Indrayava
Holarrhena pubescens
Indrayava (Holarrhena pubescens) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Conessine shows ~40-50% oral bioavailability with Tmax of 2-4 hours. Alkaloids are well absorbed in alkaline intestinal pH.
| Botanical name | Holarrhena pubescens |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. III: INDRAYAVA (Seed) |
| Also called | Holarrhena antidysenterica (Roth) A. DC. (attribution recorded without a cited source) Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. (nomenclatural synonym) |
| Family | Apocynaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3169748 · Wikidata Q9096302 · NCBI Taxonomy 69381 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Indrayava |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction)
Standard Dosage: 1-3g seed powder twice daily; 250-500mg extract; 30-60ml decoction
Bioavailability: Holarrhena antidysenterica (Kutaja seeds = Indrayava) contains steroidal alkaloids, primarily conessine, with good oral absorption due to lipophilicity and basic nature. Conessine shows ~40-50% oral bioavailability with Tmax of 2-4 hours. Alkaloids are well absorbed in alkaline intestinal pH.
Optimal Timing: Before meals with buttermilk (traditional) or warm water for GI disorders
Standardized Extract: Hydroalcoholic extract standardized to 5-8% total alkaloids (as conessine); aqueous extract per API monograph
Shelf Life: 2 years (powder); 3 years (standardized extract tablet/capsule)
Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from moisture and light. Store in airtight containers.
Marker Compounds: Conessine, Conessimine, Isoconessimine, Kurchine, Holarrhimine, Conamine
Extraction Methods
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (70% ethanol) for alkaloid-rich extract
- Acid-base extraction for alkaloid isolation
- Aqueous decoction (traditional)
- Methanol extraction for total alkaloid content
Synergistic Combinations
- With Ativisha for antidiarrheal action
- With Bilva for dysentery management
- With Musta for digestive disorders
- With Kutaja bark for comprehensive anti-amoebic therapy
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