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Kutaj

Holarrhena pubescens

Kutaj (Holarrhena pubescens) is a plant drug, also called Imdrayava, Kurci and Kutaja. Holarrhimine and kurchine are well-absorbed. Kutajarishta (self-generated alcohol content 5-10%) enhances alkaloid dissolution and absorption.

Key facts
Botanical nameHolarrhena pubescens
FamilyApocynaceae · other entries in this family
OrderGentianales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3169748 · Wikidata Q9096302 · NCBI Taxonomy 69381
Names in other languages
Sanskritइंद्रयव (iṃdrayava)
Hindiकुर्ची (kurcī), कुटज (kuṭaja)
Tamilகுடசப்பாலை

Sources: Flowers of India / "Names of Plants in India" Tellicherry Tree (Holarrhena pubescens) page and efloraofindia's page for the species both give Tamil "குடசப்பாலை (kutaca-p-palai)" along with கிரிமல்லிகை (kirimallikai) and மலைமல்லிகை (malaimallikai).; Flowers of India / "Names of Plants in India", Tellicherry Tree (Holarrhena pubescens) page: Hindi "कडवा इंद्रजव (karva indrajau), कुटज (kutaja), कुर्ची (kurchi)".; Flowers of India, Tellicherry Tree page: Hindi कुर्ची (kurchi); the drug is traded as kurchi bark.; Flowers of India, Tellicherry Tree page: Sanskrit "इंद्रयव (indrayava), कुटज (kutaja), sakraparyaaya, sakraasana, vatsaka".. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2026, every one with a DOI.

  • 1Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 11Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishKutaj

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Tikta, KashayaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, RukshaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kvatha Ghana (solid extract), Capsule, Tablet, Kutajarishta (fermented preparation), Kutaja Parpati

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction; 500 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; 15-30 mL Kutajarishta; Kutaja Parpati: 250-500 mg twice daily with buttermilk

Optimal Timing: Before meals for anti-diarrheal and digestive effects; Kutajarishta: after meals with equal quantity of water; Kutaja Parpati: with buttermilk after meals

Storage: Bark powder in airtight containers at 15-30°C. Kutajarishta in glass bottles (traditional) or food-grade PET, improves with age like wine (some Vaidyas store for 5-10 years). Protect capsules from moisture. Store in cool, dry place.

Marker Compounds: Conessine, Kurchine, Conessimine, Holarrhimine, Kurchicine, Conamine, Isoconessimine, Holarrhenine

Synergistic Combinations

  • Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), traditionally combined in acute diarrhea (Kutaja + Ativisha is a classical combination)
  • Bilva (Aegle marmelos), traditionally combined in chronic dysentery
  • Dadima (Pomegranate), traditionally combined to support digestive function
  • Musta for digestive and anti-diarrheal synergy
  • Kutajarishta with Dadima, traditionally used in Atisara (diarrhea)

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Zahara K, Panda SK, Swain SS and others. 2020. Metabolic Diversity and Therapeutic Potential of Holarrhena pubescens: An Important Ethnomedicinal PlantBiomolecules. PMID 32962166 · doi:10.3390/biom10091341

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Naik A, Gadgoli C, Yadav S and others. 2026. QbD-driven development and validation of an HPTLC method for simultaneous estimation of berberine from Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) and conessine from Holarrhena pubescens Wall. (Apocynaceae) in herbal capsule formulationNatural product research. PMID 42360317 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2026.2690638
  2. Xiang R, Wang S, Wan H. 2023. The complete chloroplast genome of Holarrhena pubescens and its phylogenetic analysisMitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 36816055 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2022.2162349
  3. Trivedi TS, Patel MP, Nanavaty V and others. 2023. MicroRNAs from Holarrhena pubescens stems: Identification by small RNA Sequencing and their Potential Contribution to Human Gene TargetsFunctional & integrative genomics. PMID 37148427 · doi:10.1007/s10142-023-01078-0
  4. Alyahya AAI, Asad M, Alrouji M and others. 2023. Hypolipidemic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Holarrhena pubescens Methanolic Extract Is Mediated through Inhibition of Lipase Activity and Lipid AccumulationLife (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37511810 · doi:10.3390/life13071435
  5. Saha R, Gupta M, Majumdar R and others. 2023. Anthelmintic efficacy of Holarrhena pubescens against Raillietina spp. of domestic fowl through ultrastructural, histochemical, biochemical and GLCM analysisPloS one. PMID 37708168 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0282033
  6. Kumar D, Kumar R, Singh B and others. 2023. Modulation in the enzymatic antioxidants, MDA level and elicitation in conessine biomolecule in Holarrhena pubescens (medicinal tree) cultures exposed to different heavy metals: Ni, Co, Cr and As3 Biotech. PMID 37608912 · doi:10.1007/s13205-023-03697-7
  7. Alyahya AAI, Asad M, Alhussaini MS and others. 2023. The antidiabetic effect of methanolic extract of Holarrhena pubescens seeds is mediated through multiple mechanisms of actionSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society. PMID 37228324 · doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.04.009
  8. Gupta N, Choudhary SK, Bhagat N and others. 2021. In Silico Prediction, Molecular Docking and Dynamics Studies of Steroidal Alkaloids of Holarrhena pubescens Wall. ex G. Don to Guanylyl Cyclase C: Implications in Designing of Novel Antidiarrheal Therapeutic StrategiesMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 34299422 · doi:10.3390/molecules26144147
  9. Cheenpracha S, Boapun P, Limtharakul Née Ritthiwigrom T and others. 2019. Antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of pregnene-type steroidal alkaloids from Holarrhena pubescens rootsNatural product research. PMID 29172699 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1408108
  10. Cheenpracha S, Jitonnom J, Komek M and others. 2016. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and molecular docking study of steroidal alkaloids from Holarrhena pubescens barksSteroids. PMID 26850468 · doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2016.01.018
  11. Bhusal A, Jamarkattel N, Shrestha A and others. 2014. Evaluation of antioxidative and antidiabetic activity of bark of holarrhena pubescens wallJournal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR. PMID 25386454 · doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/7803.4863

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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