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Rakta Chitraka

Botanical Name: Plumbago rosea Linn. (syn. Plumbago indica)


Family Name: Plumbaginaceae

Identification No.: SDACH/HG/275

Vernacular Names:

  • Hindi: Lal Chitrak
  • Malayalam: Chethikoduveli
  • Tamil: Cheti
  • Kannada: Kemmegeddi
  • Telugu: Erra Chitrakamu
  • English: Rose-colored Leadwort

Synonyms –

Bhavparakash Nighantu, primarily describes Chitraka in general (including Plumbago zeylanica), Rakta Chitraka (Plumbago rosea) shares similar properties but is differentiated by its red/pink flowers.

Classification According to Classical Texts:

  • Charaka: Not specifically mentioned as Rakta Chitraka
  • Vagbhata: Not distinctly differentiated from Shweta Chitraka
  • Bhavaprakasha: Included under “Chitraka,” but Rakta Chitraka is referenced in Nighantu.

Habitat & Distribution:
Native to peninsular India; found in tropical and subtropical zones. Commonly cultivated in herbal gardens and used widely in South Indian traditional medicine. Grows in well-drained soils, often seen along forest edges and hilly slopes.

Morphology

  • Root: Cylindrical, reddish-brown, highly pungent, and acrid
  • Stem: Erect, semi-woody, reddish with swollen nodes
  • Leaves: Simple, ovate, dark green, glabrous
  • Flowers: Bright red or pink in terminal racemes
  • Seeds: Small, brown, enclosed in a persistent calyx

Varieties:

  • Shweta Chitraka – Plumbago zeylanica (white flowers)
  • Rakta Chitraka – Plumbago rosea (red flowers)
  • Neela chitraka – Plumbago auriculata (blue chitraka)

Substitute / Adulterant:

  • Often substituted with Plumbago zeylanica (Shweta Chitraka), which is more commonly available
  • Adulterants: Roots of other similar-looking species with less or no medicinal potency

Phytochemicals:

  • Plumbagin (major bioactive compound)
  • Tannins
  • Napthoquinones
  • Glycosides
  • Sitosterol
  • Alkaloids

Raspanchaka:

  • Rasa: Katu, Tikta
  • Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
  • Virya: Ushna
  • Vipaka: Katu
  • Prabhava: Deepana, Pachana
  • Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Vatahara

Karma (Rogaghnata):

  • Deepana (digestive stimulant)
  • Pachana (carminative)
  • Krimighna (anthelmintic)
  • Kusthaghna (useful in skin diseases)
  • Gulmanashaka (effective in abdominal masses)
  • Arshoghna (anti-haemorrhoidal)
  • Vatakaphahara
  • Shothahara

Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:

External:

  • Paste used in non-healing wounds, abscesses, and skin diseases (with caution, as it’s irritant)
  • Used as a vesicant in certain local traditional practices

Internal:

  • Root powder or decoction used in:
    • Arsha (Piles)
    • Gulma (Abdominal distension)
    • Shula (Colic pain)
    • Agnimandya (Digestive weakness)
    • Shotha (Inflammation)
    • Kushta (Skin diseases)
    • Krimi (Worm infestations)

Part Used:

  • Root (primarily)
  • Leaves and stem (less commonly)

Dose:

  • Churna (powder): 250–500 mg/day (cautiously, due to strong irritant nature)
  • Kwatha (decoction): 20–50 ml/day (often used in formulations)

Yoga / Formulations:

  • Chitrakadi Vati
  • Arshoghni Vati
  • Agni Tundi Vati
  • Pippalyadi Churna
  • Often used in Rasashastra and classical anupanas like ghee or buttermilk

IUCN Status:

  • Not Evaluated (NE)

Research Updates (Past 5 Years):

  1. 2022 – Evaluation of anticancer activity of plumbagin isolated from Plumbago rosea on breast cancer cell lines – Published in Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, demonstrating cytotoxic effect through apoptosis induction.
  2. 2021 – Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Plumbago rosea extract in animal models of inflammation – Published in Phytotherapy Research; showed significant reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress.
  3. 2019 – Plumbagin as a potent antimicrobial and antifungal agent from Plumbago rosea – Published in Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. Highlighted its efficacy against resistant strains of bacteria and fungi
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