Parijata (Night Jasmine) in Ayurveda: Properties & Everyday Use

In short

Parijata, known as night jasmine in English, is a plant of the classical Ayurvedic tradition. Classical Ayurveda describes it as bitter in taste, light in quality, and warming by nature. It is known mainly through the classical texts rather than the everyday kitchen.

Good to know

This page is for learning, not a guide to taking it. If you're pregnant, nursing or take regular medication, check with your doctor before using it.

What it is

Parijata is Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (family Oleaceae): harsingar, the night-flowering jasmine whose fragrant flowers open at dusk and fall by morning. The medicinal part in Ayurvedic use is the leaf. Leaf constituents reported in reviews include the iridoid-glycoside esters arborside-A, arborside-B and arborside-C, the alkaloid nyctanthine, β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, friedelin, lupeol, astragalin, nicotiflorin and mannitol (leaf review, Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry).

Classical properties

Traditional use

A PubMed-based literature review (1950–2023) finds Nyctanthes arbor-tristis most important in local and traditional Indian medicine for intermittent fevers, arthritis and obstinate sciatica. Its other recorded uses include anti-helminthic and anti-pyretic action, and use as a laxative, in rheumatism, skin disorders and as a sedative (Maurya review). The plant is described for use in vishamajvara (malaria) in classical texts and in the notes of Ayurvedic physicians. Vaidya Antarkar and Vaidya Tathed introduced its systematic use for malaria at the Ayurvedic hospital MAPH-A in Mumbai (Godse et al. 2016, J-AIM). These are traditional claims, not clinical proof: the human evidence is assessed below.

What research has looked at

Malaria (open-label exploratory study — the strongest evidence, with limits)

The key human study is an exploratory clinical investigation conducted through reverse pharmacology (studying a traditional practice scientifically), published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Its background: earlier bedside work (Karnik's MD 1995 and PhD 1997 theses, published 2008) had treated 120 malaria patients with a fresh-leaf paste for 7–10 days: 92 patients (76.7%) were reported clear of clinical signs and parasites within 7 days, 20 more by day 10, and 8 non-responders were switched to standard antimalarial therapy. Parasite clearance was gradual and tracked the initial parasite load, and the paste was well tolerated with no severe side effects reported (Godse et al. 2016, PMC5192257).

Three limits matter: the study was open-label with no control group (baseline as control), the regimen was a traditional dosage form rather than a standardized extract, and the authors themselves concluded that a standardized formulation must be prepared before further studies with critical disease-severity and parasite-clearance markers. In mice, N. arbor-tristis favorably affected malaria immunopathology and prolonged survival: animal work, not human proof (reviewed in Godse et al.).

Inflammation, pain, infection (preclinical)

Crude extracts and isolated compounds have shown pharmacological activity against inflammation, malaria, viral infection and leishmaniasis, and as an immunostimulant: but most often in in-vitro or in-vivo models (Maurya review). Specifically: aqueous and alcoholic leaf/stem extracts showed acute and subacute anti-inflammatory activity in animals; ethanolic leaf extract showed analgesic activity in an animal model that used aspirin as a reference. The water-soluble fraction of the ethanolic extract showed anthelmintic effects; and ethanolic leaf extract was active against Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus (phytochemical/pharmacological review, IJPS). None of this is human-trial evidence.

Sciatica and arthritis

The traditional use for obstinate sciatica and arthritis, parijata's signature indication in folk practice, has no human trial behind it. It remains a traditional claim.

What the evidence does not support (yet)

There are no randomized controlled trials of parijata for any condition. Popular claims about dengue and platelet counts have no clinical evidence we could find. Parijata must not replace standard antimalarial therapy: the study's own non-responders were switched to it. Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor.

Safety notes

In the 120-patient exploratory study, the leaf paste was well tolerated with no severe side effects reported: but that is one open-label study, not a safety profile (Godse et al. 2016). Beyond it, the Maurya review explicitly calls for more thorough safety data, including cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity and acute/subacute toxicity. Reviews note CNS-depressant activity (caution combining with sedatives) and antispasmodic activity that could potentiate anticholinergic-type drugs (IJPSR panacea review). There are no pregnancy or breastfeeding data: avoid medicinal use. Anyone with malaria should be under medical care; parijata is not a substitute for standard treatment.

FAQs

What is parijata?

Parijata (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), also called harsingar or night jasmine, is a tree of the olive family whose fragrant flowers bloom at night. Ayurveda uses its leaves for intermittent fevers, sciatica and arthritis (Maurya review).

Does parijata cure malaria?

One open-label exploratory study of 120 patients reported clinical and parasite clearance in 92 within 7 days using fresh-leaf paste: but with no control group, so it is not proof and not a treatment (Godse et al. 2016). Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor.

Is parijata used for sciatica?

Yes, traditionally, "obstinate sciatica" is one of its signature folk indications, but there are no human trials for sciatica or arthritis (Maurya review).

What dose was used in the malaria study?

Swastik does not suggest amounts. The right amount depends on the person, the preparation and the product, so check with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or your doctor before taking any herb.

Is parijata safe?

It was well tolerated in the single 120-patient study, but dedicated safety data are thin: reviewers call for more toxicity studies, and there are no pregnancy or breastfeeding data (Godse et al. 2016; Maurya review).

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.

Related herbs

Herbs with overlapping classical actions and dosha effects in the Swastik herb library.