Malabar Nut Tree Leaf Extract

botanical

What is it

Malabar nut tree (Adhatoda vasica, vasaka or adusa) is a shrub native to India whose leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine for respiratory complaints, including cough, bronchitis, and asthma.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Cough and bronchial symptoms

Limited

Traditional use is consistent and small clinical studies support expectorant and bronchodilator activity. Better-quality randomized trials would help.

How it works

The leaves contain quinazoline alkaloids, primarily vasicine and vasicinone. Vasicine has bronchodilatory activity in animal models and was the lead compound for the synthetic drug bromhexine, used as a mucolytic. Vasicinone may have additional bronchodilatory and uterotonic activity. Clinical evidence in humans includes small trials supporting use as an expectorant and bronchodilator for chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Dosage

Traditional doses use 1 to 4 g of dried leaf or 5 to 10 mL of juice. Modern extract capsules typically deliver 250 to 500 mg of leaf extract.

When and how to take it

Take with the onset of respiratory symptoms or twice daily for chronic management.

1 commercial form

Vasaka leaf extract

Vasicine and vasicinone moderately absorbed.

Often standardized to total alkaloid content.

Safety

Generally tolerated at typical doses. May cause nausea and GI upset. Uterotonic activity raises concerns in pregnancy.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy due to uterine activity. Avoid in lactation due to limited safety data.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with bronchodilators, MAOIs, and uterotonic medications. Combined use may amplify effects.

Frequently asked questions

What is vasaka?⌄

The Ayurvedic name for Adhatoda vasica, used for respiratory complaints.

Is vasaka safe in pregnancy?⌄

No. It has uterotonic activity and should be avoided in pregnancy.

References

  • Malabar Nut Tree Leaf Extract on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
  • Research on Malabar Nut Tree Leaf Extract (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.