Active constituents
The major constituents in picrorhiza are the glycosides picroside I, kutkoside, androsin,
and apocynin. They have been shown in animal studies to be antiallergic, to inhibit
platelet-activating factor (an important pro-inflammatory molecule),3 and to
decrease joint inflammation.4 According to test tube and animal studies, picrorhiza
has antioxidant actions, particularly in the liver.5 6 Picroliv (a
commercial mixture containing picroside I and kutkoside) has been shown to have an
immunostimulating effect in hamsters, helping to prevent infections.7 Picrorhiza
increases bile production in the liver, according to rat studies.8 It has also been
shown to protect animals from damage by several potent liver toxins, offering protection as
good as or better than silymarin (the flavonoids found in
milk thistle).9 10 However, it
does not have the amount of human research as silymarin. Picrorhiza has also shown to reduce
formation of liver cancer due to chemical exposures
in animal studies.11
Human studies on this plant are not prolific. A series of cases of acute viral hepatitis in India were reportedly treated successfully by a
combination of picrorhiza with a variety of minerals.12 A number of similar reports
have appeared in Indian literature over the years. No double-blind clinical trials have yet
been published, however.
Two preliminary trials suggest that picrorhiza may improve breathing in asthma patients and
reduce the severity of asthma.13 14
Although, a follow-up double-blind trial did not confirm these earlier
trials.15
A preliminary trial conducted in India found a small benefit for people with arthritis
(primarily rheumatoid
arthritis).16
Picrorhiza in combination with the drug methoxsalen was found in a preliminary trial to
hasten recovery in people with vitiligo faster than
those receiving methoxsalen and sun exposure alone.17
References
1. Krishnamurthy A. The Wealth of India vol VIII. New Delhi,
Publication and Information Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1969,
49.
2. Nadkarni KM, Nadkarni AK. Indian Materia Medica. Bombay,
Popular Prakashan, 1976, 953–5.
3. Dorsch W, Stuppner H, Wagner H, et al. Antiasthmatic effects of
Picrorhiza kurroa: Androsin prevents allergen- and PAF-induced bronchial obstruction in
guinea pigs. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1991;95:128–33.
4. ‘t Hart BA, Simons JM, Knaan-Shanzer S, et al. Antiarthritic
activity of the newly developed neutrophil oxidative burst antagonist apocynin. Free Rad
Biol Med 1990;9:127–31.
5. Anandan R, Devaki T. Hepatoprotective effect of Picrorrhiza
[sic] kurroa on tissue defense system in D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats.
Fitoterapia 1999;70:54–7.
6. Chander R, Kapoor NK, Dhawan BN. Picroliv, picroside-I and kutkoside
from Picrorhiza kurroa are scavengers of superoxide anions. Biochem
Pharmacol 1992;44:180–3.
7. Puri A, Saxena RP, Sumati, et al. Immunostimulant activity of
Picroliv, the iridoid glycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa, and its protective
action against Leishmania donovani infection in hamsters. Planta Med
1992;58:528–32.
8. Shukla B, Visen PKS, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN. Choleretic effect of
Picroliv, the hepatoprotective principle of Picrorhiza kurroa. Planta Med
1991;57:29–33.
9. Floersheim GL, Bieri A, Koenig R, Pletscher A. Protection against
Amantia phalloides by the iridoid glycoside mixture of Picrorhiza kurroa
(kutkin). Agents Actions 1990;29:386–7.
10. Dwivedi Y, Rastogi R, Mehrotra R, et al. Picroliv protects against
aflatoxin B1 acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Pharmacol Res 1993;27:189–99.
11. Jeena KJ, Joy KL, Kuttan R. Effect of Emblica officinalis,
Phyllanthus amarus and Picrorrhiza [sic] kurroa on
N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocardinogenesis. Cancer Lett
1999;136:11–6.
12. Chaturvedi GN, Singh RH. Jaundice of infectious hepatitis and its
treatment with an indigenous drug, Picrorhiza kurrooa [sic]. J Res Ind Med
1966;1:1–13.
13. Rajaram D. A preliminary clinical trial of Picrorrhiza
kurroa in bronchial asthma. Indian J Pharmacol 1975;7:95–6.
14. Shan BK, Kamat SR, Sheth UK. Preliminary report of use of
Picrorrhiza kurroa root in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med
1977;23:118–20.
15. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza
kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89–95.
16. Langer JG, Gupta OP, Atal CK . Clinical trials on Picrorhiza
kurroa. Ind J Pharmacol 1981;13:98–103 [review].
17. Bedi KL, Zutshi U, Chopra CL, Amla V. Picrorhiza kurroa, an
Ayurvedic herb, may potentiate photochemotherapy in vitiligo. J Ethnopharmacol
1989;27:347–52.
18. Bone K. Picrorrhiza [sic]: Important modulator of immune function.
Townsend Letter for Doctors 1995;May:88–94 [review].
19. Chaturvedi GN, Singh RH. Jaundice of infectious hepatitis and its
treatment with an indigenous drug, Picrorhiza kurrooa [sic]. J Res Ind Med
1966;1:1–13.
Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
