Adhatoda vasica belonging to family Acanthaceae, commonly known as Adulsa, is a small, evergreen shrub found many regions of India and throughout the world, with a multitude of uses in traditional Ayurveda. Vasica is most well-known for its effectiveness in treating respiratory conditions (1) It is thought that plants are an important source of novel phytochemicals with possible medical applications (2). Native to Asia, Adhatoda vasica is a well-known herb in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicine systems. This plant is known to exist in around 420 species, of which only a small number have been thoroughly investigated. 13 of the species are located in Asia, 15 in America, and 8 in Africa. Of the examined species, 18 were primarily researched in the past ten years and included chemical and biological research on 23 species, pharmacological data on 31 species, and biological research on 18 species. It has been reported that the roots contain Vasicinolone, vasicol, and pegamine, while the flowers contain kaempferol and quercetin (3).

TOPICAL OINTMENT: -

This kind of bacteria can cause infections, which can be treated and prevented by topical ointments with antibacterial properties. The majority of topical medications on the market for the treatment of skin conditions are produced using different synthetic methods that involve chemicals and can have unintended consequence. One option to treating bacterial skin infections and avoiding the use of oral antibiotics, which can lead to the development of bacterial resistance, is topical ointment containing extract from medicinal plants. An ointment is the viscous semi solid preparations  are use topically on the variety of body surface .It may  not be (3).

       
           
       
    Fig. No. 1: - Adhatoda Vasica

       
           
       
    Fig.No.2: - Topical Ointment

Plant Description

Adhatoda vasica. belongs to the medicinal family Acanthaceae. It is a one to three-foot-tall evergreen shrub with several long, oblique branches. Leaves are large and lance-shaped. Stem herbaceous above and woody below. Leaves opposite and exstipulate. Flower spikes or panicles, small irregular zygomorphic, bisexual, and hypogynous (4) It has capsular four seeded fruits. The blossoms are colored either purple or white. The Sanskrit word Vasaka is the basis for its commercial name. thickly flowered inflorescences in axillary spicate cymes; short peduncles; broadly oval, foliaceous bracts. As a sedative, expectorant, and antispasmodic, the leaves, flowers, fruit, and roots are widely used to treat asthma, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, and cold cough (4).The botanical description of the plant is as follows: Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Angiosperms Class: Eudicots, Order: Lamiales, Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Justicia Species: Adhatoda (Adhatoda vasica) (5)

Scientific Classification: -    -

Table No. 1: -. Scientific classification of Justicia adhatoda. (6)

Vernacular Names: -

Table No.2: -Vernacular name of Justicia adhatoda. (6)

Ecology And Botany

Phytochemistry

Justicia adhatoda L. includes an essential oil together with the main active chemical components vasicine and vasicinone. The yield of alkaloid ranged from 0.541 to 1.105 from different samples in India and the yield of vasicine is measured as 0.541 to 1.1% by dry weight. Vasicinone and vasicine are the two main alkaloids found in the leaves. In addition, adhatodine and anisotine has also been reported to present in leaves (7).

Adhatoda rich concentration of alkaloids is thought to be the cause of its wide range of pharmacological applications. Quinazoline is the main alkaloid present in Adhatoda leaves. Vasicine is an alkaloid. Adhatoda leaves and roots also contain the alkaloids l-vasicinone, deoxy vasicine, maiontone, Vasicinolone, and vasicinol, in addition to vasicine. According to research, these substances are in charge of Adhatoda bronchodilatory action (7).

Chemical Composition:

-Elemental analysis showed that Justicia adhatoda L. contains Ca, Na, Mg and K as chief elements and Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb and Cu are present as trace element (7).

1. Dried leaf powder is used to treat cough, TB, asthma, and dyspepsia.
2. Wounds are treated with bark, roots, and leaves; an infusion made from leaves has significant abortifacient, expectorant, and antispasmodic effects.
3. The leaf, which is powdered and dry, is used to treat wounds.
4. The leaf decoction has antispasmodic, expectorant, and abortifacient properties. It is also used to treat cow dysentery.
5. Leaf decoction has antispasmodic, expectorant, and abortifacient properties and is used to treat skin problems such as diabetes.
6. Justicia adhatoda is a well-known herb in both the modern pharmaceutical business and the conventional Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha medicinal systems (8)  .

1. Procedure of Extraction

II. Procedure of topical Ointment

The Ethanolic Extract of Adulsa leaves were subjected to the phytochemical analysis by using various chemical tests to identify the phytoconstituents present in it are as follow (17).

PHARMACOLOGYCAL ACTIVI

ANTI – MICROBIAL ACTIVITY: -

• The definition of an antimicrobial is a substance that kills or stops the development of microorganisms.
• An ethanolic leaf extract shown antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
• The antibacterial effectiveness hierarchy is as follows: ethanol, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate.
  • acetone.
• The extract from Adulsa leaves contains a range of bioactive chemicals; its efficacy against bacteria varies. These substances' properties determine how quickly they can pierce a microorganism's cell membrane.  (18).

Fig.No. 10.: - Mechanism of action

• Some Bacteria Are Becoming Resistant To Antibiotics, Using Medicinal Plants Is Becoming More
• Popular As An Alternative Way To Fight Against These Tough Bacteria (13).

EVALUATION OF OINTMENT.

The evaluations were carried out on the ointment by using the following parameters: -

Colour and odour

Colour and odour of prepared ointment was examined by visual examination.

pH

The pH of ointment was determined by digital pH meter. 01 g of ointment was dissolved in 50 ml of distilled water and the pH was measured.

Spreadability Test

It was examined by using Spreadability instrument. It was calculated by using formula  (19).

S = m. l/t

Were, S – Spreadability         l – length of glass slide m – weight tied to upper slide                        t – time taken

Stability study

The stability study was carried out for the prepared ointment at temperature of 370C for 24 Hours.

Test microorganisms

A panel of common pathogenic microorganisms were used in the study, which includes gram- positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus cereus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Viscosity test

The viscosity of each ointment formulation was determined using Brook Field Viscometer with spindle number 3. A 15 g sample of the ointment was used for each determination. (19).

Irritation Test

It was examined by applying ointment on human skin (13).

 RESULT AND DISSCUTION

The Preliminary Phytochemical screening of Ethanolic Extract of Adulsa leaves was showed for the presence of Carbohydrates, Steroids, Glycoside, Flavonoids, Tannins, Proteins, Amino Acids and Absence of Alkaloids and Saponins

Table No.6: -Qualitative phytochemicals analysis of the Ethanolic extract of Adulsa leaves.

The Formulated Ointment was Evaluated for Physicochemical Parameters Such as Colour, Odour and pH, the Results were shown in Table 6. This was good Sign for Ointment and It was Acceptable.

Table No.8: - Viscosity Test for ointment

Table No.9: - PH   and Spreadability Test for ointment

Table No .10.: - Antibacterial Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Adulsa leaves Extract

Table No .11.: - Antibacterial Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Adulsa leaves Ointment.

FUTURE SCOPE