Vasaka

Source
 Dried & fresh leaves of
Adhatoda vasica
Acanthaceae
 Indigenous to India
 Requires loamy soil
 Raised from stem cuttings / seeds
 Also obtained from wild sources /
garden plants
 Description
 Shape lanceolate , broad at
base
 Apex acuminate
 Petiolate
 Margin entire
 Colour dull brownish green
 Slight odour
 Taste bitter
 Microscopy (dorsiventral leaf)
Lamina
 Upper epidermis Single layered ,
Cuticularised
Covering trichomes 2 – 4 celled
thick walled , pointed
Glandular trichomes 4 celled heads
Diacytic stamata
 Lower epidermis More Stomata &
Trichomes than the upper
 Mesophyll
Upper palisade Double layered
Lower spongy parenchyma 2–6
layered
Cystoliths
 Midrib
 Epidermis Both upper & lower
epidermis
More trichomes in midrib
region
 Collenchyma 2 – 4 layered
Below upper & above lower
epidermis
Remaining parenchyma
 V.B Collateral
Xylem towards upper epidermis
 Constituents
 Alkaloids Vasicine , Vasicinone
 Volatile oil
 Others Betain , Vasakin ,
Adhatodic acid

Uses
 Expectorant
 Exert bronchodilator effect