Picrorhiza kurroa is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Orobanchaceae, native to the Himalayan region of India and Nepal. It grows to 30–70 cm (12–28 in) tall, with a rhizomatous root system. The leaves are pinnate, with 5–7 pairs of narrowly oblong leaflets. The flowers are borne in racemes, each flower with a violet or purple tubular corolla 5–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small black seeds. Picrorhiza kurroa is traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine. It is reputed to have various medicinal properties, including liver protection, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity. The main active constituents of Picrorhiza kurroa are the iridoid glycosides, including kutkin (picrorhizin). Clinical trials have shown that Picrorhiza kurroa extract has hepatoprotective activity and can be useful in the treatment of hepatitis and other liver disorders. Picrorhiza kurroa is generally considered to be safe, with few side effects.

3. Vernacular Names
English – Picrorhiza, Hellebore,Yellow gentian, Picroliv
Hindi – Kutki, Katuka
Malayalam – Katukarohini, Rohini
Tamil – Katukarogini, Kadugurohini

4. Synonyms
Habitat:
• काण्डरूहा - काण्डेन रोहति । Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa) plant may be grown by stem
cuttings.
Morphology:
• मत्स्यशकला - मत्स्य्य शकलममव शकलम्यााः। Rhizome of Katuki resembles
fish scales.
• चक्राङ्गी - चक्राकाराः काण्डच्छेदाः। When cut the stem appears like wheel.
• कृ ष्णभेदा - कृ ष्णाः भेदश्चेदोऽ्यााः। On breaking the rhizome, it becomes black
powder.

5. Properties and Action
• तिक्िा - तिक्िरसा। Katuki has very bitter taste.
• कट्वी - अ्वादाः। Katuki has unpalatable taste.
• मत्स्यपित्ता - ्वादे कममणण च मत्स्यपित्तवि् । Katuki has bitter taste like that of fish bile
and even the action is also similar to bile of fish.
• आमनी - आमं हन्िीति । Katuki mitigatesAma.
• रोहहणी - रोहयति िनर्जीवयति शरीरं यकृ द्बलदानेन रक्िशोधनेन चेतिाः। रोहाः लोहहिं,
िन्मूलाय यकृ िे हहिकाररणी च । Katuki purifies blood, improves functions of liver, acts as
regenerative.
• कटरोहहणी - कश्चा रोहहणी च । Katuki has regenerative action.

6. Charaka Samhita Vagbhata Sushrut Samhita
• Balya varga
• Prajasthapana varga
• Lekhaniya varga
• Stanyasodhana varga
• Bhedaniya varga
• Sanjinasthapana
• Mustadi gana
• Patoladi gana
• Pippalyadi gana
• Mustadi gana
• Patoladi gana
• Pippalyadi gana

7. Kingdom – Plantae
Order – Lamiales
Family – Plantaginaceae
Genus – Picrorhiza
Species – kurroa

9. Morphology
• Habit: Creeping herb, which spreads by stolons.A whorl of radical
leaves arises from rhizome tip.
• Shoot: Stem is represented by stolon and under found rhizome which
bear leaves and flowering scrapes.
• Leaves: 5–15 cm long leaves, all at the base, often withered. Leaves are
coarsely toothed, narrowed to a winged stalk.
• Flowers: small, pale or purplish blue, borne in cylindric spikes, spikes
borne on almost leafless erect stems. Flowers about 8 mm, 5-lobed to
the middle, and with longer stamens.
• Inflorescence: Indeterminate spike forming more or less triangular.
• Fruits: Capsule, 1-15 cm long and oval shaped.
• Rhizomes of the plant are 15–25 cm long and woody.

13. Rasa –Tikta
Guna – Laghu, Ruksa
Vipaka – Katu
Virya – Sita

14. Dosakarma
• Pitta Samaka due to Sita virya andTikta rasa and
Kaphasamaka because of KatuVipaka andTikta
rasa.

15. Karma
• Bhedana
• Lekhana
• Dipana
• Hridya
• Rochana
• Krimigna
• Pramehagna
• Sthanyashodana
• Daahaprashamana
• Jvaragna
• Pratibandhanaka
• Kushtagna
• Kaphagna

16. Pharmacological
Actions
Liver stimulant
Cholagogue
Purgative
Anthelmintic
Expectorant

18. Pittaja kustha (Skin diseases due to Pitta)
आलेपन प्रियङ्गुहरेणुका वत्सकस्य च फलानन ।
सानिप्रवषा च ससेव्या सचन्दना रोहहणी कटुका ।।
The Lepa of Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla), Katuki (Picrorhiza
kurroa), Renukā (Vitex negundo seeds),Indrayava (Fruit of
Holarrhena antidysenterica), Ativişa (Aconi tum heterophyllum),
Sevya (Vetiveria zizanoides) and Candana (Santalum album) is
beneficial in Pittaja kustha (Skin diseases caused by Pitta dosa).

19. Amayika
Prayoga
(Therapeutic
administration)
Stanya Suddhi (In purifying breast milk)
• पाययेिाथवा स्िन्यशुद्धये रोहहणीश ्ृिम ्
• Decoction prepared from Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa)
is useful in purify breast milk
Hridroga (Heart disease)
• कट्वीमथुककल्कञच प्रपबेि् सससिमम्भसा । अ.ह.चच.
६/४४ ।
In Pittaja Hridroga (Heart disease caused by Pitta
doşa) the is Kalka prepared from Katuki (Picrorrhiza
kurroa) & Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra) taken with
Sugar-water.

22. Substitutes and Adulterants
• Gentian kurroa (Gentianaceae) which is known as
'Trayamaana' used as adulterant and substitute for
the Katuki and vice versa.
• Picrorhiza scrophulariaeflora Pennell, - Northern
Himalayan region from Nepal to Sikkim. It
possesses properties like Katuki.

23. ThankYou!