Crude drug sample data base
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Crude drug name | Market name | Jarchita |
|---|---|---|
| Formal name | Citraka | |
Other names Tips！ | Chitraka, Cheeta (T), Chitta (B), Cheetamool (H), Chitramula, Vahni (K), Kotuveli (M), Tellachitra, Chitramulam (Te), Chittiramoolam, Akini, Kodiveli (Ta), Tsa granka (Ti), Chitu, Citu (Ne) | |
| English name | White Lead Wort | |
| Original plant name | Plumbago zeylanica Linn., White Lead Wort | |
| Family name | Plumbaginaceae | |
| Used part | Classification | Plant origin | Sub classification | root |
| Collection information | India, New Delhi , Hans Raj & Sons | |
| Collection date | 1991/05/07 | |
| Collector | Tsuneo Namba, et al. | |
| TMPW No. | 12412 | |
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Production area information
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Collection information
India,New Delhi
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Scientific information data base
| Crude drug name | Ayurvedic name or Sanskrit name, English name | Citraka, White Lead Wort | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synonyms | Dahana, Pathina, Agni, Jyotiska, Citraka, Agnika, Vyala, Aruna, Palipati, Haviri, Analanama, Pathi, Vyala, usana, Daruna, Vallari, Vahni, Pali, Katu, Sikhi, Krsnaruna, Anala, Dvipi, Citrabhanu, Pavaka, Kala, Kalamula, Atidapya, Marjara, Dahanaka, Citranga, Raktacitra, Mahanga, Drudahva. | ||||
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| Original plant name | Plumbago zeylanica Linn. | ||||
| Family name | Plumbaginaceae | ||||
| Used part | Root, Leaves | ||||
| Distribution area | Throughout India, especially in Peninsular India, West Bengal, also cultivated in gardens. | ||||
| Remarks | Abundant | ||||
| Common uses | Root and root bark are ingredients of drug formulations prescribed in anasarca, biliousness, cough, dyspepsia, phlegmatic tumours/tumors, leucoderma, other skin diseases, prurigo, secondary syphilis and leprosy. Root paste is applied in order to open abscesses. Root is diuretic, caustic and expellant of phlegmatic tumours/tumors and is useful in rheumatism. It is used as an irritant to the skin in the treatment of dyspepsia, piles, anasarca, diarrhoea/diarrhea and skin diseases. A paste prepared of root with milk, vinegar or salt and water is used as an external application in leprosy and other skin diseases of obstinate character. Tincture of the root bark is antiperiodic. Root extract after processing for plumbagin enrichment has been used in a number of drug formulations especially in those for liver ailments and general liver tonics. | ||||
| Therapeutic uses | Sopha (oedema), Arsa (piles), Krmi (worm infestation), Grahani (irritable bowels), Kustha (skin diseases), Kasa (cough), Udara (ascitic types), Ksaya (emaciation), Pandu (anaemic/anemic condition), Yakrt (liver disorders), Ama (indigestion) | ||||
| Pharmacological effect | Investigations have indicated the usefulness of the root in stimulating the digestive processes. The drug is apt to cause abortion. The chloroform extract of the root shows significant activity against both penicillin and non-penicillin resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoea thus confirming the herbalist’s belief that the plant can be used to treat sexually transmitted diseases. It is likely that the active principle of the crude extract is plumbagin which has been shown to have anti-microbial activity. | ||||
| Medical system | Ayurveda (Traditional Indian medicine) | ||||
| Traditional concept | Rasa (Taste) | Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter) | |||
| Virya (Potency) | Usna (Hot) | ||||
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu (Light), Ruksa (Dry), Tiksna (Sharp) | ||||
| Vipaka (Post digestive taste) | Katu (Pungent) | ||||
| Karma (General action) | Rasayana (rejuvenative), Vahnikrt (increasing digestive fire), Pacana (digestive) | ||||
| Dosakarma (Action on dosa) | Decreases Kapha Vata, increases Pitta | ||||
| Mala (Action on excretory mechanism) | Grahi (constipative) | ||||
| Avayava (Action on organ) | Yakrt (liver) | ||||
| Traditional usage | 1. Root bark is made into a paste and applied inside a mud vessel. Buttermilk or curd is made in this which is very good for piles. 2. For abdominal disorders, Citraka is cooked with cow's urine, ghee, alkali and is taken internally. 3. As a rejuvenative, the root is made into a paste along with honey, ghee and is taken internally. During this intake milk should be taken along. 4. Along with oil if Citraka is taken it is very good for all Vata. Along with urine it is good for leucoderma/leukoderma and skin diseases and along with butter milk for piles. 5. Paste of Citraka mixed with Sunthi (dry ginger) and sour gruel is applied to haemorrhoides/hemorrhoids. 6. One who takes root of Citraka or Musali (Curculigo orchioides) or Krsna (Piper longum), Ciribilva (Holoptelia integrifolia) pounded with cow's urine does not suffer from piles. 7. After taking Pippali with honey, Citraka with buttermilk or only tender fruits of Bilva (Aegle marmelos) one is freed from diarrhoea/diarrhea. 8. Regular local application of the warm paste of Citraka and Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) or Sarsapa (mustard) and Sigru (Moringa oleifera) pounded with urine is useful for oedema. 9. Goat's ghee processed with Yavaksara (alkali of Hordeum vulgare) and Ajamoda (Trachyspermum roxburghianum) or Citraka and Amalaka or Devadaru and Citraka and mixed with honey is beneficial for hoarseness of voice. 10. Decoction of Citraka is useful in sukrameha (a type of polyuria). 11. Kustha (skin disease) is alleviated by taking Haridra (turmeric) 40 gm with urine for a month. In similar way, Citraka finely powdered or Pippali should be taken with urine. 12. Cow's urine mixed with Citraka, Trikatu (a group of three pungents: Pippali, Marica, Sunthi) and honey should be kept in a jar of ghee for a fortnight. The patient should thereafter take it in vitiligo. 13. One suffering from anemia, should take roots of Bala (Sida retusa) and Citraka 10 gm with warm water or seeds of Sigru (Moringa oleifera) mixed with equal salt keeping on milk diet. 14. Application of Citraka or Devadaru as paste is useful for filaria. 15. Ciribilva (Holoptelea integrifolia), Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Citraka, Karavira (Nerium indicum) and excreta of pigeon, heron and vulture act as tearing agents for abscess. 16. Intake of Citraka root with honey keeping on wholesome diet is useful for obesity. | ||||
| Formulation | Citrakadi kasaya, Saddharana curna, Citrakadi gutika, Citraka haritaki, Citraka ghrta, Citrakadi curna, Yogarajaguggulu, Arogyavardhini, Candraprabhavati. | ||||
| Comments | Leaves of Citraka are light, constipative and Kapha Pitta pacifying. In South India Plumbago indica is used as Citraka where as in North India P. zeylanica is used. This is included in the Dipaniya, Trptighna, Sulaprasamana, Bhedaniya, Arsoghna, Lekhaniya, Katukaskandha groups of Caraka, Pippalyadi, Mustadi, Amalakyadi, Muskakadi, Varunadi, Aragvadhadi groups of Susruta and Pancakola and Sadusana of Bhavaprakasa. | ||||
| References | Reference book Tips！ | [2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras) Vol. 4 (Repr.1997), pp 321-326. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement p 197. Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs Used in Ayurveda, 1996. Sarin, Y.K., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi p 24. Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources, 1994. Sivarajan, V.V. and Balachandran, I., Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi p 119. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol I, Ed. I, 1989. Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dept. of Health, New Delhi p 29. Plants in Ayurveda (A Compendium of Botanical and Sanskrit Names), 1997. Abdul Kareem, M., Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore 1320. Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi Vol. 2, pp 359-362. Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi p 142. | |||
| Remarks | In Africa, a cold infusion of the root is used for influenza and black water fever. | ||||
| Last renewal date | 2023/11/16 | ||||
