Capsule
Kutuj
Latin name: Holarrhena Antidysenterica
Family: Apocyanaceae
Common name: Kutuj
English name: Kurchi, Conessi, Tellicherry
bark
Habitat: occurs almost throughout India,
up to 4,000 ft., in the Himalayas.
Macroscopic identification: A shrub
or small tree, glabrous or pubescent, bark with
pale leaves 10-20 by 5.11 cm from broadly ovate
to elliptic, obtuse. Flowers are white in color,
terminal. . Fruit are follicles of 20-38 cm
long.
Parts used: Bark, seeds and leaves.
Pharmacological action: astringent,
antihelmentic, stomachic, febrifuge, diuretic.
Actions and uses in ayurveda: pravahika,
atisar, jvaratisar, arsa, kustha, trsna.
Indications: piles, colic, dyspepsia,
chest affections and as a remedy in diseases
of the skin and spleen. It is a well-known drug
for amoebic dysentery and other gastric disorders.
It is also indicated in diarrhea, indigestion,
flatulence and colic
Photochemical: Around 30 alkaloids have
been isolated from the plant, mostly from the
bark. These include conessine, kurchine, kurchicine,
holarrhimine, conarrhimine, conaine, conessimine,
iso-conessimine, conimine, holacetin and conkurchin
Conessine from the bark kills free-living amoebae
and also kills entamoeba histolytica in the
dysenteric stools of experimentally infected
kittens. It is markedly lethal to the flagellate
protozoon. It is anti tubercular also 3.
Conkurchine is hydrochloride hypotensive and
vasodilator
Properties and action:
Rasa: tikta, kashaya
Guna: laghu, ruksh
Virya: sita
Vipaka: katu
Karma: aamhar, dipana, sangrahi, kaphapitta
shamak
Preparations: decoction, paste, arisht
Therapeutic classification index:
Digestive system: As the name of the
species indicates, its chief use is against
dysentery. In dropsy the bark is ground and
rubbed over the body. The bark has astringent,
anti-dysenteric, antihelmentic, stomachic, febrifugal
and tonic properties. It is particularly useful
in amoebic dysentery and diarrhea. It is a well-known
drug for amoebic dysentery and other gastric
disorders. A clinical study records the presentation
of forty cases with amoebiasis and giardiasis.
The efficacy of Kutuj in intestinal amoebiasis
was 70%. Good response was also observed in
Entamoeba histolytica cysts when treated with
Kutuj bark. The flowers improve appetite. The
seeds are cooling, appetizing and astringent
to the bowels.
Anti diarrheal effect of Kutuj
Its anti diarrhoeal activity was studied
for its effect on diarrhoeagenic Escherichia
Escherichia coil. Different dilutions of the
decoction of the plant were assayed for its
effect on the adherence and toxin production
of 2 groups of E. coli enteropathogenic (EPEC)
and enterotoxigenic (ETEC.) Adherence per se
was not affected though disruption of the characteristic
`microcolonies' of EPEC on HEp-2 cell line was
observed. The decoction was more effective in
inhibiting stable toxin production as compared
with labile toxin
Dose: dried herb: 5-10 gms
Capsule Kutuj contains pure and concentrated
Kutuj
Dosage: one capsule twice a day.
Package 60 capsules
References:
- Prof P.V Sharma, Dravya Guna Vigyana, Vol
II, pg 463-466
- Dr.KM Nadkarni, The Indian Materia Medica,
Vol.I, pg 634-651
- The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India, Part
I, Vol.I, pg 78
