Adhatoda is an herb growing on small evergreen shrubs found at lower altitudes in India and South East Asia. The leaf has been used for centuries to treat asthma.
( Adhatoda vasica) Adhatoda works as a bronchodilator and mild expectorant. Adhatoda also works by increasing the viscosity of mucous to assist with expectoration. Key constituents of Adhatoda leaf are the quinazoline alkaloids (0.5–2%). The major alkaloid is vasicine present at levels of 45–95% and is the original source of the drug bromhexine, which is often still used to assist expectoration.
