Extraction of Picrorhiza kurrooa

Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth., commonly referred to as 'kutki' (family Scrophulariaceae), is one of the highly traded medicinal species of great conservation significance. Unscientific and unregulated extraction of P. kurrooa is the most pertinent threat to its population. Market dema...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current science (Bangalore) 2011-06, Vol.100 (11), p.1606-1606
Main Authors: Uniyal, Anjali, Rawat, Gopal S., Uniyal, Sanjay Kr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpine environments
CORRESPONDENCE
Leaves
Plants
Scrophulariaceae
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife ecology
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Summary:Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth., commonly referred to as 'kutki' (family Scrophulariaceae), is one of the highly traded medicinal species of great conservation significance. Unscientific and unregulated extraction of P. kurrooa is the most pertinent threat to its population. Market demand of kutki is met by wild extraction from the alpine regions (above 3500 m asl) of the Himalaya. The rhizome and root of the plants are believed to be the main constituents of medicinal value and therefore uprooting of the entire plant becomes necessary. Consequently, the recent paper by Singh et al. super(1) that analyses the picrosides content (active compounds) in the leaves, roots and rhizomes of kutki, highlights the importance of kutki leaves as a possible alternate to its underground parts. This has great conservation implications.
ISSN:0011-3891