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Plumbago zeylanica - Chitraka

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Citraka

Citraka consists of dried mature root of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Fam.Plumbaginaceae), a large perennial sub-scandent shrub, found throughout India in wile state and occasionally cultivated in gardens.[1]

Uses

Piles, Gulma, Difficult Swelling, Promoting Digestion, Malabsorption, Dysentery, Skin Diseases, Edema, Haemorrhoids, Intestinal Worms, Cough.

Parts Used

Seeds, Stem, Leaves, Roots.

Chemical Composition

It contains Plumbagin and Roots of the plant contain an acrid crystalline principle called plumbagin. Besides, it contains chloroplumbagin and biplumbagin.[2]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Chitramula, Vahni, Bilichitramoola
Hindi Chira, Chitra
Malayalam Vellakeduveli, Thumpokkoduveli
Tamil Chitramoolam, Kodiveli
Telugu Chitramulam
Marathi Chitraka
Gujarathi Chitrakmula
Punjabi Chitra
Kashmiri Chitra, Shatranja
Sanskrit Agni, Vahni, Dahana, Hutabhuk
English Lead war


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Katu (Pungent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Teekshna

Veerya

Ushna (Heat)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Shothahara, Deepana, Grahi, Pacana, Kaphavatahara, Arshohara, Shulahara

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
alternate simple and entire Stipules absent; petiole 0–5 mm long with small auricles present in young leaves

[3]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
bisexual 1–2 mm long mucronate, white stamens free Flowers are calyx tubular, 7–11 mm long, 5-ribbed, with stalked glands along ribs

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
oblong capsule 7.5–8 mm long Seed oblong, 5–6 mm long, reddish brown to dark brown. 1-seeded

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Stem cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

This plant is cultivated in sandy-loam soils. Seeds are sown in nursery beds in the month of March-April.[4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Subtropical region, At Gardens, Warm temperate region, Cool climates, At thickets, Palm groves, Shandy hummocks, Shell mounds, Rocky places, At open areas.

Photo Gallery

References

  1. THE AYURVEDIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF INDIA, PART-I, VOLUME-1, page no 39.
  2. THE AYURVEDIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF INDIA, PART-I, VOLUME-1, page no 39 "Constituents"
  3. "Morphology"
  4. "Cultivation detail"

External Links