Justicia adhatoda
Justicia adhatoda, commonly known as Adhatoda or Vasaka, is a powerful medicinal shrub native to India. Renowned for its potent bronchodilatory and expectorant properties, it is widely used in traditional Ayurveda to treat respiratory ailments like asthma, bronchitis, and coughs, thanks to its active alkaloid, vasicine.
- Scientific name: Justicia adhatoda
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Native range: Europe
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Acanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Justicia | 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
Chemicals
Justicia adhatoda has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include adhatodine, anisotine, saponins, tannins, vasicine.
- Total chemicals
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 23
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| adhatodine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anisotine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vasicine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vasicolinone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| friedelanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Justicia adhatoda has 20 reported activities identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Abortifacient, Antibacterial, Antifungal.
- Total activities
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 28
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Justicia adhatoda has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis.
- Total uses
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cough | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus niger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |