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
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