Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.)

1. Synonyms

• Sanskrit Names:
• Katvi (कट्वी)
• Katuka (कटुका)
• Tikta (तिक्ता)
• Kṛṣṇabheda (कृष्णभेदा)
• Kaṭambhara (कटम्भरा)
• Aśoka (अशोका)
• Matsyaśakala (मत्स्यशकला)
• Cakrangi (चक्राङ्गी)
• Sakuladani (शकुलादनी)
• Matsyapittā (मत्स्यपित्त)
• Kāṇḍarūhā (काण्डरुहा)
• Rohinī (रोहिणी)
• Kaṭurohiṇī (कटुरोहिणी)
• Etymological Notes:
• Katuka – alleviates disease, increases bile secretion.
• Tikta – bitter in taste.
• Kṛṣṇabheda – purgative, blackish internal structure.
• Rohinī – helps regeneration of tissues, especially liver.

2. Regional Names

• Hindi: Kutaki, Katuki, Katuka
• Bengali: Kataki
• Marathi: Kedarakaḍu, Kali Kutaki
• Gujarati: Balakadu
• Telugu: Katukaroni
• Kannada: Katukarohani, Katukarohini
• Tamil: Katuku Rogani
• English: Picrorhiza

3. Botanical Description

• Family: Scrophulariaceae
• Plant Type: Small, perennial, nearly hairy herb.
• Habitat: Alpine Himalayas, from Kashmir to Sikkim (altitude 2700–4500 m).
• Rootstock: Woody, elongated, creeping.
• Leaves: Sub-radicle, spathulate.
• Flowers: White or bluish, borne in dense terminal racemes.
• Fruits: Ovoid capsule.
• Drug Part Used: Dried rhizomes and roots, cylindrical deep greyish-brown, 3–6 cm long, intensely bitter.
• Flowering & Fruiting: October – December.

4. Chemical Constituents

• Major Compounds:
• D-mannitol
• Kutkiol, Kutkisterol
• Phenolic compounds: Vanillic acid, Apocyanin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone)
• Glycosides: Androsin, Picein
• Iridoid glycosides: Kutkin (Picroside I, II, III, Kutkoside, Minecoside, Picrorhizin, Veronicoside)
• Cucurbitacin glycosides
• Arvenin-III and derivatives

Key Note: Kutkin is the chief active principle responsible for hepatoprotective and cholagogue activity.

5. Properties & Therapeutic Uses

• Rasa (Taste): Tikta (bitter)
• Guna (Quality): Ruksha (drying), Laghu (light)
• Virya (Potency): Hima (cold)
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Katu (pungent)
• Pharmacological Actions:
• Bitter tonic, digestive stimulant, cholagogue.
• Deobstruent (purgative in high doses).
• Acts on intestines, liver, and heart.

Therapeutic Uses:

• Digestive & Liver Disorders
• Improves appetite and metabolism.
• Used in jaundice, anaemia, ascites, and liver enlargement.
• Fever & Infections
• Effective in periodic and chronic fevers (malaria, relapsing fever).
• Alleviates burning sensation in fevers.
• Cardiac Disorders
• Acts similar to digitalis.
• Beneficial in cardiac failure-related hepatomegaly and ascites.
• Respiratory & Metabolic Disorders
• Useful in cough, dyspnoea, and prameha (diabetes).
• Other Uses
• Skin diseases, blood disorders, intestinal worms (especially in children).
• Included in classical formulations like Arogyavardhini Vati.

6. Dose

• Powder: 500 mg – 1 g (as bitter tonic, digestive).