Kutaja (Kurchi / conessi bark)
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Caution — potent steroidal alkaloids. Conessine is CNS-active (histamine H3 antagonist) and toxic in overdose; not for unsupervised high-dose use.
Contraindications: Pregnancy and children (alkaloid content — caution); constipation; CNS-sensitive individuals.
Interactions: Theoretical additive/interference with CNS-active drugs (conessine H3 activity); caution with other alkaloidal herbs.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Pregnancy: alkaloid content — caution.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
powder · stem bark
Part used: stem bark
in antidiarrheal formulas (Kutajarishta) · stem bark
Part used: stem bark
decoction · stem bark
Part used: stem bark
Traditional use: amoebic dysentery, diarrhea, worms
Proposed mechanism: steroidal alkaloids (conessine, kurchine) — antiamoebic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antimalarial
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not a food source.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Verma 2013, Malar J (PMID 23758861)
- Sinha 2020, PMC review (PMC7565871)