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Talisa

Abies webbiana Lindl. (syn. Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Mirb.)

Talisa (Abies webbiana Lindl. (syn. Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Mirb.)) is a plant drug, from the Pinaceae family. Not listed in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; key ingredient in classical formulation Talisadi Churna.

Key facts
Botanical nameAbies webbiana Lindl. (syn. Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Mirb.)
Currently accepted nameAbies spectabilis (D.Don) Mirb., the name above is treated as a synonym by GBIF; both are in use
FamilyPinaceae · other entries in this family
OrderPinales
Pharmacopoeia statusNot listed in WHO monographs; recognized in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; key ingredient in classical formulation Talisadi Churna
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2685620 · Wikidata Q50826380

The evidence at a glance

8papers on this site for this drug, published 1987 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

  • 8Laboratory 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

LanguageName
EnglishTalisa
Latin/BotanicalAbies webbiana Lindl. (syn. Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Mirb.)

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Bronchodilatory mechanism through calcium channel antagonism causing relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle, combined with anti-inflammatory reduction of airway hyperreactivity
  • Antispasmodic action through inhibition of smooth muscle contraction via calcium channel blocking, supporting both respiratory and gastrointestinal applications
  • Anti-platelet mechanism through inhibition of thromboxane synthesis and modulation of platelet aggregation pathways

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

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

  • Bronchodilator and antitussive activity has been reported in pharmacological studies, linked to calcium channel-mediated smooth muscle relaxation. Traditionally used for Kasa (cough) and Shwasa (asthma).
  • Traditionally used for respiratory inflammation. Animal studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity.
  • Antipyretic activity has been reported in preclinical studies. Traditionally used for Jwara (fever).

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 used at recommended Ayurvedic doses (1-3g powder, 50-100ml decoction) with no significant adverse effects documented; commonly used in respiratory formulations like Talisadi Churna
  • Potential for adulteration with Taxus baccata (yew), which contains toxic taxine alkaloids; proper botanical authentication is critical for safety

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Limonene
  • Flavonoids
  • Diterpenes
  • Steroids
  • Sitosterol
  • Tannins
  • Saponins
  • Abiesin

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Vati (tablet), Capsule, Syrup, Avaleha (confection)

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g of powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily

Optimal Timing: After meals with warm water or honey for respiratory conditions; morning and evening administration recommended

Storage: Store in airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C; protect from moisture and direct sunlight. Essential oil stored in amber glass bottles under nitrogen headspace.

Marker Compounds: alpha-Pinene, beta-Pinene, Limonene, Bornyl acetate, Camphene, delta-3-Carene, Myrcene

Synergistic Combinations

  • Pippali (Piper longum) - enhances respiratory bioactivity
  • Shunthi (Zingiber officinale) - synergistic bronchodilation
  • Vasa (Adhatoda vasica) - complementary expectorant action
  • Honey as anupana - enhances mucolytic delivery

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 studies8

  1. Sekaran K, Varghese RP, Karthik A and others. 2024. In silico network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking validation of Swasa Kudori tablet for screening druggable phytoconstituents of asthmaAdvances in protein chemistry and structural biology. PMID 38220427 · doi:10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.07.001
  2. Parkash O, Kumar D, Kumar S. 2015. Screening of Methanol Extract and Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Abies webbiana Lindl. for Neuropharmacological ActivitiesIndian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 26798167 · doi:10.4103/0250-474x.169039
  3. Yasin M, Hussain Janbaz K, Imran I and others. 2014. Pharmacological studies on the antispasmodic, bronchodilator and anti-platelet activities of Abies webbianaPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 24395464 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5112
  4. Ghosh AK, Sen D, Bhattacharya S. 2010. A new alkaloid isolated from Abies webbiana leafPharmacognosy research. PMID 21808564 · doi:10.4103/0974-8490.65516
  5. Vishnoi SP, Ghosh AK, Debnath B and others. 2007. Antibacterial activity of Abies webbianaFitoterapia. PMID 17196767 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2006.09.025
  6. Nayak SS, Ghosh AK, Debnath B and others. 2004. Synergistic effect of methanol extract of Abies webbiana leaves on sleeping time induced by standard sedatives in mice and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts in ratsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 15234784 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.04.014
  7. Nayak SS, Ghosh AK, Srikanth K and others. 2003. Antitussive activity of Abies webbiana Lindl. leaf extract against sulphur dioxide-induced cough reflex in micePhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 13680827 · doi:10.1002/ptr.1263
  8. Sarkar SK, Poddar G, Mahato SB. 1987. Glucosides from Abies webbianaPlanta medica. PMID 17268999 · doi:10.1055/s-2006-962678

Reference lists that include it

Flavonoids, Tannins

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.