Chitraka Moola
Plumbago zeylanica
Chitraka Moola (Plumbago zeylanica) is a plant drug, from the Plumbaginaceae family. Same cautions as Chitrak, root is the most potent part.
| Botanical name | Plumbago zeylanica |
|---|---|
| Family | Plumbaginaceae |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Also known as | Chitraka Moola, ChitrakaMoola |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3082282 · Wikidata Q5240308 · NCBI Taxonomy 76149 |
| Tamil | கொடிவேலி, சித்திரமூலம் |
|---|
Sources: India Flora Online (IISc) herbsheet for Plumbago zeylanica, Tamil 'Chithiramoolam'; given in Tamil script as சித்திர மூலம் in Tamil-language sources for the same species.; University of Madras Tamil Lexicon / Winslow via agarathi.com: 'Plumbago Zeylanica, L.'; India Flora Online Tamil 'Kodivaeli'.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
6papers on this site for this drug, published 1982 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 5Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chitraka Moola |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (root powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), As component of Chitrakaharitaki and Chitrakadi formulations
Standard Dosage: 1-2g root powder twice daily; 250-500mg extract capsule; 30-50ml mild decoction. Same cautions as Chitrak, root is the most potent part.
Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm milk or ghee to buffer GI irritation; traditional preparations (Chitrakaharitaki) after meals
Storage: Airtight, light-protected containers. Cool storage below 25°C. Root material clearly labeled with caution warnings. Keep away from children. Separate from food-grade products.
Marker Compounds: Plumbagin, Chitranone, Isoshinanolone, 3,3’-Biplumbagin, Plumbagic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2018. Cytotoxicity of Plant-Mediated Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles: A Systematic ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 29891772 · doi:10.3390/ijms19061725
Other clinical studies and reviews5
- 2026. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Plumbagin: Its Current Applications in Cancer and Neuropsychiatric DisordersCurrent medicinal chemistry. PMID 39851111 · doi:10.2174/0109298673345583241226093530
- 2025. Ameliorative Effect of Herbal Medicine in the Management of HepatotoxicityEndocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets. PMID 39318011 · doi:10.2174/0118715303319815240819053924
- 2024. Concept of dementia (Nisy ā n) in Unani system of medicine and scientific validation of an important Unani pharmacopoeial preparation 'Majoon Vaj' for its management: a reviewJournal of complementary & integrative medicine. PMID 37384842 · doi:10.1515/jcim-2021-0447
- 2020. Anticancer Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Plumbagin: Review of Research AdvancesBioMed research international. PMID 33344645 · doi:10.1155/2020/6940953
- 1982. Research on plants for fertility regulation in IndiaJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 6752588 · doi:10.1016/0378-8741(82)90004-6
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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