• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.13.1-13.7
• /
• 2020

Arusa (Adhatoda vasica) is an important medicinal plant widely used in Unani system of medicine of (Family-Acanthaceae). The leaves of Adhatoda vasica contain several biologically active phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids. It mainly consists of pyrroquinazoline, alkaloids, viz. vasicine, vasicol, vasicinone, peganine along with other minor constituents. The plant possesses diverse pharmacological activities, In Unani system of medicine, the drug is described as having dafa-e-tashannuj (anti-spasmodic), qatil-e-jarasim (antibiotic), mukhrij-e-balgham (expectorant), dafa-e-humma (antipyretic) properties due to which it is prescribed in a wide range of ailments like influenza, tuberculosis, bronchitis, gastric ulcers etc. 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 activity have also been reported.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.109-119
• /
• 1989

Adhatoda vasica Nees is a shrubby component of tropical and subtropical vegetation in Pakistan. t harbours relatively few unhealthy associated species in and around its thickets. Aqueous extracts, rain leachates, litter from shoots and soil underneath it invariably reduced germination, early growth, biomass, moisture and chlorophyll contents of Pennisetum americanum, Setaria italica, Zea mays, Brassica campestris and Triticum vulgare in different laboratory expreiments. chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of caffeic, ferulic, vanillic, p-coumaric, p-OH-benzoic, and tannic acids in aqueous extracts. The phytotoxicity was related to the test species used, part assayed and parameter measured. It is suggested that the preclusion of the associated species and the dominance of A. vasica is primarily due to allelopathy. Negative grazing also provides better chances for its establishment.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.128-133
• /
• 2004

Twenty plant extracts were tested against mycelial growth, sclerotium formatiom and dry weight of mycelium with sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The highest(90 mm) mycelial growth was measured in Adhatoda vasica, Tegetes erecta, Allium cepa, and Curcuma longa. The lowest(25 mm) was in Azadirachta indica. No mycelial growth was found in any concentration of cow, buffalo, and goat urine. The highest(90 mm) and the lowest(15 mm) mycelial growth were measured in Biomil and Urea, respectively. No mycelial growth was observed in Zinc. The highest(60 mm) and the lowest(2 mm) mycelial growth were recorded in Macuprex(Dodine; 65% WP) and Boron(100% Boric acid and 17% Boron) respectively. Mycelial growth was totally inhibited in Rovral(Iprodione; 50% WP).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.409-416
• /
• 2018

Vasicinone, a quinazoline alkaloid from Adhatoda vasica Nees. is well known for its bronchodilator activity. However its anti-proliferative activities is yet to be elucidated. Here-in we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of vasicinone and its underlying mechanism against A549 lung carcinoma cells. The A549 cells upon treatment with various doses of vasicinone (10, 30, 50, $70{\mu}M$) for 72 h showed significant decrease in cell viability. Vasicinone treatment also showed DNA fragmentation, LDH leakage, and disruption of mitochondrial potential, and lower wound healing ability in A549 cells. The Annexin V/PI staining showed disrupted plasma membrane integrity and permeability of PI in treated cells. Moreover vasicinone treatment also lead to down regulation of Bcl-2, Fas death receptor and up regulation of PARP, BAD and cytochrome c, suggesting the anti-proliferative nature of vasicinone which mediated apoptosis through both Fas death receptors as well as Bcl-2 regulated signaling. Furthermore, our preliminary studies with vasicinone treatment also showed to lower the ROS levels in A549 cells and have potential free radical scavenging (DPPH, Hydroxyl) activity and ferric reducing power in cell free systems. Thus combining all, vasicinone may be used to develop a new therapeutic agent against oxidative stress induced lung cancer.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.221-225
• /
• 2003

Effect of ethanolic extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Vinca rosea, Tagetes patula, Ocimum sanctum, Colocasia antiquorum, Adhatoda vasica, Moringa oleifera, Datura metel and Curcuma longa leaf on conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus were examined. The conidial germination of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were most inhibited by the extract of L. inermis, while that of A. niger was inhibited by A. indica. Other tested plant extracts have a good effect on conidial germination on the selected fungi. The highest mycelial growth of A. flavus(37 mm) was found in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus it(38 and 39 mm) was found in D. metel. The lowest(4, 9 and 6 mm) respectively mycelial growth of these fungi found in L. inermis. The highest sporulation($75{\times}10^4/ml$) of A. flavus was counted in V. rosea, but in case of A. niger and A. fumigatus those($45{\times}10^4$ and $55{\times}10^4/ml$) were in D. metel and the lowest($5{\times}10^4,\;12{\times}10^4\;and\;9{\times}10^4/ml$) respectively sporulation of these fungi counted in L. inermis plant extract medium.