Review Article
Year: 2021 | Month: April | Volume: 8 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 363-375
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20210443
Ethnobotanical Significance of Picrorhiza Kurroa (Kutki), a Threatened Species
Isha Kumari1, Hemlata Kaurav2, Gitika Chaudhary3
1Junior Research Executive, 2Research Associate, 3H.O.D. - Research and Development,
Shuddhi Ayurveda, Jeena Sikho Lifecare Pvt. Ltd. Zirakpur 140603, Punjab, India
Corresponding Author: Gitika Chaudhary
ABSTRACT
Herbal plants have been used in the health maintenance customs since the origin of mankind. The herbal products have negligible adverse impacts on the consumer health because they have suitable and beneficial physiological actions on the living systems. Traditional systems of medication primarily use plants in their practices. The market demand of these plant based products has been increased over the past few years. Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth is one of the most established herbal plants with extraordinary medicinal properties. It belongs to Scrophulariaceae family and commonly called as Kutki. Picrorhiza kurroa is also called as bitter drug due to presence of Kutkin, principle phytochemical constituent of this medicinal plant. It is used in Ayurveda and folk system for treating liver related disorders and used as a remedy for jaundice, malaria, cut, wounds, snake bites etc. Its main therapeutic properties are antimalarial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory etc. The aim of present review is to provide information related to phytochemistry, traditional uses in Ayurveda and folk medicinal system and therapeutic properties of Picrorhiza kurroa.
Keywords: Kutki, Kutkin, Rasapanchak, Hepatoprotective, Antimalarial.
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