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Chitrak (Plumbago Zeylanica): Benefits, Medicinal Uses, and Side Effects
We all know that generally, ayurvedic herbs offer incredible medicinal and health benefits. One of those herbs is plumbago zeylanica, which is commonly known as chitrak in India.
Plumbago zeylanica or white leadwort is a herb that is widely found in India. It comes with three colors that are red, blue, and white. The white color shrub is called chitrak.
Common Names of White Leadwort:
English Name: White Leadwort, Ceylon leadwort, plumbago
Sanskrit Name: Chitrak
Urdu Name: Sheetraj
Telugu Name: Chitramulam
Kannada Name: Chitramula
Hindi Name: Chira, Chitrak , Vahni, Billy Chitramoola
Marathi Name: Chitraka
Punjabi Name: Chitra
Oriya Name: Chitamula, Chito Paru
Gujarati Name: Chitrakmula
Plant Description
Perennial herb or undershrub with green branches, slightly woody, spreading, floating, straight, glabrous. The leaves of this plant are alternate, ovate, or elliptic, the petiole narrow, extending at the base amplexicaul and often as auricles.
Flowers are white in color, axillary, terminal spikes, and bisexual. Sticky glands densely cover its stem.
The uterus is raised, 5-conical, one-cell, ovoid one, basal. Its roots are pale yellow when it is fresh, as well as it turns reddish-brown when it dries.
Ayurvedic Properties of the Chitramoola (Plumbago Zeylanica)
Rasa (Taste): Katu (pungent)
Essential formulations: Citrakadi churna, Citrakadi Vati, Citrak-haritaki
Guna: Tikshna / sharp, Ruksha/ Dry, Laghu/ Light
Action: Shula-har, Shoth-har, Kapha-Vata- har, Dipana, Pachana, Arsh-har, Grahi
Virya: Ushna/ Hot
Vipaka: Katu/ Pungent
Traditional Benefits of the Chitrakmool
This plant is helpful for skin ailments like herpes, and gastric diseases, diarrhea.
People use the crushed roots or leaves with lemon juice as a vesicant and anti-irritant, in West Africa.
Extract of the root is used to stimulate sweating.
You can use this chitramoola plant to treat skin-related infections, scabies, dermatitis, intestinal worms, ringworm, sores, leprosy, acne, ulcers, and hookworm.
Consuming the root by mouth gives relief from shortness of breath.
Milk sap is mainly used for skin problems like boils and ringworm.
This plant’s roots are used to treat phlegm, gas, bile problems, blood purification, and diabetes.
Take the crushed roots of this plant, vinegar, milk, and salt. Apply this paste directly on your skin. It can reduce leprosy and other skin infections.
Take the root decoction and consume with warm milk for getting relief from inflammation of the mouth, chest, and throat. In addition, this decoction is used to cure dyspepsia and diarrhea, in Rodrigues and Mauritius.
If you want to cure lung diseases, ringworm, wasting, leukoderma, consume Chitrak as a medicine. You will get better results.
Extract of the chitramoola root is used for inner piles. These roots are used to cure rheumatism with vegetable oil in Nigeria.
People used the root, and bark powder to cure wounds, rheumatic pain, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, inflammation, and syphilis, in Ethiopia.
Take the root of the plant and make it as a paste. Add the water, milk, and vinegar into the paste. This paste is used to cure influenza and blackwater fever in South Africa.
Chemical Constituents of Chithramoola Ver White Leadwort
It includes B-Sitosterol, Chitranone, Dihydrogesterone, Plumbagin, 3-chloro plumbagin, Plumbagicacid, droserone, Maritone, Elliptinone, Zeylinone, and zeylanone, etc.
Plumbago Zeylanica Benefits
Quick Facts
Species: P. zeylanica
Kingdom: Plantae
Genus: Plumbago
Division: Magnoliophyta
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Chitrak plays an essential role in curing health diseases. It can heal your body ailments; it is one of the best ancient medicines. Many studies have found the efficiency of these herbal medicines to be equal. Or better when compared to their modern counterparts. Chitrak or plumbago zeylanica is widely used in naturopathy. It is also called Ceylon leadwort and white leadwort. It offers many health benefits, here some of them.
1 Helps to Reduce the Weight
Obesity is one of the common problems for people nowadays. It may lead to severe health problems. Being overweight is a significant cause of depression and stress. There are many solutions and medications available to reduce weight, but the white leadwort herb is one of the best of them.
As per the Ayurveda medicine, Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica) traditionally promotes digestive fire, improves the body’s metabolism, and decreases natural toxins. Moreover, this herb can enhance longevity and vitality. It is one of the best natural herbs to support healthy joints and balanced body fluid levels.
Chitrak powder can treat obesity. It improves physiology and fights against excess fat, thus decreases overall weight. It can support the liver function and digestion system. This herb naturally stimulates the body by promoting healthy digestion, proper absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.
If you have severe indigestion and related symptoms, then try this Chitrakadi Vadi herbal medicine. For over 3000 years, plumbago zeylanica is considered one of the essential herbs in Indian traditional medicine.
2 Stimulates Digestive Function
The weak digestive system may lead to severe discomfort with chronic health problems. Plumbago zeylanica’s extract can stimulate the digestive system and increase appetite. Moreover, it helps fight against diarrhea. It is the best treatment for those affected by the pile’s condition. As it has a unique formulation of Charak, it can support the blood circulation of the anal area that stops piles and associated anxiety without any toxic chemicals.
3 Improves Heart Health
In ancient times, this herb is used as a medicine to protect your heart from various diseases. The juices of this herb are amazing for lowering cholesterol levels, which is a significant cause of heart disease and supports heart function. By intaking the Plumbago zeylanica every day, you will get a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, it can stop stroke or heart attack as well as maintain your heart more healthy. With inflammation, high blood sugar levels, such as diabetes, can also increase the risk of heart problems.
To further protect the heart by helping to maintain normal blood sugar levels naturally, the plumbago zeylanica extract works in a very effective way.
4 Anticoagulant Activity
Plumbagin may improve the prothrombin time, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, and GPT levels in liver tissue as well as decrease serum GPT levels. Its antivitamin K properties are related to the hydroxyl group, and it is attached to the naphthoquinone ring of the compound.
5 Supports the Immune System
Chitrak is high in plumbagin thus helps to strengthen your immune system as well as prevents your body from harmful toxins and free radicals. Moreover, it can remove the thick mucus from your body, helping reduce the risk of common infections such as colds and coughs. In addition to improving the body’s defense mechanism against common diseases, regular consumption of Plumbago zeylanica is known to prevent or control cancer development, especially prostate cancer. Ingestion of this herb is now facilitated by the Immunrich of Charak’s, which combines the benefits of Plumbago zeylanica with other herbs for a reliable and healthy immune system.
6 Anti-inflammatory Activity
The phosphate-buffered saliva of the roots of this chitin helps to improve red blood cells. The enzyme activity of the biphasic is observed in the alkaline and acid phosphatase.
Adenosine triphosphate activity was induced in the liver synapses of formaldehyde-induced arthritic rats.
7 Reduces Inflammation
As it is high in anti-inflammatory properties, it can work as a natural pain reliever without side effects. Chronic inflammation may lead to many diseases and health problems in the long run, such as joint pain and heart disease, etc. This herb has the ability to control the inflammation, and it is the best treatment for arthritis.
It reduces inflammation and clogged arteries in the body, thus helping to protect the heart and treats skin diseases caused by inflammation. For men, swelling of the prostate can be very embarrassing when it leads to urinary health.
After all, Plumbago Zylanica also manages your liver function, boosts skin health, and gives many health benefits. But it is not easy to get this plant in pure form.
8 Uterine Stimulation Function
One study found that the root extract of the chitrak has the potential in vitro in the uterus of rats, as well as in isolated human myometrial strips. This ecbolic effect was not inhibited by atropine sulfate or pentolinium bitartrate.
9 Anticancer Properties
One research shows that the plumbago zeylanica can fight against cholesterol and P388 lymphocytic leukemia-induced fibrosarcoma, but not against L1210 lymphoid leukemia in mice. It is considered an inhibitor of mitosis.
Dalton’s Ascitic lymphoma has been evaluated for inhibiting tumor growth and significantly improving average survival time in treated mice compared with the control group.
Peritoneal cell count was also improved. Changes in various hemorrhage parameters resulting from tumor vaccination were able to be altered by Plumbagint treatment groups. One study found that when taken white leadwort by mouth, it can cause tumor regression with 3-methyl-4 dimethyl aminoazobenzene induced hepatoma.
It helps decrease the level of the glycolytic enzyme, such as hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase, and aldolase. Moreover, it can reduce 6-phosphatase and fructose-I, 6-diphosphatase in tumor hosts. It also improves the levels of gluconeogenic proteins like glucose.
10 Hypolipidemic Properties
As it has hypolipidemic Properties, it can decrease the serum cholesterol of 53–86% and LDL cholesterol of 61–91%. It significantly reduced Cho / estrogen phospholipid ratio and HDL cholesterol. Moreover, it prevents the accumulation of fat and triglycerides in the liver and aorta. That may lead to the atheromatous plaques in the thoracic and abdominal aorta.
11 Antimicrobial Properties
A chloroform extract from chitrak can fight against non-penicillin strains of penicillin- and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. As it has anti micro bacterial properties, it fights Bacillus mycoides, B. pumilus, B. subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and others. 50 llg / ml of plumbagin eye drops have been shown to have significant antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial effects in eye diseases with some side effects. Aqueous, hexane and alcohol extracts of the plant also demonstrated antibacterial activity. The alcohol extract is very active, and it doesn’t have the toxic content when tested in fresh sheep erythrocytes.
12 Antibiotic Resistance Modification
Plumbago zeylanica acts as an antibiotic resistance, thus used in sensitive strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. When organisms are vaccinated with the antibiotic medium, some growth is observed for the reason of the development of resistance. It stopped when plumbagin was added to the medium due to the inhibition of antibiotic resistance.
13 Antioxidant Property
At a concentration of 1 mm, Plumbacin inhibited peroxide in the liver and heart synapses. It has been recommended that plumbagin NADPH and ascorbate-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation. They may be inhibited by the formation of hydroquinones (which have less hydroxyl group) than menadione. These can trap free radicals that are involved in catalyzing lipid peroxidation.
Plumbago Zeylanica Medicinal Uses
If you want to decrease cholesterol levels, then consume the plumbago zeylanica extract. It effectively works for those who are affected by diarrhea and piles, as well as bronchitis and chronic sinusitis.
It is used to prevent the development of cancer caused by prostate cells.
Plumbago zeylanica can expel dense nasal mucus, which may lead to recurrent common cold and cough.
Chitrak can effectively work for Vata and Kapha doshas.
It enhances appetite as well as decreases inflammation.
Chitramoola herb gives enough heat to your body.
If you want the younger look, then this white leadwort is the right choice, it makes your skin look more youthful.
It is one of the best natural remedies for the respiratory system and hemorrhoids.
Chitrak can treat stomach worms and gives relief from cold and cough.
It helps to support your digestive system as well as related digestive diseases.
It is a better herb for your liver health.
As it has antioxidant properties, it is sufficient to counteract the effect of toxins.
The anti-inflammatory properties of plumbago zeylanica is beneficial for diseases like arthritis and rheumatism.
It can heal wounds, and the combo of Devdaru with white leadwort is speeding up the healing process.
This plant extract includes antiviral, anti – larvicidal, and anti-bacterial properties.
For people who take the plant extract, Plumbago zeylanica helps to support the immune system.
Side Effects
If you are pregnant or breastfeeder, it is not suggested for you because it may cause miscarriage and cause heavy periods.
It doesn’t have any adverse effects until you take it at a low level. If you are consuming it on a high dosage, it will cause a burning sensation, gastric worsening, and also chances to cause neuropathy.
If you have any skin irritation, then it may create rashes on your skin.
If you are under any medicine consumption, consult your healthcare provider before consuming this white leadwort.
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