DefinePK

Abstract

 Herbs have always been a source of new medicine since ancient times. Consequently, the use of alternative medicines such as herbal products has been increasing over the last decades gaining popularity among the public and health care professionals. The Justicia adhatoda L. is a species of the Acanthaceae family, an iconic native plant of the Indian subcontinent. It is mentioned for its traditional use in the WHO basic health care guidelines. Primarily it is used to treat a variety of ailments in the alternative system of medicine. The plant possesses a substantial number of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, proteins, carotene, amino acids, and vitamin C, found in roots and leaves like vasicine, vasicoline, vasicinone, adhatodine, vasicolinone, and anisotine exhibiting diverse pharmacological effects. A few of the chronic medical conditions that are treated by Justicia adhatoda include bronchodilator, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, anti-asthmatic, antibacterial, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, anti-cancer, and anti-allergic actions. The chief phytochemicals of the plant are vasicine and vasicinone, which have the major therapeutic effect of treating respiratory disorders. Hence this medicinal plant could be the source of new therapeutic drugs in the future.