What is Picrorrhiza Root and it's major application?
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Picrorrhiza kurroa.
- .Phytochemical and Constituents of Picrorrhiza Root.
- .Indications of Picrorrhiza Root.
- .Western Properties and Reported Uses.
- .Action and Classical Note of Picrorrhiza Root.
- .Picrorrhiza Root:Pharmacology.
- .Dosage,Administrations and Safety.
- .Application Case Study:Liver function improvement formulation.
- .Research Update:Picrorrhiza kurroa and Picrorhiza scrophulariaeflora.
Basic Botanical Info of Picrorrhiza kurroa.
Picrorrhiza Root
Botanical Name:Picrorrhiza kurroa
Botanical Source:Picrorrhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. or Picrorhiza scrophulariaeflora Pennell.
Family: Scrofulariaceae
Pinyin Name:Hu Huang Lian
English:Figwortflower Picrorhiza Rhizome
Synoms:Picrorrhiza kurroa,Hu Huang Lian.Hu Lian.Kutki; Katuka; Hellbore,Katuki, Kurri, Katuko, Kuru, Katukarogani.picroliv, Picrorhiza kurroa, Picrorhiza kurroa extract, Picrorhiza kurroa Royle, Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth., Picrorhiza lindleyana Steud., Picrorrhiza kurroa.Black hellebore.
Medicinal Parts Used:Dried Root (exceptionally bitter)
Origin: A small herb which grows in the Himalayas at 3000-5000m.
Picrorrhiza Root Brief:
Picrorrhiza is a small perennial herb from the Scrophulariaceae family.Picrorhiza kurroa has a long, creeping rootstock that is bitter in taste, and grows in rock crevices and moist, sandy soil. The leaves of the plant are flat, oval, and sharply serrated. The flowers, which appear June through August, are white or pale purple and borne on a tall spike; manual harvesting of the plant takes place October through December.The plant is self-regenerating but unregulated over-harvesting has caused it to be threatened to near extinction.
Habitat: The plant is naturally distributed in alpine and temperate regions of Himalaya from 2500 to 3500 m. It is a perennial creeping herb, which spreads by stolons. A whorl of radical leaves arise from rhizome tip. The flowering scape attains an average height of 16.0 to 17.5 cm.Majorly output from Tibetan towns of China,such as Nie La Mu,Ya Dong,Cuo Na,Bo Mi,etc.and West north regions of Yunnan Province,west of SiChuan province of China.other origins including Nepal,Sikkim,Bhutan and India.
Root morphology: Adventitious roots arise from the rhizome. Maximum average root length (38 cm) was observed in case of PK-6. Maximum average primary roots were recorded for PK6 and PK7. PK5 recorded highest number of secondary roots and maximum fresh weight (230 g) of the roots.
Flowering: Flowering occurs in one or two phases depending upon altitude of the growing site. Under relatively lower elevation of 2500-3500 m msl, the fist phase starts in 1st week of May and continues up to 3rd week of June and the second flowering begins in August and continues up to end of September. In alpine regions (>4000 m), flowering occurs only once in July-August and seeds develop in September. Flowers are borne on a scape in an indeterminate spike forming more or less a triangular head. Flowers are purple coloured, bisexual and having convex thalamus.
Fruit: Fruit is an ovoid capsule which dehisces by means of lateral splits. The average dimension of fruits was 9 x 5 mm.
Seed: The extremely small sized seed is 1.3 x 1 mm in size. Embryo is enclosed in the large bladdery loose hyaline reticulate testa. The seeds test weight was about 57.5 mg.
Ethno-botanical information:Nomadic commodities from Himalaya keep this drug at their place for use as home remedy for various stomach disorders. In Nepal root paste is applied for speedy healing of wounds. The decoction of roots in water is given with salt to febrile cattle as antipyretic.
Reference:
1.What is Picrorrhiza Root and it's major application?
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