Ashoka tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• asoka-tree
• Ashoka
• Ashoka tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jonesia asoca
• Jonesia confusa
• Saraca confusa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, specifically being a member of the Fabaceae family. Its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Saraca, with the species being Saraca asoca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally throughout various parts of India, including the state of Assam. The species also has a significant presence in Bangladesh and throughout the East Himalaya region. Additionally, its range extends to the remote areas of the Laccadive Islands. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in multiple subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Saraca asoca is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it lives for many years and maintains its biological functions through successive growing seasons. As a long-lived woody plant, it does not follow the rapid turnover seen in annuals or the intermediate stages of biennials; instead, it establishes a permanent presence in its ecosystem, gradually increasing in size and complexity over time. Its life cycle involves a sustained period of vegetative growth followed by seasonal flowering and fruiting phases, allowing it to contribute to the forest canopy for decades. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest significant energy into deep root systems and sturdy structural development, ensuring its long-term survival and reproductive capacity within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Saraca asoca is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species typically reaches a significant stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 9 m. Unlike climbing species, its growth habit is distinctly self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a liana or vine. As a fully woody plant, it develops a sturdy structure consistent with its classification as a tree.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

9 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Saraca asoca is characterized by complex metabolic processes optimized for tropical environments, involving robust photosynthetic pathways and efficient nutrient acquisition. As a dicotyledonous angiosperm, its physiological framework supports rapid growth and seasonal flowering cycles driven by precise hormonal regulation and carbohydrate translocation. In terms of its interaction with soil chemistry and nutrient cycling, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, and therefore relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its transpiration rates and stomatal conductance are finely tuned to manage water potential, ensuring that carbon fixation remains efficient even during periods of high thermal stress.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Saraca asoca has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, flower, seed.

Leaf

1. Canadian journal of microbiology
2. Data in brief
3. Journal of natural medicines

Stem

1. Canadian journal of microbiology
2. Ancient science of life

Flower

1. Canadian journal of microbiology

Seed

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Chemicals

Saraca asoca has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Epicatechin, Flavonoids, (+)-Pinitol, (+)-catechin.

Gallic acid

1. Journal of food and drug analysis
2. Pharmacognosy magazine
3. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Epicatechin

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Flavonoids

1. Drug development and industrial pharmacy
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

(+)-Pinitol

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

(+)-catechin

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

(-)-Epicatechin gallate

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

CATECHIN

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Copper (Cu)

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Activities

Saraca asoca has 8 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product research
2. Toxicology reports
3. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Analgesic

1. International journal of legal medicine

Antioxidant

1. Toxicology reports

Antiviral

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural medicines

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. Toxicology reports

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Hypolipidemic

1. Toxicology reports

Medicinal Uses

Saraca asoca has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include menorrhagia, acute myeloid leukemia, antioxidant, breast cancer, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations