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Picrirhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth., (=Picrorhiza scrophulariaefolia Pennell), Scrophulariaceae, is an important drug of Ayurveda and is one of bitterest plant drugs. A herbarium specimen of the plant and the rhizomes, which are the drug, are illustrated.
The plant occurs in the wild in the alpine Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim, at 9,000 to 15,000 ft. It would be very helpful if methods are devised to cultivate this species elsewhere in the country.
The dried rhizomes and the roots are bitter, cathartic, stomachic, cholagogue, laxative, used in fever and dyspepsia, and in scorpion sting. This is one of the most potent liver conditioning and protective drugs.
The glucoside picrorhizin and the bitter principles kutikin, a non-bitter product kurrin (D-mannitol), vanillic acid and kutukol were obtained from the roots and the rhizomes.