ashoka tree benefits

5. Saraca asoca

6. Names & habitat
• Botanical name : Saraca asoca
• Family : Caesalpiniaceae
• Synonym : Saraca indica
• English : Ashoka tree
• Unani : Ashoka
• Ayurvedic : Ashoka, Hempushpa, Gandhapushpa

7. Polyanthia longifolia
An ornamental roadside tree , is wrongly
called Ashoka.

8. Distribution :
• Asoka is distributed throughout India , naturally frequent in South India , Sri
Lanka , Orissa & Assam .
• The species also occurs in central and eastern Himalayas upto 750m altitude
• It is grown as avenue tree due to its foliage and fragrant flowers .

9. Botanical Description
• Sita Ashoka is a medium sized ( 6 -9 m ) , evergreen tree with beautiful
fragrant flowers.
• Leaves are alternate, paripinnate , copper red when young and green when
mature & 15-25cm long.
• Bark on old stem is dark green in colour often marked by bluish and ash
white patches of lichens.
• Flowers are fragrant , orange or orange yellow in colour.

10. Flower and leaves

11.  Fruit is 4-8 seeded , flat and black coloured.
Seeds are ellipsoid – oblong & compressed .
Fruit Seed

12. Part used
Flower Bark

13. Part used
seed Leaves

14. Temperament ( Mizaj )
• Cold ( in 2nd degree ) and dry ( in 1st degree ) .

15. Dosage ( Miqdar-e-khorak )
• Safoof : 5 gm with milk
• Sharbat : 20-40 ml
• Decoction : 10-20 gm

16. Chemical Composition
• BARK : It contains flavonoids , tannins , steroids , volatile oil , glycosides such as
beta-sitosterol glycoside reducing sugar .
• LEAVES : It contains alkaloids , steroids , flavonoids , tannins , saponins ,
terpenoids , polyphenolics , glycosides & many carbohydrates .
The anti-oxidant activity of leaf extracts is due to the presence of
polyphenolics such as gallic acid and ellagic acid .
• FLOWERS : It contains fatty acids & gallic acid.
• Alcoholic extract of bark is reported to be active against wide range of bacteria .

17. action ( Afa’al )
• Anti-menorrhagic
• Refrigerent ( Dafe atash )
• Vermicidal ( Qaatil-e-deedan )
• Anti-haemorrhoid ( Dafe bawasir )
• Neural tonic ( Muqawwi-e-Aasaab )
• Uterine tonic ( Muqawwi-e-Rahem )
• Anti-abortive ( Dafe isqaat )
• Sedative ( Musakkin )
• Anti-inflammatory ( Mohallil-e-
auram )
• Astringent ( Qabiz )
• Haemostatic ( Habisuddam )

18. Therapeutic uses ( Istemaal )
• Ashok chhaal has been described to be useful in various ailments.
• It is used in many uterine diseases due to its strong haemostatic property and astringent effect on uterine muscle .
• It is used in menorrhagia(kasrat-e-haiz) , uterine debility (Zofe-Rahem) , leucorrhoea ( Sailanur Rahem ) & hysteria
( Ikhtenaqur Rahem ) due to its tonic effect on uterus.
• The powdered bark 10 gm is mixed with milk 10 ml , then water 500 ml is added and the mixture is boiled till all the
water is evaporated .The remaining extract is divided into 3 doses .
• Ashok chhaal – 10gm dose –decoction
• Extract of Ashoka flower is useful in haemorrhoids and dysentery .
• Liquid extract of ashok chhaal can be used in a dose of 20-60 drops .
• Powder of ashok chhaal in a dose of 3-5gm can also be used , this powder should be consumed along with milk for
good result , twice or thrice a day .

20. Adverse effects ( Muzarrat )
• Although the health benefits of Ashoka tree are numerous , pregnant women
should abstain from consuming products from this tree as it might lead to
complications .
• Stomach pain and digestive issues if any parts of the tree are utilized orally .
• Menstrual disturbances if women affected by amenorrhea or infrequent
menstruation are making the use of this tree .

21. Formulation( murakabat )
• Ashokarishta : 15-30 ml b.i.d /t.i.d
• Ashokkwath : 15-30ml b.i.d
• Seed powder : 1-3 gm b.i.d
• Flower powder : 1-3 gm b.i.d
• Ashokghirta : 5 gm b.i.d

22. Correctives ( Musleh )
• Kateera
• Triphalla

23. Substitute ( badal )
• Robusta bark

24. Recent research
• Analgesic activity : the leaf and bark extract of ashok like
petroleum ether , chloroform , methanol and water extract was evaluated by
using tail immersion method , tail flik method and formalin induced pain
method in albino mice . The analgesic property of Saraca Indica has been
attributed to its ability to inhibit sensory nerve stimulation . The extract of
Saraca Indica relieve pain by acting on both central as well as peripheral
nervous system

25. Anti-ulcer activity : The aqueous suspension of Saraca Asoka flowers
produced anti-ulcer potential activity either by inhibition of basal gastric secretion or
stimulation of mucus secretions .
.

26. Uterine tonic activity : U-3107 is a herbal preparation which is formulated by
using various plant extract and is useful various menstrual disorders like puberty , menorrhoea ,
dysmenorrhoea , premenstrual syndrome , abnormal bleeding and threaten abortion .
Ashoka used as uterine tonic in
menstrual cycle pain
Ashoka used for various
Gynaecological problem

27. Anti-cancer activity :
• The antioxidant actions of Ashoka tree make it a potential anti-cancer drug ,
which functions by inducing apoptosis or programmed cell death . Particular
effects have been against skin cancer .
• The anti-cancer activity of Ashoka are most pronounced against breast
cancer as it inhibits the proliferation of cancerous cells due to the induction
of apoptosis.

28. Anti-microbial activity :
• It possesses anti-bacterial activity on agar plate with different organisms such
as Bacillus subtilis , Salmonella typhosa , Staphylococcus aureus & plant
pathogens .

29. Anti-diabetic & Hypo-lipidemic activity
• The flavonoid fraction of Saraca asoca flower and leaves has been shown to
inhibit alpha-glucosidase & alpha-amylase enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes
& also prevent LDL oxidation .
• The studies have also been reported that ashok extract lower lipid and
cholesterol & reduced elevated glucose levels in a dose dependent manner in
albino rats & mice .