Adhatoda vasica: pharmacological characterization for the development of herbal drug

Medicinal components from plants play an important role in conventional as well as western medicine. Adhatoda vasica Nees, which is popularly known as Vasaka belongs to the Acanthaceae family. A. vasica is a multipurpose medicinal plant with several pharmacological characteristics like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-venom, anti-tubercular, anti-tumour, hepatoprotective, anti cancer as revealed bymany experimental studies. Adhatoda vasica is known to cure respiratory afflictions in humans and also proved its efficacy in treating Multi drug resistant (MDR) pathogens considerably. Classes of chemical constituents such as triterpines, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins etc., possess biological significance had been identified for their use in herbal formulations, since Ayurveda. The present review compiles the detailed therapeutic applications of A. vasica and its recent advancements which provide significant information to the researchers globally.