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Vasaka

Justicia adhatoda

Vasaka (Justicia adhatoda) is a plant drug, also called Vasakah and Adusa. Vasa and Vasaka are synonymous names for Adhatoda vasica in different Ayurvedic traditions.

Key facts
Botanical nameJusticia adhatoda
FamilyAcanthaceae · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3173105 · Wikidata Q61022811 · NCBI Taxonomy 141317
Names in other languages
Sanskritवासकः (vāsakaḥ)
Hindiअडूसा (aḍūsā)
Tamilஆடாதோடை

Sources: MMPND Sorting Justicia names, Justicia adhatoda Hindi list: 'अडुसा Adusa, अडुळसा Adulsa, Adosa, Adulasa, Adus, अर्शा Arusa, Arusha'; MMPND Sorting Justicia names, Justicia adhatoda entry, Tamil: 'ஆடாதோடை Adatodai, Adhatodai, Adotodai, Pavatai, Pavettai'; wisdomlib Vasaka entry: Devanagari वासक, identified as Adhatoda vasica = Justicia adhatoda (Acanthaceae), citing Rāj Nighaṇṭu and Mādhavacikitsā; MMPND also lists Sanskrit 'वासक Vasaka'. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2018 to 2024, 9 with a DOI.

  • 2Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 10Laboratory 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
EnglishVasaka

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Tikta, KashayaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Svarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Syrup, Avaleha (Vasavaleha), Ghana Vati

Standard Dosage: 10-20 mL fresh juice twice daily; 3-5 g powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; standardized extract capsule 250-500 mg twice daily

Optimal Timing: Traditionally taken before meals with honey in cough and respiratory conditions; morning and evening dosing

Storage: Identical to Vasa. Airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C. Monitor vasicine/vasicinone ratio. Protect from oxidation.

Marker Compounds: Vasicine, Vasicinone, Vasicol, Deoxyvasicine, Adhatodine, Anisotine, Vasicinol, Maiontone

Synergistic Combinations

  • Tulsi - respiratory support combination
  • Mulethi/Yashtimadhu - demulcent and expectorant synergy
  • Pippali + Madhu (honey) - traditional respiratory formulation
  • Kantakari + Vasaka - traditional respiratory combination
  • Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck) - anti-allergic respiratory combination

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 reviews2

  1. Khandelwal P, Wadhwani BD, Rao RS and others. 2024. Exploring the pharmacological and chemical aspects of pyrrolo-quinazoline derivatives in Adhatoda vasicaHeliyon. PMID 38379997 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25727
  2. Carneiro MRB, Sallum LO, Martins JLR and others. 2023. Overview of the Justicia Genus: Insights into Its Chemical Diversity and Biological PotentialMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36770856 · doi:10.3390/molecules28031190

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Nasir M, Ramash R, Fatima H and others. 2024. Phytochemical Characterization and Assessment of Crude Extracts from Justicia adhatoda for Phytotoxic and Cytotoxic ActivityScientifica. PMID 39359907 · doi:10.1155/2024/1374346
  2. Peron G, Prasad Phuyal G, Hošek J and others. 2024. Identification of hydroxyquinazoline alkaloids from Justicia adhatoda L. leaves, a traditional natural remedy with NF-κB and AP-1-mediated anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant activityJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 38754645 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118345
  3. Ameer MR, Moghul NB, Javed A and others. 2023. The Therapeutic Potential of the Medicinal Plant Justicia Adhatoda and its Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities: A Comparative StudyAlternative therapies in health and medicine. PMID 36150011
  4. Basit A, Shutian T, Khan A and others. 2022. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of leaf extract of Justicia adhatoda L. (Acanthaceae) in Carrageenan and Formalin-induced models by targeting oxidative stressBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 35763968 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113322
  5. Das A, Ghosh S. 2022. Determination of chiral bioactive molecules in Justicia adhatoda leaves by GC-MSChirality. PMID 36046957 · doi:10.1002/chir.23504
  6. Jeelani PG, Ramalingam C. 2021. Statistical approach to synthesise biogenic silica nanoparticles from rice husk and conjugated with Justicia adhatoda extract as green, slow-release biocideIET nanobiotechnology. PMID 34694712 · doi:10.1049/nbt2.12027
  7. Zaffar S, Malik M, Rehan AM and others. 2021. Effect Of Justicia Adhatoda (Malabar Nut) Leaf Extract On Drug-Induced Coagulopathy In Mice And In-Vitro Platelet Aggregation Of Human BloodJournal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC. PMID 33774945
  8. Berry E, Choudhary AK, Mishra G and others. 2020. Justicia adhatoda reveals two morphotypes with possible functional significanceJournal of plant research. PMID 32979146 · doi:10.1007/s10265-020-01224-w
  9. Gutti U, Komati JK, Kotipalli A and others. 2018. Justicia adhatoda induces megakaryocyte differentiation through mitochondrial ROS generationPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 29747746 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.038
  10. Khan I, Ahmad B, Azam S and others. 2018. Pharmacological activities of Justicia adhatodaPakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 29618423

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.