"Swertia chirayita (commonly known as Chirayata or Chiretta) is a medicinal herb belonging to the Gentianaceae family, widely found in the temperate Himalayan regions at altitudes between 1200–3000 meters. It is a bitter tonic herb highly valued in traditional Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicine systems. Known for its strong bitter taste, it is traditionally used for treating fevers, liver disorders, loss of appetite, malaria, constipation, skin diseases, and digestive disturbances. The entire plant—especially the aerial parts—is used in medicine for its therapeutic benefits.
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Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Gentianaceae
- Genus: Swertia
- Species: Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) H. Karst.
Common Names
- English: Chirayata, Chiretta, Indian Gentian, Bitter Stick
- Sanskrit: Chirayata, Tiktakar, Bhunimba
- Hindi: Chirata, Chirayata
- Bengali: Chireta
- Tamil: Nilavembu
- Marathi: Chirayata
- Telugu: Nilavempu
- Unani/Persian: Qasabuz-zarirah
Traditional and Medicinal Uses
- Digestive and Hepatic Health - Improves appetite and digestion. Acts as a hepatoprotective by supporting liver function and treating jaundice and other liver disorders.
- Fever and Malaria - Traditionally used as a natural antipyretic for intermittent and malarial fevers.
- Blood Purification and Skin Health - Works as a blood purifier, beneficial for acne, eczema, and skin eruptions.
- Metabolic and Antidiabetic Effects - Shown to have hypoglycemic activity, supporting blood sugar regulation.
- Other Traditional Uses: - Used as a general health tonic to boost stamina and body resistance.
References
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Govt. of India.
The Unani Pharmacopoeia of India, Ministry of AYUSH.
Joshi, P. & Dhawan, V. (2005). Swertia chirayita – an overview of the biological activities and conservation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 102(2), 213–232.
Singh, A., Rawat, A.K.S., & Mehrotra, S. (2012). Swertia chirayita: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. Phytotherapy Research, 26(10), 1425–1434.
Pandey, M.M., Rastogi, S., & Rawat, A.K.S. (2013). Indian traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine and nutritional supplementation. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1–12.
European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition, Council of Europe.
Kalia, A.N. (2022). Textbook of Industrial Pharmacognosy, 3rd Ed. CBS Publishers.
Puri, R., & Tiwari, P. (2024). Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Swertia chirayita: An updated review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 320, 117–134.
Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L., & Chopra, I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. CSIR, New Delhi.
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