Asoka is an important drug used in many Ayurvedic formulations. The bark of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd. is the genuine source plant for Asoka. Due to diminishing availability and increasing requirement, the Ayurvedic industry is facing acute shortage of this crude drug. It is usual that traders try to deceive the consumers by tendering similar bark of other trees. The unscientific substitution may affect the quality of herbal preparations adversely. The aim of the present study is to identify a scientifically validated substitute for Asoka. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation has been carried out using plant parts of four medicinal plants viz, Saraca asoca (AB), Polyalthia longifolia (PB), Shorea robusta (SB), and Trema orientalis (TB). The results of the study showed that among the tested extracts, AB and SB showed significant dose-dependent protection against bilateral ovariectomy-induced changes in estrus cycle, uterus weights, and lipid profile. LC/MS analysis revealed the presence of active catechins in both AB and SB. Polyalthia longifolia, the common adulterant of Asoka, showed entirely different chemical and biological properties. This study concluded the possibility of using S. robusta bark as substitute for Asoka.

中文翻译：

---

通过植物化学和药理学评估鉴定经验证的Asoka替代品（Saraca asoca（Roxb。）Willd。）

Asoka是许多印度草药制剂中使用的重要药物。Saraca asoca（Roxb。）Willd的树皮。是Asoka的真正来源工厂。由于供应的减少和需求的增加，阿育吠陀工业正面临着这种原料药的严重短缺。通常，贸易商试图通过招标投标其他树木的树皮来欺骗消费者。不科学的替代方法可能会对草药的质量产生不利影响。本研究的目的是确定经科学验证的Asoka替代品。已使用四种药用植物的植物部分进行了植物化学和药理学评估，即萨拉卡阿索卡（AB），长白花（PB），浓香树（SB）和东方白桦（TB）。研究结果表明，在经过测试的提取物中，AB和SB显示出显着的剂量依赖性保护作用，可防止双侧卵巢切除术引起的发情周期，子宫重量和血脂变化。LC / MS分析显示，AB和SB中均存在活性儿茶素。阿育王常见的掺假品长寿花（Polyalthia longifolia）具有完全不同的化学和生物学特性。这项研究得出结论，可以使用罗布斯塔树皮代替Asoka。