# Vasa

> Vasa (Adhatoda vasica Nees (syn. Justicia adhatoda L.)) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Acanthaceae family. Included in WHO manual on Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care; WHO Special Programme of Research in Human Reproduction investigated vasicine for fertility regulation; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India listed.

## Key facts

- **Botanical name:** Adhatoda vasica Nees (syn. Justicia adhatoda L.)
- **Family:** Acanthaceae
- **Pharmacopoeia status:** Included in WHO manual on Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care; WHO Special Programme of Research in Human Reproduction investigated vasicine for fertility regulation; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India listed

## Names and identification

| Language | Name |
|----------|------|
| English | Vasa |
| Latin/Botanical | *Adhatoda vasica Nees (syn. Justicia adhatoda L.)* |

## Key Phytochemical Constituents

- Vasicine (quinazoline alkaloid)
- [Vasicinone](/glossary/compounds-t-z/#vasicinone)
- [Vasicinol](/glossary/compounds-t-z/#vasicinol)
- 7-Hydroxyvasicine
- Vasicolinone
- [Deoxyvasicine](/glossary/compounds-c-d/#deoxyvasicine)
- [Adhatodine](/glossary/compounds-1-a/#adhatodine)
- [Anisotine](/glossary/compounds-1-a/#anisotine)

## How does it work?

- Bronchodilatory: Vasicine and vasicinone relax bronchial smooth muscle through dual mechanism - beta-2 adrenergic agonism and muscarinic M3 receptor antagonism
- [Expectorant](/reference/expectorant/)/Mucolytic: Vasicine stimulates ciliary motility and enhances serous gland secretion, reducing mucus viscosity and promoting clearance
- Uterotonic: Vasicine stimulates uterine smooth muscle contraction similar to oxytocin through prostaglandin synthesis pathway activation

## Which traditional uses are supported by research?

- Bronchodilatory and antitussive use (Kasa-Shwasahara) extensively validated through clinical and pharmacological studies confirming vasicine's expectorant mechanism
- [Hemostatic](/glossary/pharmacology/#hemostatic) use (Raktapitta treatment) confirmed by vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation enhancement by vasicinone in bleeding models
- [Antimicrobial](/reference/antimicrobial/) use for respiratory infections supported by antibacterial activity against common respiratory pathogens (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae)

## What do recent clinical trials show?

- Rudrapal M, Vallinayagam S, Aldosari S and others 2023. [Valorization of Adhatoda vasica leaves: Extraction, in vitro analyses and in silico approaches](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37063312/). *Frontiers in nutrition*. PMID [37063312](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37063312/) · [doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1161471](https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1161471)  
  In silico and in vitro studies validated vasicine as potent [bronchodilator](/reference/bronchodilator/) with favorable binding to beta-2 adrenergic receptor and muscarinic M3 receptor antagonism.

*2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.*

## Recent safety updates

- WHO includes it in manual 'The Use of Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care' for cough, asthma; can be used safely for adults and children for extended periods at standard doses
- Contraindicated in pregnancy due to uterotonic and potential abortifacient activity of vasicine; large doses may cause nausea and vomiting; WHO studied vasicine for fertility regulation in 1980s

## Dosage forms and preparation

**Dosage Forms:** Svarasa (fresh leaf juice), Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Syrup (Vasavaleha/Vasa [Haritaki](/herb/haritaki/)), Avaleha, Ghana Vati (solid extract tablet)

**Standard Dosage:** 10-20 mL fresh juice with honey twice daily; 3-5 g powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 1-2 teaspoons Vasavaleha twice daily

**Bioavailability:** Vasicine (peganine) has good oral bioavailability (~45-55%) with rapid absorption (Tmax 1-2 hours). Vasicinone (auto-oxidation product of vasicine) is also well absorbed. Both cross the blood-brain barrier. Vasicine is a potent bronchodilator and respiratory stimulant. Metabolism is primarily hepatic (CYP-mediated oxidation). Vasicinone has complementary pharmacological profile (bronchodilator at low doses, bronchoconstrictor at high doses). Fresh juice provides highest vasicine bioavailability.

**Optimal Timing:** Before meals with honey for respiratory conditions; morning and evening; avoid during pregnancy

**Standardized Extract:** Leaf extract standardized to >1.0% vasicine and >0.5% vasicinone by HPLC; total alkaloid content >2.0%

**Shelf Life:** Fresh juice: 24-48 hours refrigerated; Powder: 12-18 months; Syrup: 18-24 months; Capsules/Tablets: 24-36 months; Avaleha: 18-24 months

**Storage:** Dried leaves in airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C. Fresh juice at 2-8 deg C. Syrup in amber glass. Monitor vasicine-to-vasicinone ratio during stability studies as indicator of oxidative degradation.

**Marker Compounds:** Vasicine (peganine), Vasicinone, Vasicol, Vasicinol, Adhatodine, Deoxyvasicine, Maiontone, beta-[Sitosterol](/glossary/compounds-q-t/#sitosterol)

### Extraction Methods

- Fresh leaf juice expression
- Aqueous decoction
- Hydroethanolic extraction (50-70% ethanol)
- Acid-base extraction for alkaloid isolation
- Spray drying of aqueous extract

### Synergistic Combinations

- [Kantakari](/herb/kantakari/) (Solanum surattense) - synergistic bronchodilator
- [Tulsi](/herb/tulsi/) - comprehensive respiratory formula
- [Yashtimadhu](/herb/yashtimadhu/) (licorice) - demulcent + expectorant combination
- [Pippali](/herb/pippali/) - bioenhancer for respiratory [alkaloids](/glossary/compounds-1-a/#alkaloids)
- Haritaki - Vasa Haritaki Avaleha (classical respiratory [Rasayana](/reference/rasayana/))

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Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/vasa/

## Sources

- Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database (700+ herbs, CC-BY-4.0)
- Web research (clinical trials, WHO monographs, safety databases)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Published by Age Ayurveda in the Nighantu. Educational reference only, not medical advice.
Incorporates material from the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database under CC BY 4.0.