Justicia adhatoda (Malabar Nut)

Justicia adhatoda (Malabar Nut / Vasaka) is a medicinal shrub used primarily for its phytochemical constituents rather than as a food source, so conventional macronutrient profiling (protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber per serving) is not typically applicable. Its therapeutic value derives from its rich alkaloid and phytochemical profile: **Primary Bioactive Alkaloids:** • Vasicine (peganine): ~0.5–1.5% of dry leaf weight — the principal quinazoline alkaloid responsible for bronchodilatory and expectorant activity; serves as the chemical scaffold from which the synthetic drug bromhexine was derived • Vasicinone: ~0.1–0.5% of dry leaf weight — an oxidation product of vasicine with complementary bronchodilatory and mild smooth-muscle relaxant properties • Vasicinol: present in smaller quantities (~0.05–0.2%) — contributes to overall respiratory pharmacological activity • Deoxyvasicine: trace to minor amounts — additional quinazoline alkaloid with reported uterotonic activity **Secondary Phytochemicals:** • Essential oils: including traces of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in leaf tissue • Flavonoids: including apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin glycosides (concentrations variable, typically in the low mg/g dry weight range) — contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity • Tannins: present at ~2–5% of dry leaf weight — astringent and antimicrobial properties • Saponins: detected in leaf and root extracts (not precisely quantified in most studies) • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): reported in fresh leaves at approximately 50–130 mg per 100 g fresh weight (varies by growing conditions and ecotype) • Beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols: minor quantities in leaf and root • Gallic acid and other phenolic acids: contribute to total phenolic content, typically reported as 15–40 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of dry extract **Mineral Content (approximate, per 100 g dry leaf):** • Calcium: ~1,200–1,800 mg • Potassium: ~800–1,500 mg • Iron: ~15–30 mg • Magnesium: ~200–400 mg • Zinc: ~3–8 mg • Phosphorus: ~150–300 mg (Values vary significantly with soil, geography, and analytical methods.) **Bioavailability Notes:** • Vasicine is relatively well-absorbed orally based on animal pharmacokinetic studies, with measurable plasma levels following oral dosing; however, comprehensive human pharmacokinetic data are limited. • Vasicinone is partly generated in vivo via oxidative metabolism of vasicine, so systemic exposure reflects both direct absorption and hepatic conversion. • Flavonoid glycosides generally have moderate to low oral bioavailability (10–30% estimated) due to extensive first-pass metabolism and conjugation. • Traditional preparations (decoctions, fresh leaf juice, or kwath) may enhance extraction of water-soluble alkaloids and phenolics compared to raw leaf consumption. • The presence of tannins may reduce bioavailability of co-consumed minerals (iron, zinc) through chelation. **Note:** Justicia adhatoda is not consumed as a dietary food; it is administered as a medicinal herb in specific dosage forms (leaf juice: 10–20 mL; powder: 1–3 g; decoction as prescribed in Ayurvedic texts). Nutritional profiling therefore reflects phytochemical composition relevant to pharmacological activity rather than dietary nutrition.