Chitrak Mool, Chitraka

Biological Source

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

Synonyms

Sanskrit :- Agni, Vahni, Jvalanakhya, Krsanu, Huasa, Dahana, Hutabhuk, Sikhi.

Assam :- 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

Description

A) Macroscopic

Roots 30 cm or more in length, 6 mm or more in diameter as also as short stout pieces, including root stocks reddish to deep brown, scars of rootlets present, bark thin and brown, internal structure striated, odour, disagreeable, taste, acrid.

B) Microscopic

Transverse section of root shows outer most tissue of cork consisting of 5 -7 row, of cubical to rectangular dark brown cells, secondary cortex consists of 2-3 rows of thinwalled rectangular, light brown cells, most of the cortex cells contain starch grains, secondary cortex followed by a wide zone of cortex, composed of large polygonal to tangentially elongated parenchymatous cells varying in size and shape, containing starch grains and some cells with yellow contents, fibres scattered singly or in groups of 2-6, phloem a narrow zone of polygonal, thin-walled cells, consisting of usual elements and phloem fibres, similar to cortical zone, phloem fibres usually in groups of 2-5 or more but occasionally occurring singly, lignified with pointed ends and narrow lumen, similar in shape and size to those of secondary cortex, cambium indistinct, xylem light yellow to whitish, vessels radially arranged with pitted thickenings, medullary rays straight, 1-6 seriate, cells radially elongated starch filled with starch grains, stone cells absent.

Identity, Purity and Strength

Foreign matter :- Not more than 3 per cent,

Total Ash :- Not more than 3 per cent,

Acid-insoluble ash :- Not more than 1 per cent,

Alcohol-soluble extractive :- Not less than 12 per cent,

Water-soluble extractive :- Not less than 12 per cent,

Active Constituents

Plumbagin

Properties and Action

Rasa :- Katu

Guna :- Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna

Virya :- Usna

Vipaka :- Katu

Karma :- Sothahara, Dipana, Grahi, Pacana, Kaphavatahara, Arsohara, Sulahara

Important Formulations

Citrakadi Vati, Citrakaharitaki, Citrakadi Churna

Therapeutic Uses

Agnimandya, Grahani Roga, Arsa, Udara sula, Gudasotha

Dose

1-2 g of the drug in powder form.