PLANTS AND MEDICINE-2

PLANTS AND MEDICINE-2

VASAKA                                      

Adathoda vasica [=Justicia adathoda]

A well-known brand marketing expectorant formulation for treating cough and respiratory disorder used to tag their name with “Terp Vasaka”. This part of the name was obviously a reference to the nature of the product widely known as vasaka . 

Botanically, the plant is named Adathoda vasica [=Justicia adathoda] of the family Acanthaceae. Curiously the botanical name is based on the Tamil expression ஆடு தின்னா ப்பாலை /ஆடு தீண்டா ப்பாலை/ ஆடாதோடை / ஆடுதொடா [ஆடு தொடாத செடி] meaning not touched by goat/ sheep. Such is the deterring content rich in Alkaloids, Tannins/ Turgorins that confer a typical bitterness to the grazing cattle[ But, recall these got/sheep devour bitter Neem leaves [வேம்பு] with great delight!

The plant is a native of Indian subcontinent and is widely distributed across the country and has been a household remedy in India. It is a shrub growing to 6-7 feet with fairly long ‘tea-like’ leaves, easy to hand pick harvesting.

Gladly, all parts of the plant [leaf, stem, root] possess curative alkaloid though differing in ease of deriving the medicinal component.   Technically these are named alkaloids, Tannins , tterpenes , terpenoids and so on. Normally leaves are used for domestic use , since the boiling leaves is easy to derive an aqueous decoction consumed to fight congestion and cough.

Chemically, the basic product is ‘VASICINE’ and is effective as a broncho dilator and against Bronchitis, and Tuberculosis. The drug regimen would vary by the kind of disorder, severity and the degree of infection. Generally home remedies are good enough in the stages of onset of a disorder and advanced ones are better left to the care of physicians.

Adathoda leaves are said to possess 2 types as ‘Vasicine’ and ‘Vasicinone-2, 3’ 

The advent of refined procedure for ‘extraction of active principles’ has improved the choice options of components that are far more effective than a total extract. One such is a derivative named ‘Bromhexine’ pbtained from ‘Vasicine’ exhibiting higher efficacy in handling bronchial disorders/ailments.

Yet another derivative is ‘Ambrosol’ that shows Secretolytic action’       [ fights production of fluids or secretions] in bronchial disorders. The nagging part of respiratory afflictions proves irritating by the formation of fluids in respiratory tract especially nasal canal.

Thus, medicinal herbs offer a range of components [natural products] that fight causative agents / factors. Simplicity of their use is an added advantage in fighting disorders.

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