Asana

Sanskrit Name: Asana

Identification No.: SDACH/HG/274

Botanical Name: Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.
Family Name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae

Vernacular Names

Hindi name- Vijayasara, Vijaysar, Beejasaar, Beejsar, Bij Sar

English name- Indian Kino tree, Malabar Kino tree

Tamil name – Vegai, Venga katal

Telugu name- Vegisa, Peddagi

Malayalam name- Venga

Kannada name- Banga, Bange mara

Bengali name – Peetashal, Piyasal

Marathi name – Vivala, Bibala

Gujarati name – Biyo

Oriya name Piashala

Urdu name – Bijasar

Synonyms

बीजकः पीतसारश्च पीतशालक इत्यपि ।

बन्धूकपुष्पः प्रियकः सर्जकश्चासनः स्मृतः ॥२८॥

Classification According to Ayurvedic Texts:

Susruta- Salaasaradi gna

Vabhata- Asanadi Gana

Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Oshadhi Varga

Dhanvantari Nighantu – Amradi Varga

Bhavaprakasha – Vatadi Varga

Rajanighantu – Prabhadradi Varga

Habitat & Distribution

Native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, Pterocarpus marsupium thrives in the dry deciduous forests of the Western Ghats, Central India, and sub-Himalayan regions, at elevations up to 1200 meters.​

Morphology:
A medium to large deciduous tree, reaching heights up to 30 meters. The bark is greyish-brown, exuding a ruby-red resin known as ‘kino’. Leaves are compound, alternate, and imparipinnate. Flowers are yellow, arranged in panicles. Fruits are flat, winged pods containing one to two seeds.​

Varieties:
No distinct varieties documented.​

Substitute/Adulterant:
Terminalia tomentosa, Dried juice of Butea monosperma (Bengal kino): Used as a substitute and adulterant of Indian kino.

Phytochemicals:
Pterocarpol, Marsupol, Maesupin, Carpusin (Marsupsin), (-) epicatechin, Propterol, Pterosupin, Marsupinol, Lupeol. Resin contains Kino tannic acid, Pyro catechin, epicatechin. Kino tannic acid is found in heartwood.

Rasapanchaka:

• Rasa: Tikta , Kashaya
• Guna: Laghu, Ruksha
• Virya: Sheeta
• Vipaka: Katu
• Prabhava: Madhumeha hara
• Dosha Shamakta: Kapapitta shamaka
• Karma (Therapeutic Actions):
  Antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, astringent.​

Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses:

• External: Paste of bark applied on wounds, ulcers, and skin diseases.
• Internal: Decoction used in managing diabetes, diarrhea, and bleeding disorders.​

Part Used: Heartwood, bark, resin.
Dose: Powder: 3–6 g; Decoction: 50–100 ml.​

Yoga/Formulations:

• Vijaysar Churna
• Asanadi Kwatha

IUCN Status: Pterocarpus marsupium is listed as Near Threatened under criteria C1.

Research Updates

1. 2024: Comprehensive review underscored the plant’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, validating its traditional uses.
2. 2025: Recent research focused on the antidiabetic potential of P. marsupium bark extract, demonstrating significant glucose-lowering effects.