Kurchi bark consists of dried stem bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall, belonging to family Apocynaceae.
KURCHI BARK
Synonyms
Holarrhenna; Kurchi (Hindi).
Biological Source
Kurchi bark consists of dried stem bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall, belonging to family Apocynaceae.
Geographical Source
The plant is found throughout India, ascending up to 1,250 m
in the Himalayas, especially in wet forests.
Cultivation and Collection
Kurchi is a deciduous laticiferous shrub or small tree, 9–10
m high. The bark is collected from the tree by making suit-able transverse and
longitudinal incisions. The alkaloidal content is high soon after the rains
when new shoots are produced which declines during winter months.
Characteristics
The pieces of Kurchi bark are small and recurved both
longitudinally and transversely. The size and thickness vary from piece to
piece. Outer surface is buff to reddish brown and bears numerous prominent
circular or transversely elongated horizontal lenticels and longitudinal
wrinkles.
The thicker pieces are rugose and show numerous yellowish
warts; inner surface cinnamon-brown, longitudinally striated, frequently with
portions of pale yellow wood attached; fracture is brittle and splintery. The
taste is acrid and bitter while the odour is not distinct.
Microscopy
Transverse section of bark shows cork composed of uniformly
arranged several layers of tangentially elongated cells. Below cork is a broad
zone of cortex, composed of thin-walled, irregular, polygonal parenchymatous
cells containing starch grains and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals. Groups
of sclereids are scattered in the cortex; individual sclereid cells are more or
less rounded-oval, thick-walled with numerous pits. Cortex is limited below by
a zone of groups of sclereids, which alternate with parenchymatous zone. Phloem
consists of phloem parenchyma similar to cortex, traversed longitudinally by
medullary rays at regular intervals. Medullary rays are narrow, one to two
cells wide and almost straight.
T.S. (schematic) of Kurchi bark
Chemical Constituents
The total alkaloidal constituents of Kurchi bark vary from
1.1% to 4.72%. The main steroidal alkaloid is conessine (20–30%). The other
alkaloids isolated include conarrhimine, conimine, conamine, conessimine,
isoconessimine, dimethyl conkurchine and holarrhimine. In addition to alkaloids
the bark also contains gum, resin, tannin, lupeol and digitenol glycoside
holadysone.
Uses
The bark is considered to be stomachic, astringent, tonic,
antidysenteric, febrifuge and anthelmintic. The dried bark is rubbed over the
body in dropsy. Kurchi bark is used to cure amoebic dysentery and diarrhoea.
Marketed Products
It is one of the ingredients of the preparations known as
Diarex PFS, Diarex Vet. (Himalaya Drug Company), Mahamanjishthadi kwath,
Mahamanjisthadyarishta (Dabur) and Amree plus granules, Purodil capsules (Aimil
Pharmaceuticals).
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