The glabrous Kutaja (Horrhena antidysenterica) tree or big shrub is found at low elevations in India's deciduous forests.
- This plant has opposite, oval leaves that are 10 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide. The leaves are oriented in reverse directions and have a membrane-like feel.
- Flowers with five white petals can reach heights of two to three centimeters. It smells slightly of corymbose cymes.
- This herb produces paired, cylindrical fruits with dehiscing follicles hanging off the stalk.
- The tree's bark is coarse and has a light brownish or grayish hue.
- The light brown seeds have tufts of silky hair and come in large numbers.
- Its parts leak milk if they are damaged.
General Description
One well-known plant that controls pitta and kapha doshas elevation is kutaja. It's a fantastic herb that helps with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and other ailments. Fruits, seeds, bark, and flowers are all highly beneficial for medical purposes.
The medicinal herb Kutaj's bark has amoebicidal, diuretic, anthelmintic, and astringent properties. Among the important therapeutic herbs, kutaja has excellent properties for treating amoebic dysentery and other stomach problems.
Chemical Composition
- In Bark - O-free alkaloids (conessine, conimine), conkurchine group alkaloids (including conessidine) and O-containing alkaloids (holafrine, holarrhetine, holarrhenine).
- In leaves - Contains alkaloids (kurchiphylline and kurchiphyllamine).
Classification
Kingdom - Plantae
Order - Gentianales
Family - Apocynaceae
Genus - Wrightia
Species - W. antidysenterica
Habitat
Geographically, it grows throughout India and Asian countries up to an elevation of 1300 meters. It grows abundantly in open wastelands and deciduous forests in the sub-Himalayan region. It is widespread in the sub-Himalayan region and in tropical regions of India. grows in Travancore, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, India, and is found at an elevation of 1,100 meters in the tropical Himalayas.
Names
Sanskrit Name - Indravriksha, Shakra, Vatsa, Kutaja, Girimallikaa, Kaalinga, Kalingaka, Vatsaka,
English Name - Kurchi, conessi bark, Conessi tree
Hindi Name – Kuda, Kudaiya
Punjabi Name - Kenara
Common name - Country mallow, Heart-leaf
Telugu Name - Kodisepala, Kodaga
Tamil Name - Veppalai
Bengali Name - Karachi, Kurachi
Marathi Name - Kuda
Gujarati Name - Kudo
Kannada Name - Korachi
Malayalam Name - Kodagapala
Oriya Name - Kurei, Keruan
Urdu Name - Kherva
Ayurvedic Properties
Particular |
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
Rasa (Taste) |
Tikta, Kashaya |
Bitter, Astringent |
Guna (Physical Property) |
Laghu, Rooksha |
Light, Dryness |
Virya (Potency) |
Sheeta |
Cold |
Vipaka (Post-Digestive Taste) |
Katu |
Pungent |
Effects on Doshas
It balances pitta and Kapha doshas.
Classical Categorization
Charak Samhita |
Sushrut Samhita |
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Properties of Holarrhena antidysenterica
It is rich source of Antitubercular, Antigiardiastic, Antifungal, Antiamoeebiciadal, Antidiarrheal, Hypotensive, Antiprotozoal, Hypoglycaemic, Antispasmodic, Anticancer properties.
Practical Uses
It has the ability to be utilized both externally and internally. Below is a description of the plant's medicinal uses:
- The herb kutaja is highly helpful in treating amoeba-induced dysentery.
- It can be used to treat infections, ringworm, scabies, and other skin conditions.
- This plant's seeds aid in conception. In addition, these help women tone their vaginal tissue after giving birth.
- It is an excellent treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- This herb strengthens the body's immunological system and is a fantastic rejuvenator.
- By controlling the discharges of blood and mucus, kutaja is an effective treatment for bleeding piles.
- An effective herbal treatment for colic.
- It works well when applied to malabsorption as well.
- extremely beneficial for treating urinary tract infections.
- Appropriate and successful for digestive disorders that cause vomiting.
- Since ancient times, youngsters have also utilized it to eradicate worms from their intestines.
- An oral infection can be treated using an extract from the stem and bark, which also has favorable effects on mouth ulcers.
Part Used
Bark
Leaves
Seeds
Flowers
Dosage
Tincture: 2-4 ml
Powder: 2-4 g
Seed powder: 2-4 g
Decoction and infusion: 30-50 ml