PICRORHIZA PICRORHIZA KURROOA ROYLE

PICRORHIZA (Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.) +

Activities (Picrorhiza) :
Analgesic (1; KEB); Antiaging (f; PM8:125); Antiaggregant (1; APA; KEB); Antiallergic (1; KEB); Antiasthmatic (1; APA; HH3; PH2); Antibacterial (f; PH2); Antihistaminic (1; HH3); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; KEB; PH2; PM8:125); Antileishmanic (1; KEB); Antioxidant (1; KEB; PM8:125); Antiperiodic (f; WOI); Antipyretic (f; KAB); Antiradicular (1; KEB); Antiseptic (f; PH2); Antistress (f; PM8:125); Antithromboxane (1; KEB); Antitumor (1; APA); Antiviral (2; APA; HH3); Bitter (1; DEP; KEB; SUW); Bronchospasmolytic (1; PH2); Cardiotonic (f; KAB); Cerebrotonic (f; KAB; PM8:125); Cholagogue (f; KAP; WOI); Choleretic (1; APA; HH3; KEB; PH2); Emetic (f; PH2); Emmenagogue (f; KAB); Expectorant (f; KAB); Gastrostimulant (f; SKJ); Hepatoprotective (1; APA; KEB; PH2); Hepatotoxic (1; KEB); Hypocholesterolemic (1; KAP); Immunomodulator (f; PM8:125); Immunostimulant (1; HH3; KEB; PH2); Insecticide (1; PH2); Laxative (f; DEP; KAP; SUW; WOI); Lipolytic (f; APA); Mast Cell Stabilizer (1; KEB); Orexigenic (f; KAB); Pectoral (f; KAB); Phagocytotic (1; KEB); Stomachic (f; DEP; KAB; KAP; SUW; WOI); Tonic (1; DEP; KAB; KAP; KEB); Vermifuge (f; KAB).

Indications (Picrorhiza) :
Ague (f; DEP); Allergy (1; KEB); Anemia (f; KAP); Anorexia (1; HH3; SKJ); Arthrosis (f; KAB; PH2; SKJ); Asthma (2; APA; HH3; KAP; KEB; PH2); Autoimmune Disease (1; KEB); Bacteria (1; PH2); Biliousness (f; DEP; KAB; KAP); Bite (f; KAB); Bronchosis (1; KAP; PH2); Cancer (1; APA); Carbuncle (f; PH2); Cholecystosis (f; PH2); Constipation (f; APA; DEP; KAP; PH2; SUW; WOI); Cough (f; HH3; PH2); Diarrhea (f; APA; SKJ); Dropsy (f; DEP; KAP; WOI); Dysentery (f; HH3; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; HH3; KAB; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; APA; DEP; KAP; SUW); Dysuria (f; KAB); Elephantiasis (f; KAP); Enterosis (f; PH2); Epilepsy (f; KAB; PH2); Fever (f; DEP; KAB; KAP; PH2; SUW); Flu (f; SKJ); Gastrosis (f; HH3; PH2); Gingivosis (f; KAB); Hemorrhoid (f; KAB; PH2); Hepatosis (1; APA; HH3; KAB; KAP; KEB; PH2); Hiccup (f; KAB); High Cholesterol (1; KAP); Hyperemia (f; PH2); Immunodepression (1; HH3; KEB; PH2); Infection (2; APA; HH3; KEB; PH2); Inflammation (1; APA; KAB; KEB; PH2; PM8:125); Jaundice (f; KAB; KAP; PH2; SKJ); Leishmaniasis (1; APA; KEB); Leukoderma (1; HH3; KAB; PH2); Malaria (f; DEP; KAP; WOI); Mushroom Poisoning (1; APA); Odontosis (f; KAB); Osteoarthrosis (2; KEB); Pain (1; KAB; KAP; KEB); Psoriasis (2; KEB); Pulmonosis (f; APA); Rheumatism (1; KEB); Scabies (f; KAB; PH2); Senility (f; PM8:125); Snakebite (f; APA; KAP; PH2); Splenosis (f; DEP; KAP); Spondylosis (2; KEB); Sting (f; SUW); Strain (f; PH2); Stress (f; PM8:125); Tumor (1; APA); Virus (2; APA; FNF; HH3); Vitiligo (2; KEB; PH2); Worm (f; KAB).

Dosages (Picrorhiza) :
3–3.5 g root as antiperiodic (KAP); 0.5–2 g dry root/day or 1–4 ml root extract (1:2)/day (KEB); 1–1.5 g powdered rhizome (KAP); 2–4 ml rhizome tincture (HH3; PH2); 0.6–1.2 g to 4 g drug/day for malaria (HH3; PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Picrorhiza) :
Not covered (AHP; KOM). “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Bitterness is intolerable to some. May cause skin rash. Cucurbitacins may induce diarrhea, gas, and griping (KEB).

Extracts (Picrorhiza) :
Picroliv, an extract of Picrorhiza, is hailed as a powerful liver protector, is in Phase II human clinical trials in India, and it does protect the liver. StX or the herb itself controls asthma, fights viruses, protects rats from chemical liver damage, reduces inflammation, and importantly, stimulates the immune system and stimulates liver growth in rats that have had portions of their liver removed (APA). Some studies find Picroliv more potent than silymarin as a liver protectant. Kutkin is comparable, if not superior, to silybinin for Amanita poisoning. “The activity of Picroliv (a standardized extract containing a total of 60% picroside I and kutkoside) was found in many of the tests to be comparable or superior to silymarin from Silybum marianum” (KEB). LD 10,000 mg/kg (HH3). LD50 cucurbitacin-B 10.9 mg/kg orl mouse (HH3).