycosides (20-35%); hepatoprotective compounds undergo significant enterohepatic circulation, which prolongs duration of action. Apigenin derivatives show improved absorption when taken with piperine (1.5-2x increase). Tannin content may reduce absorption if taken with iron supplements.
Optimal Timing: Before meals on an empty stomach for hepatoprotective action; morning and evening doses recommended
Standardized Extract: Aqueous-ethanolic bark extract (8:1), standardized to NLT 2.5% total flavonoids (as apigenin equivalents by HPLC); total tannin content 8-15% by Folin-Denis method
Shelf Life: 18 months for kwatha (with preservatives); 24 months for churna; 36 months for standardized extract capsules
Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight containers. Kwatha must be refrigerated (2-8 deg C) after opening. Protect from light; flavonoids are photosensitive.
Marker Compounds: Apigenin, Rohitukine, Lupeol, Beta-sitosterol, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction (traditional kwatha)
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-60% ethanol)
- Sequential extraction (hexane then ethanol then water)
- Maceration in 70% methanol for flavonoid enrichment
Synergistic Combinations
- Kutki (hepatoprotective synergy)
- Bhumyamalaki (liver-spleen disorders)
- Kalmegh (hepatoprotective and cholagogue combination)
- Punarnava (hepatorenal protective formulations)
- Guduchi (immunomodulatory-hepatoprotective synergy)
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.