Ashoka health benefit

Botanical name for ashoka is Saraca Indica or Jonesia Ashok. Ashoka is an Ayurvedic herb.

As of July 2009, no human studies with Ashoka herb could be found on Medline.

Larvicidal activity of Saraca indica, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, and Clitoria ternatea extracts against three mosquito vector species.
Parasitol Res. 2009 Apr; Mathew N, Anitha MG, Bala TS, Sivakumar SM, Narmadha R, Kalyanasundaram M. Mathew N, Anitha MG, Bala TS, Sivakumar SM, Narmadha R, Kalyanasundaram M. Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Indira Nagar, Pondicherry, 605006, India.
Screening of natural products for mosquito larvicidal activity against three major mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles stephensi resulted in the identification of three potential plant extracts viz., Saraca indica / asoca, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, and Clitoria ternatea for mosquito larval control. In the case of S. indica / asoca, the petroleum ether extract of the leaves and the chloroform extract of the bark were effective against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus. Among the three plant species studied for mosquito larvicidal activity, C. ternatea was showing the most promising mosquito larvicidal activity. The phytochemical analysis of the promising methanolic extract of the seed extract was positive for carbohydrates, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, and proteins. In conclusion, bioassay-guided fractionation of effective extracts may result in identification of a useful molecule for the control of mosquito vectors.

Saracin, a seed integument lectin from ashoka, has immune influencing potential.
Saracin: A lectin from Saraca indica seed integument induces apoptosis in human T-lymphocytes.
Arch Biochem Biophys. 1999 Nov 15; Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160 012, India.
Saracin, a seed integument lectin from Saraca indica Ashoka has been found to be mitogenic for human lymphocytes, and this mitogenic activity could be inhibited in presence of fetuin. Further, treatment with saracin could induce secretion of IL-2 in a culture of resting human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Saracin has a higher affinity for the CD8(+) than CD4(+) T cells. Lymphocytes cultured under different conditions has shown that this lectin could induce apoptosis in activated T-lymphocytes.  Saracin seems to be an interesting immunomodulator for the mammalian immune system.

Flowers & flower buds of Ashoka Saraca indica Linn have antibacterial activity.

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