PLANT BITTERS

Prepared byMr. Abhay Shripad Joshi

Assistant ProfessorYash Institute of Pharmacy, Aurangabad

abhay.joshirss@gmail.com

PLANT BITTERS• Bitters are the edible natural products mostly consumed

before any normal meals to stimulate as well as enhance the appetite.•However, the bitter glycoside as a class do posses almost

similar activities like the bitters such as : digestive, stomachic and febrifuge.• These are hetrogenous vegetative compounds that neither

belong to the class of alkaloids nor glycosides, but they posses the characteristic bitter taste.• These are also used as anti-tumour and anti-malarial agents.

•Bitters increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. • It also increases the flow of bile, stimulate repair of gut wall lining and regulate the secretion of insulin and glucagons.•They reflectively induce stimulation on the salivary gland and the secretion of gastric juice.

GENTIAN•Synonyms:

Yellow Gentian, Gall weed, Bitter wart, Radix Gentianae.•Biological Source:

It consist of dried rhizome and roots of Gentiana lutea Linn.•Family :

Gentianaceae.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS• It consist of the bitter glycoside GENTIOPICRIN as active constituent.•Other bitter compounds are Genticin, Amaropanin, Amarogentin & Amaoswerin.• It also contains Gentiin, Gentiamarin, Gentisic acid, Tannins, Pectin and calcium oxalates.

USES1. Potent stomachic and treats GI problems like

indigestion.2. Emmenogoggue (enhance menstrual flow)3. This bitter stem less is used to treat wounds.4. To treat arthritis, sore throat, Jaundice5. Gentian extract are used in variety of foods

and cosmetics.

Contra indications:•Avoided in pregnancy and lactation.•Contra indicated in gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Adverse effects:• Raw extract may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

KALMEGH• Synonyms: Andrographis Paniculata, Kalmegh• Biological cource: The drug consist of dried or fresh leaves and aerial

portion of the plants Andrographis paniculata Nees.• Family: Acanthaceae.

Chemical Constituents

• It contains a bitter compound andrographolide up to 1 %• It is diterpene lactone.•Some other compounds such as neoandrographolide, andrographosterol, andrographiside, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and some waxy material are present.

Uses1. It is used as bitter tonic and stomachic.2. It also known as “green chiretta” in India.3. It is used in the treatment of torpid liver (impaired nerve

impulses) and jaundice.4. The decoction of the plant is used as blood purifier.5. The decoction of the leaves is given with spices such as

cardamom, clove or cinnamon for stomach ailment in infants.

6. It produce enzyme induction.

CHIRATA• Synonyms: Chiretta, Chirayta, Bitter stick• Biological source: It consist of the dried entire herb of Swertia chirata

Hamilton. • Family: Gentianaceae

Chemical Constituents• It contains bitter glycosides amrogentin 0.04 % and

amroswerin 0.03%.• The other two extremely bitter principles ie chiratin and

ophelic acid also present in crude drug.•Other compound include chiratol, mangiferin, swertianin,

chiratanin, chiratenol.

Uses

1. It is used as bitter tonic and stomachic.2. It is also used as antimalarial in some part of

India.

PICRORHIZA

• Synonyms: Picrorhiza, Kutki• Biological source: It consist of dried rhizomes and roots of Picrorhiza

kurroa Royle.• Family: Scrophularelareaceae

Chemical constituents

• It contains cyclopentanopyran monoterpenoids, a class of glycosides.• It contains picroside I, Picroside II and kutkoside up to 3-4 %•The drug also contains about 9 % cathartic acid.

Uses

1. It is used as bitter tonic and stomachic.2. It is also used as laxatives in small doses and

cathartic (produce psychological relief) in large doses.

3. It is used as hepatoprotective in Jaundice.4. It is also used as liver tonic.

Thank You