Abstract

A REVIEW OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS & THERAPEUTIC USES OF JUSTICIA ADHATODA (L.): A PLANT OF DIVERSE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES USED IN UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Rehmat Jahan*, Shoeb Ahmed Ansari, Asma Sattar Khan, Khadija Abdul Hafiz and

Abstract

Justicia adhatoda (L.), also known as Arusa is an important medicinal plant extensively used in Unani system of medicine for a wide range of ailments like influenza, tuberculosis, bronchitis, gastric ulcers etc. Although every part of the plant has some therapeutic values, its leaves contain wondrous medicinal properties. The leaves have several biologically active phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids. The major chemical constituents of leaves are pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids-vasicine, vasicol, vasicinone, vasicinol, vasicinolone, adhatonine along with other minor constituents. The plant possesses diverse pharmacological activities. In Unani system of medicine, the plant is described to have antispasmodic (Dāfi„-i-Tashannuj), germicidal (Dāfi„-i-Jaraseem), expectorant of phlegm (Munaffith-i-Balgham) and antipyretic (Dāfi„-i- - ummā) properties. The leaf juice is beneficial in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea. Various other activities like radio modulation, hypoglycaemic effect, cardiovascular protection, antitubercular, antiviral, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities have also been reported. The present study is aimed to review the medicinal properties and therapeutic values of Justicia adhatoda L. reported in various research publications, books and classical Unani literature.

Keywords: Vasicine, Vasicinol, Bronchodilator, Expectorant, Respiratory conditions.