Ayurvedic Bhurangi, Nimbi.
(Clerodendrum serratum and its
related species represent Bhaargi or Bhaarangi.)
Folk Nimatotaa.
Action Wood—a non-astringent bitter tonic and stomachic, amoebicidal, anthelmintic (used as
enema), insect repellent. Used as a supporting medicine for temporary relief in cirrhosis of
Many indole alkaloids of beta-carboline, canthin-6-one and beta-carboline dimer type, have been isolated from the wood. These are reported to increase the blood flow rate in the intestine and stomach of rabbit; also exhibited antiviral activity on Herpes simplex virus.
Nigaki lactone and methylnigakinone, isolated from the wood, showed antigastric ulcer activity in rats. The extract of the wood is reported to prevent the secretion of gastric juice in a dose-dependent manner in rats. The extract also showed the same effects on rats having aspirin-induced gastric ulcer.
Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. Family Scrophulariaceae.
Habitat The alpine Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim.
English Picrorhiza.
Ayurvedic Katukaa, Katurohini,
Kattarohini, Katuki, Katukikaa,
Krishnabhedaa, Kaandaruhaa,
Matsyashakalaa, Chakraangi, Shatparvaa, Arishta, Ashokarohinya,
Shakuldaani.
Unani Kutki, Kharbaq-e-Hindi. Siddha/Tamil Kaduguragini.
Action Root—stomachic, antidiarrhoeal, cholagogue, hepatoprotective. Used in hepatitis, chronic
dysentery, amoebiasis.
Key application In jaundice,
intermittent fever, dyspnoea and
skin diseases. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)
The roots yield a glycosidal bitter principle, kutkin, found to be a mixture of two iridoid glycosides, picroside I and kutkoside. Also obtained were D-mannitol, kutkiol, kutkisterol and a ketone (identical with apocynin).
Kutkin exhibited hepatoprotective activity in CC14-induced toxic rats.
Picroliv, a standardized fraction from the alcoholic extract of the root and rhizome, containing 55—60% of a mixture of picroside I and kutkoside (1:15) showed dose-dependent protective activity on isolated
