Gen info
Asoka tree is considered sacred throughout India, frequently found in royal gardens and planted close to temples. It is a recurrent element in Indian art and mythology, with a Yakshi holding the branch of a flowering Ashok tree. It is also considered a sacred tree in Hinduism, worshipped in Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar.

Botany
Asoka is usually a small tree growing up to 10 meters high, slow-growing when young. Leaves are alternate, and even-pinnate, with 3 to 6 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are oblong or oblong-lanceolate, often blunt , up to 22 centimeters long. Flowers are fragrant at night, orange red or red, depending on age. Corymbs are 18 centimeters across. Pod is up to 25 centimeters long.

Distribution
- Introduced to the Philippines.
- Native to Southeast Asia.
- Cultivated in India to the Malay Peninsula.

Constituents
- Study isolated two flavonoids, two tannins (ellagic acid, catechin, quercetin and quercitrin) and 3,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl hexadecen-1-ol compounds.
- Bark contains an estrogenic compound, ergosterol.

Properties
- Considered feminine-specific.
- Considered astringent, uterine sedative.
- Bark is considered bitter, astringent, refrigerant, anthelmintic, styptic, stomachic, constipating, febrifuge, and demulcent.

Parts used
Bark, seeds, flowers.

Uses
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- Bark used in menorrhagia due to fibroids, leucorrhea and internally bleeding.
- Used for dysmenorrhea.
- Leaf juice, mixed with cumin seeds,, used for stomachaches.
- Bark, seeds, and flowers used in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. Early Indian Materia Medica, 1500 AD, mentions the plant as a uterine tonic used for menstrual disorders.
- Flowers used for cervical adenitis, biliousness, syphilis, hyperdipsia, hemorrhagic dysentery, hemorrhoids, and scabies.
- In India, bark used as uterine sedative.
- In Pakistan, used for excessive uterine bleeding.
- Also used for depression.
- Used for internal bleeding, hemorrhoids, hemorrhagic dysentery.
- Bark extract used for menorrhagia.
- Juice of flowers used as coolant against biliousness.
- Bark used as astringent and uterine sedative.
- Used as tonic; also used for rheumatism, skin diseases, and urinary disorders.

Studies
• Lead Decontamination: Study explored the effectiveness of S. indica leaf powder a surplus low value agricultural waste in removing Pb (lead) ions from aqueous solution. Results showed that Saraca indica leaf powder can easily be envisaged as a new, vibrant low cost biosorbent for metal clean up operations.
• Larvicidal: Petroleum ether extract of leaves and chloroform extract of bark were effective against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus.
• Antibacterial: (1) In-vitro study evaluated the ethanolic and methanolic extracts for antibacterial activity against E coli and S aureus. Although the extracts were inferior to the chloramphenicol control, they exhibited antibacterial activity even at low concentrations. (2) Various extracts of stem bark were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities. A methanolic extract showed strongest activity against both bacteria and fungi.
• Estrogen Stimulatory Effect: Study has shown stimulatory effect on ovarian tissue and may produce an estrogen-like effect that enhances the repair of endometrium and stops bleeding.
• Oxytoxic Effect: Study showed an oxytoxic effect in rat and human isolated uterine preparations.
estrogen-like effect that enhances the repair of endometrium and stops bleeding.
• Hypoglycemic Effect: Study of methanolic bark extracts of Saraca indica showed reduction of glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
• Anthelmintic: Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of S. indica exhibited dose-dependent anthelmintic property. Both extracts were more potent than the control. The presence of alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, tannins and flavonoids may be the responsible phytochemicals for the anthelmintic activity.
• Analgesic: Extracts exhibited a dose-dependent analgesic activity. Significant activity was noted in the tail immersion method, with highest activity after 90 minutes like that of the standard drug.

Availability
Wild-crafted.