Malabar nut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Malabar nut
• Malabar nut tree
• Malabar-nut
• Malabar-nut-tree
• pavettia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Adeloda serrata
• Gendarussa adhadota
• Ecbolium adhatoda
• Adhatoda zeylanica
• Adhatoda pubescens
• Adhatoda vasica
• Adhatoda arborea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Acanthaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed by its placement in the genus Justicia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans multiple continents and climates. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is specifically noted in Sicilia. Moving toward Africa, it can be found in Algeria as well as in the Northeast Tropical region of Ethiopia. The species also extends into the Western Indian Ocean, with populations located in Madagascar. Finally, its distribution reaches into Western Asia, where it is documented in Afghanistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Justicia adhatoida is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying environmental conditions. This species is commonly found distributed within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 200 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. Such a broad vertical distribution allows the plant to inhabit various ecological niches, ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher-altitude montane regions, where it must navigate fluctuations in temperature, moisture availability, and light intensity typical of these shifting elevations.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Justicia adhatoda is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its existence, it maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally, which ensures continuous photosynthetic activity and structural integrity. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and constant leaf cover enables the species to establish robust woody structures that can withstand varying environmental conditions over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Justicia adhatoda is characterized by its stature as a woody shrub, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 3 m. As a terrestrial organism, it grows in a non-aquatic environment and functions as an independent species, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, meaning it does not require external structures such as lianas or vines to maintain its upright position. Its physical structure is defined by a woody composition, providing the necessary stability for its shrubby form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Justicia adhatoda is characterized by specialized metabolic pathways primarily focused on the biosynthesis and accumulation of quinazoline alkaloids, most notably vasicine and vasicinone, within its foliar tissues. These secondary metabolites are synthesized through complex enzymatic processes that serve as chemical defense mechanisms against herbivory and pathogens. The plant's physiological efficiency is driven by a robust photosynthetic apparatus capable of maintaining high metabolic rates under varying environmental conditions, facilitating the continuous production of bioactive compounds. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not exhibit the physiological capacity for atmospheric nitrogen sequestration; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the specialized root nodules and symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required for the nitrogen_fix_1 process. Instead, it relies on the uptake of dissolved nitrates and ammonium from the soil to support its protein synthesis and overall growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Justicia adhata is characterized by a flowering cycle that can vary depending on environmental conditions, though it typically follows a specific seasonal pattern. The flowering period is quite flexible, with the ability to bloom throughout various months of the year; however, specific seasonal trends indicate that the flowering process often begins around March. This blooming phase continues through the spring months, typically reaching its conclusion around May, although the variable nature of its reproductive cycle allows for potential flowering at different times throughout the year.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Justicia adhatoda has 4 reported plant parts identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Chirality
5. Photosynthetica

Root

1. Photosynthetica
2. Ancient science of life
3. Parasitology research

Flower

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Stem

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Chemicals

Justicia adhatoda has 69 reported phytochemicals identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Vasicine, Flavonoids, VASICINONE, Adhatodine, Anisotine.

Vasicine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Photosynthetica
5. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Natural product research
3. BMC biotechnology
4. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
5. Drug metabolism and personalized therapy

VASICINONE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. 3 Biotech
4. Planta
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Adhatodine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anisotine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
3. Drug metabolism and personalized therapy
4. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Vasicinol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Drug metabolism and personalized therapy
3. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Vasicolinone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

CR

1. Photosynthetica
2. Food chemistry

Activities

Justicia adhatoda has 114 reported activities identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Abortifacient, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antifungal.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
4. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
5. Biological trace element research

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Heliyon
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Antifungal

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biological trace element research

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Medicinal Uses

Justicia adhatoda has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations