Botanical Name
Swertia chirata Buch
Family
Gentianaceae.
Synonyms
Agathotes chirayta D.Don, Ericoila chirayta Bercht. & J.Presl, Eyrythalia floribunda G.Don.
Regional Name
English : Chireta,
Hindi : Chirayata,
Sanskrit : Kirata, Kirataka, Bhnimba, Kiratatiktaka,
Urdu : Chiraita,
Punjabi : Chiretta, Chiraita,
Gujrati : Kariyatu, Kariyatun,
Assamese : Chirta,
Bengali : Chirata,
Kannada : Nalebevu, Chirata Kaddi, Chirayat,
Kashmiri : Lose, Chiraita,
Malayalam : Nelaveppu, Kirayathu, Nilamakanjiram,
Marathi : Kiraita, Kaduchiraita,
Oriya : Chireita,
Tamil : Nilavembu,
Telugu : Nelavemu.
Part Used
Whole Plant.
Description
Chirayata is a medicinal plant indigenous to temperate Himalaya. Chirayita has an erect, about 2–3 ft long stem, the middle portion is round, while the upper is four-angled, with a prominent decurrent line at each angle. The stems are orange brown or purplish in colour. The root is simple, tapering and stout, short, almost 7 cm long and usually half an inch thick. Flowering in Chirayita is in the form of numerous small, axillary, opposite, lax cymes arranged as short branches and the whole inflorescence is 2 ft long. Flowers are small, stalked, green-yellow, tinged with purple colour. The flower-tube is twice as long as the sepal-cup and divided near the base into four ovate–lance like segments. The upper surface of the petal has a pair of nectaries covered with oblong scales and ending as fringes. The plant is found at an altitude of 1200–3000 m, from Kashmir to Bhutan, and in the Khasi hills at 1200–1500 m. It can be grown in sub-temperate regions between 1500 and 2100 m altitudes.
Phytoconstituents
Glycoside, Flavonoids, Tannins and Resins. The chemical compounds of the herb contains are Xanthone glycoside, Mangiferine (Flavonoid), amarogentin, amarogenitine, chiratin, chiratol, chiratogenin, enicoflavine, gentianine, gentipicrin, Isobellicifolin, swertianin, swerchirin, 7-0 methylswertianin, Swertinin, Sawertiamarine, Chiraranin, Enicoflavine, Geneianine, Episwertenol, B – Sitostetol,
balanophonin,
oleanolic acid,
maslinic acid, and sumaresinolic acid
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa : Tikta,
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa,
Vipaka : Katu,
Virya : Sita,
Karma : Jvaraghna, Kaphapittahara, Raktasodhaka, Vranasodhana, Saraka, Trsnapaha.
Ayurvedic Applications
Sotha, Daha, Jvara, Krmiroga, Kandu, Kustha, Meha, Trsna, Vrana.
Medicinal Uses
Chirayata is used for cold, cough, asthma, wheezing, diabetes, fever, inflammation, excessive thirst, urinary tract disorders, anorexia, gout,
constipation, upset
stomach, loss of appetite, burning sensation, intestinal worm infestation, wound healing, infection,
skin diseases, acne, ulcer, wounds and
cancer. It is also used in bleeding disorders such as heavy periods and nasal bleeding.