Harsingra ( Nyctanthes arbortristis)

"Harsingra (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.), also called Parijat / Night-flowering jasmine / Coral jasmine, is a small tree or shrub belonging to the family Oleaceae. It bears fragrant white flowers with an orange-red tube that bloom at night and fall by morning. Traditionally, it has been used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and folk medicine for fever, arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, digestive issues, skin diseases, and parasitic infections. "

Nyctanthes arbortristis Scientific Name

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade / Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Nyctanthes
Species: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Nyctanthes arbortristis Common Name

English: Night-flowering jasmine, Coral jasmine, Tree of sorrow
Sanskrit: Pārijāta, Sephalika
Hindi: Harsingar, Harshingar, Parijat
Bengali: Shiuli, Shefali
Tamil: Pavazhamalli, Paarijatam
Telugu: Parijataamu, Parijatham
Kannada: Parijata
Malayalam: Pavizamalli

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Antipyretic - Leaf juice/decoction used in fevers, intermittent fevers, and malaria.s.
Rheumatism and Sciatica - Leaf paste and extracts applied for rheumatic pain, arthritis, and sciatica.
Anthelmintic and Laxative - Used to expel intestinal worms and for mild constipation.
Hepatoprotective and Skin Uses - Folk use in liver ailments, wound healing, and skin conditions.

References

Agrawal, J., & Pal, A. (2013). Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn — a critical ethnopharmacological review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 146(3), 645–658.

Tipugade, O., Sawale, J., & Jadhav, N. (2025). Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.: comprehensive insights into its medicinal, phytochemical and safety profiles. Natural Product Research. Advance online publication.

Tuntiwachwuttikul, P., Rayanil, K., & Taylor, W. C. (2003). Chemical constituents from the flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. ScienceAsia, 29, 21–30.

Kakoti, B. B., et al. (2013). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf extract. Pharmacognosy Research, 5(4), 277–281. PMID: 24250137

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Monographs on Nyctanthes arbor-tristis.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (n.d.). Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Plants of the World Online.