chitrak - Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica (Chitrak) is a powerful medicinal herb widely used in Ayurveda for its digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It helps in treating piles, indigestion, respiratory issues, joint pain, liver disorders, and skin diseases. Chitrak also supports child digestive health, hair growth, and weight management due to its metabolism-boosting properties.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Genus: Plumbago
Species: Plumbago zeylanica L.

Common Names

Assamese : Agiyachit, Agnachit
Bengali : Chita
English : Lead war
Gujrati : Chitrakmula
Hindi : Chira, Chitra
Kannada : Chitramula, Vahni, Bilichitramoola
Kashmiri : Chitra, Shatranja
Malayalam : Vellakeduveli, Thumpokkoduveli
Marathi : Chitraka
Oriya : Chitamula, Chitoparu
Punjabi : Chitra
Tamil : Chitramoolam, Kodiveli
Telugu : Chitramulam
Urdu : Sheetraj Hindi, Cheetah

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Digestive Disorders: Used as a digestive stimulant, it helps in conditions like indigestion, loss of appetite, and constipation.

Piles Care: Traditionally used for managing hemorrhoids and anal fissures by reducing inflammation and improving digestion.

Child Digestive Health: Helps in relieving colic pain, bloating, and mild constipation in children when used in controlled doses.

Weight Management: Used in Ayurveda to enhance metabolism, improve digestion, and assist in fat metabolism.

Skin Conditions: Applied externally for treating eczema, psoriasis, and other dermatological disorders.

Respiratory Ailments: Traditionally used for managing asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough.

Fever Management: Acts as an antipyretic and helps reduce fever.

Rheumatism & Arthritis: Reduces joint pain and inflammation.

Liver Disorders: Known for hepatoprotective properties and helps in liver detoxification.

Phytochemical Constituents

Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) – a potent naphthoquinone with strong pharmacological activities.

Flavonoids – Contributing to antioxidant properties

Alkaloids – Providing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Triterpenoids – Known for their hepatoprotective and immune-boosting properties.

Glycosides, Steroids, and Tannins – Supporting various biological activities.

References

Mishra, S., & Aeri, V. (2016). "Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on Plumbago zeylanica L.: An important medicinal plant." International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 7(2), 517-524.

Patel, R., & Patel, N. (2018). "Plumbagin: A review on its sources, pharmacological significance, and toxicity profile." Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 11(3), 5-12.

Goyal, M., & Kadnur, S. (2006). "Hepatoprotective activity of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. root extract against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats." Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 44(4), 305-311.

Chakraborty, S., & Roy, M. (2015). "Anticancer potential of plumbagin: A natural compound with therapeutic promise." Journal of Natural Remedies, 15(1), 34-45.

Kumar, S., & Sharma, A. (2020). "Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Plumbago zeylanica root extracts." Journal of Herbal Medicine, 10(2), 58-67.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (1989). The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (Part I, Vol. I, p. 39). New Delhi: Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

chitrak – Plumbago zeylanica

Scientific Classification

Common Names

Traditional and Medicinal Uses

Phytochemical Constituents

References

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