Abstract

AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF KATUKI: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Dr. Prabir Naskar*, Dr. Aniruddha Pan and Dr. Shreyosi Ray

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Abstract

Katuki, also known as picrorrhiza, is a very rare and potent medicinal plant found only in the high Himalayan region. It is very popular in the world of alternative medicine especially in Ayurveda and used to treat several diseases such as yakrit vikara, prameha, jwara, kustha, arocaka, rakta vikara etc. Katuki balances the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) of the body, which can produce disease while get vitiated. Katuki is used as a single herb and also as an effective ingredient of various medicinal formulations. This review was done to collect all information regarding Katuki available in various classical as well as modern literature in one place. In the last few decades, there has been a comeback interest in katuki’s pharmacology, pharmacognosy and phytochemistry which is very remarkable. The active phytochemical compounds of P. kurroa such as kutkin, picroside I, II, & III picrorhizin, kutkiol, kutkiserol, D-mannitol, glycosides etc. are found to have hepato-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, immunemodulatory, anti-microbial activity from various research studies.

Keywords: Katki, picrorrhiza, hepato-protective, P. kurroa.