Title:Advances in Ethnobotany, Synthetic Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of
Endangered Herb Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki): A Comprehensive Review
(2010-2020)
Volume: 21
Issue: 19
Author(s): Sharuti Mehta, Anil Kumar Sharma and Rajesh K. Singh*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shivalik College of
Pharmacy, Nangal, 140126, Punjab, India
Keywords:
Picrorhiza kurroa, picroside-I, picroside-II, picroliv, immunomodulator, kutki, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer.
Abstract: Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Family: Plantaginaceae) is a well-recognized Ayurvedic
herb. It is commonly called “Kutki” or “Kurro” and ‘Indian gentian’. Iridoid glycosides are the
plant’s bioactive constituents accountable for the bitter taste and medicinal properties of the plant. The
iridoid glycosides such as picrosides and other active metabolites of the plant exhibit many pharmacological
activities like hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulator,
anti-ulcerative colitis, antimicrobial, etc. This review aims to provide updated information on the ethnobotany,
synthetic phytochemistry, pharmacological potential, safety and toxicology of P. kurroa
and its active metabolites. Indiscriminate exploitation, ecological destruction of natural habitats, slower
plant growth and unawareness regarding cultivation and uprooting of plants have brought kutki an
endangered status. Therefore, various techniques used for the conservation and production of bioactive
metabolites from P. kurroa have also been reported. Information on the plant has been collected
from Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus using ‘Picrorhiza kurroa’, ‘Picroside-‘,
‘Picroside-II’, ‘Picroliv’, ‘Immunomodulator’ keywords. All studies on ethnobotany, phytochemistry
and pharmacology of plant from 2010- 2020 were comprised in this review article. The possible directions
for future research have also been outlined briefly in this review article.
