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Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Summary
It is commonly known as Parijat and belongs to the Oleaceae family. Tender leaves and flowers are fried and consumed. Tender shoots and flowers are cooked with rice floor to prepare “Bor” (Pokora) or as vegetable. Both flowers and tender leaves have a bitter taste. Nyctoside-A, Nyctanthic acid, Rengyolone are notable bioactives present in this plant. Humoral as well as cell-mediated immunostimulant activity is mediated through proliferation of splenocytes and increase in production of cytokines, especially IL-2 and IL-6 by aqueous extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flowers (NAFE).

Mode of Consumption : Fried tender leaves and flowers. Flowers are cooked with rice floor to prepare “Bor” (Pokora).
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
Family: Oleaceae Hoffmanns. & Link
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Genus: Nyctanthes L.
Fruiting Season: July to October (Flowering)April to December (Assam)
Parts: Tender leaves & flowers
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region
  • The Gujarat Region
  • The Satluj-Yamuna Plain Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Aravali-Malwa Upland
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Western Rajasthan Region & The Aravali-Malwa Upland
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Pagadamalle
Assam : Sewali
Bihar : Harsingar, Paarijat
Delhi : Harsingar
Gujarat : Jayaparvati
Haryana : Harsingar
Jharkhand : Harsingar
Karnataka : Parijatha
Kerala : Parijatakam
Madhya Pradesh : Harsingar
Maharashtra : Parijathak
Odisha : Gangasiuli
Rajasthan : Harsingar
Uttar Pradesh : Harsingar, Paarijat
Uttarakhand : Harsingar, Paarijat
West Bengal : Sephalika

Flowers
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
Aqueous extract of flowerImmunostimulatoryHumoral as well as cell-mediated immunostimulant activity is mediated through proliferation of splenocytes and increase in production of cytokines, especially IL-2 and IL-6 by aqueous extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flowers.IL-2 and IL-6 [2]
Water soluble fraction of ethanol extractAnti-arthriticOral administration of water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT) in arthritic mice showed a consistent depletion of TNF-α from the host plasma.TNF-α[3]
Water soluble fraction of ethanol extractAnti-inflammatoryA depletion of TNF-α in the plasma of SpA-treated Balb/c mice has been observed when treated with the water soluble fraction of the ethanol extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT). [3]
Benzofuran derivativeCytotoxicity4-hydroxy hexahydrobenzofuran-7-one (20mg/kg mouse/day) over 5 days did not show any significant cytotoxic effect on Ehrlich Ascite Carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss Albino mice. [4]
Water soluble portion of the alcoholic extract of the leaves Anti-inflammatoryNyctanthes arbor tristis (NAT) inhibited the acute inflammatory oedema produced by Carrageenin, Formalin, Histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and Hyaluronidase in the hindpaw of rats. [5]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
1-hexanol methyl heptanone: , Flavanol glycosides-Astragaline: , β-Digentiobioside ester of α-crocetin: , β-monogentiobioside ester of α-crocetin (or crocin-3): , β-monogentiobioside-β-D monoglucoside ester of α-crocetin: [1]
Alcohols1-decanol: [1]
AldehydesAnisaldehyde: , Phenyl acetaldehyde: [1]
Alkylbenzenep-cymene: [1]
Carboxylic AcidMethyl salicylate: [1]
CyclohexylethanoidRengyolone: [1]
GlycosideNaringenin-4'-0-e-glucopyranosy 1-Z-xylopyranoside: [1]
Iridiod glycoside6,7-di-0-benzoylnyctanthoside: , 6-0-transcinnamoyl-6b-6,β-hydroxyloganin: , 7-0-transcinnamoyl-6b-hydroxyloganin: , Desrhamnosylverbascoside: [1]
Iridoid glucoside6-0-trans-cinnamoyl-7-0-acetyl-6β-hydroxyloganin: , 6β-hydroxyloganin: , Arborside C: [1]
Organic hydroxy compoundMannitol: [1]
PhenolNicotiflorin: , Tannic acid: [1]
Phenyl propanoid glycosideNyctoside-A: [1]
PhenylpropanoidNyctanthoside: [1]
Phytosterolβ-sitosterol: [1]
SaponinD-mannitol: [1]
TerpeneCarotene: , Lupeol: , α-Pinene: [1]
TerpenoidsFriedelin: , Nyctanthic acid: , Nyctanthin: , Oleanolic acid: [1]
VitaminAscorbic acid: [1]
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
PyrexiaJvarabhairavarasa (02)Bharata Bhaishajya Ratnakara - Vol. - IICompiled by Naginadasa Chaganalala Shah, Translated by Gopinath GuptaAyurveda
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • The leaves of the plant are antibilous and expectorant and are useful in fevers and rheumatism. A decoction of the leaves is given for sciatica.
  • Extracted juice of the leaves is acrid and bitter, and useful as cholagogue, laxative, diaphoretic and diuretic. It is given to children for the expulsion of round and thread worms.
CSIR(1966).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-VII ,P.69-70, New Delhi, India
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India