TITLE

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF

KIRATATIKTA (Swertia chirata Bush-Ham.) PANCHANGA FOR ITS
KRIMIGHNA PROPERTY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
AN IN VITRO STUDY.

BY
Dr. DHARTI.V. LIMBACHIYA
FINAL YR PG SCHOLAR
DEPT. OF PG STUDIES IN DRAVYA GUNA
S.J.G.A.M.C KOPPAL, KARNATAKA

GUIDED BY
DR.RAGHURAMA SHENOY
DR.SHIVANAND .B. KARIGAR
DR.S.S.SHIRURMATH
1

INTRODUCTION
In most developing countries, malnutrition and unsanitary
living system contribute to massive burden of infectious
diseases.
Despite improved living conditions, wide spread vaccination
and availability of effective antibiotics, infectious diseases
continue to take very high rank as a cause of death in the
world.
Since the discovery of these antibiotics and their uses as
chemotherapeutic agents there was a belief in the medical
fraternity that this would lead to the eventual eradication of
infectious diseases.
Risk of many adverse reactions and development of antibiotic
resistant strains of microorganisms is a burning problem.
2

 Reoccurrence is common, thus making it necessitate

the need of an alternative and effective therapy.
The drug Kiratatikta (Swertia chirata Bush-Ham.),
which is available everywhere and is known to have
Krimighna activity.
According to Nighantus, the selected drug Kiratatikta
is useful in Kaphapittaja vikaras, Krimi, Kushtha,
Vrana, Jwara because of its properties.
As Kiratatikta is still not known for its antibacterial
properties, so to find out antibacterial property with
the help of modern parameters the present work has
been taken.
3

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To carry out pharmacognostical and
phytochemical evaluation of Kiratatikta (Swertia
chirata Bush-Ham.) Panchanga.
To evaluate the antibacterial activity of
Kiratatikta (Swertia chirata Bush-Ham)
Panchanga Kashaya (decoction) on
Staphylococcus aureus by Agar diffusion method
in selected bacterial strain.
To compare the antibacterial activity of
Kiratatikta with the standard drug Ciprofloxacin.
5

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LITERARY SOURCE:
Ayurvedic Classics, Journals, Magazines,
Seminars, Conferences, Digitals Library & Websites.
SOURCE OF DRUG:
Botanically identified Swertia chirata
panchanga was collected from the herbal garden of
Horticulture University, Hospete. The collected plant
material was kept for drying under shade for 10 days
and later made in to coarse powder.
6

 Preparation of decoction of Kiratatikta Panchanga:

1 kg of Kiratatikta panchanga was coarsely powdered
in mixer grinder.
Madhyama Kashaya was prepared as per the standard
procedure explained by Sharangadhara Samhita.
Source of microorganisms
The bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 6538)
obtained from Gulbarga University and preserved at the
microbiology research lab. The organisms were sub-cultured
on nutrient agar slants and maintained at 4oC and sub
cultured for routine use.
7

METHOD OF COLLECTION OF DATA

Study design:
Sl
Strains

Groups

Study

GROUP I

Control- distilled water

Group II

Standard antibacterial agent-

NO
1.

Staphylococcus
Aureus

2.

Staphylococcus

3.

Aureus
Staphylococcus

Group

Ciprofloxacin
Kiratatikta (Swertia chirata

Aureus

III

Bush-Ham.)Kashaya

STUDY PROPER
Preparation of the media:
Sabouraud Dextrose Agar media: Final Ph was
adjusted to 5.60.2.
Preparation method:
Suspend 32.5 gm in 500ml distilled water,
heat to boiling to dissolve the medium
completely.

 Inoculation of the media:

Overnight cultures of the bacteria were made to make the
inoculums.
Transfer a loop full of the bacteria to 10ml of the sterile water to get
the bacterial suspension.
Add it to the sterile agar medium in 200ml conical flasks at 40 o and
mixed well.
Pour Inoculated medium aseptically into 3 Petri plates of 15cm
diameter
Give gentle rotatory movement to petri plates and placed on even
surface for the medium to set.
Keep plates undisturbed for an hour to cool and allowed to set
naturally.

10

 Make 3 bores of 6 mm with a sterile cork borer

in the medium which was already solidified in
order to accommodate the sample.
1.Distilled water (Negative control)
2. Ciprofloxacin- 250mg in 0.1N HCl(Positive
control)
3. Decoction of Swertia chirata Bush-Ham.
(Sample)
Plates were covered with sterile lid
immediately and all the plates were allowed for
the diffusion of the solution at room
temperature for an hour.

11

 Incubation:
After an hour of pre-incubation, the plates
were transferred to the incubator. It was
incubated at 370 C for 24 hours.
Recording the results:
The zones of inhibition were measured after
24 hours incubation at 37 oC

12

OBSERVATION
ORGANISM

Control

Decoction

Ciprofloxacin

zone of inhibition zone of inhibition zone of inhibition

in mm
in mm
in mm
Staphylococ
cus aureus

00.00

20.6

14.2

Staphylococ
cus aureus

00.00

24.5

11.6

Staphylococ
cus aureus

00.00

18.7

16.4

13

The mean zone of inhibition of Kiratatikta Kashaya and

Ciprofloxacin against S.aureus.

Organism

Control

Decoction

Ciprofloxa
cin

Staphylococ
cus aureus

00.000.00

21.272.95

14.072.40

14

Action of control, kiratatikta Kashaya and

Ciprofloxacin against S.aureus.

S.AUREUS
25

20

15
Mean zone of inhibition
in mm
10

Observation 1

Observation 2

Observation 3

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DISCUSSION
Infectious diseases : An alarming mortality rate.
50% of mortality in developing countries.
20 % of mortality in developed countries.
Treatment of krimi roga through Ayurvedic principals - A
large number of drugs are attributed with krimighna activity
by various Samhitas and Nighantus.
The present day : Need to revalidate the treasure of
Krimighna dravyas .

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Drug selected for the study

Indication as Krimighna acc to different

Nighantu
Sl no. Nighantu
Action
1

Bhavaprakash Nighantu

Krimighna

Kaiyadeva Nighantu

Krimighna

Priya Nighantu

Krimighna

Shodhala Nighantu

Krimighna

Nighantu Adarsha

Krimighna

Guna ratnamala

Krimipranut
17

 Bhunimba is synonym for two plants- i.e Kiratatikta

and Kalmegha. The identity of kiratatikta and kalmegh
has been controversial.
It is now clearly identified that Kiratatikta is Swertia
chirata and the Kalmegha is Andrographis paniculata.
In Siddhasar Nighantu, it has mentioned that
Kiratatikta is nothing but Bhunimba.
The sample selected for the study showed that
Physicochemical standards were in accordance with
API standards
Purity of Kiratatikta was confirmed by the
phytochemical analysis and TLC study.
18

Disease review
Krimi : Correlated to diseases caused by micro
and macro organisms.
Sukshma (Adrusta) Krimi: Compared to the
micro organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.

The 3 main line treatment of Krimi roga is:

Apakarshana
Prakruthi vighatha
Nidana parivarjana
19

Selection of microbes
For the study gram positive bacteria was selected.
Staphylococcus aureas
The most pathogenic and mostly causes skin infections.
The most ubiquitous and dangerous human pathogens,
for both its virulence and its ability to develop
antibiotic resistance.
Pathogenic staphylococci are ubiquitos. They are
carried, usually transiently, in the anterior nares of
about 30% of healthy adults and on the skin of about
20%. Rates are higher in hospital patients and
personnel.
20

 Neonates and breastfeeding mothers are predisposed to

staphylococcal infections.
Transmission via the hands of personnel is the most
common means of spread, but airborne spread can also
occur.
Skin infections are the most common form of
staphylococcal disease.
Staphylococci are commonly implicated in wound and
burn infections, postoperative incision infections, and
mastitis or breast abscess in breastfeeding mothers.
S.aureus has become multi-drug resistant now-a-days.
Because of these complications above mentioned
bacteria was selected.
21

Selection of decoction
Kiratatikta mainly used as Kashaya in Ayurvedic
classics.
For analyzing Ayurveda drug in Ayurvedic dosage
form, Kiratatikta Kashaya is selected for the study.
The reason behind in choosing Kashaya was to
find out whether any phyto constituent present are
heat stable that would bring antibacterial activity.
22

 In Charak Samhita Vimanasthana, Kiratatikta has

been used in Krimi Chikitsa and most of the
Nighantukaras have mentioned Krimighna guna of
Kiratatikta.
PROBABLE MODE OF ACTION:
Tikta rasa-Laghu and Ruksha

Upasoshana of Kleda and Shleshma

PRAKRUTI VIGHATA.
23

Ruksha & Laghu guna

Antagonostic to Snigdha guna of Ama, Shleshma and Kleda

Prakruti vighata of Krimi.

Katu Vipaka

Ruksha & Laghu

Shoshana of Prakruti (shleshma, ama, kleda and mala)

KRIMIGHNA.
24

 Kiratatikta

Sara guna

Virechana.
Apkarshana of Krimi
Krimis inside the body: Take off the essential
nutrients from the host and cause hazards.
Bheshaja Apakarshana : Help in removal
(expulsion) of the Krimis.
Vanish the internal environment which is actually
favorable for the growth (development) of the
Krimi.
25

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Flavonoids , Tannins ,Terpenes are present in

Kiratatikta Kashaya which are proven as
antimicrobial.
Hence it can be inferred that Kiratatikta, due to
its above said properties succeeds in checking
the growth of the microbe.
This can be very much compared to the
Antibacterial activity or Prakruthi Vighatha
where in an unfavorable environment for the
growth of microbes is created.
26

CONCLUSION
A phytochemical study reveals presence of
Sterols, Flavonoids, Triterpenoids, Tannin
compounds in Kiratatikta.
It is observed from the in vitro study that the
drug Kiratatikta decoction has shown
comparative significant antibacterial activity
with that of standard drug Ciprofloxacin.
It is suggested that this medicinal plant may be
used to discover new therapy to fight against
microbial infection mediated disorders.
27

SCOPE FOR THE FURTHER STUDY

Kiratatikta panchanga can be tried clinically for both local and
systemic bacterial infections.
Studies can also be carried out on other bacterial strains and
fungus to determine the Krimighna activity.
The experimental studies for antibacterial activity of Kiratatikta
in other dosage form can be taken up.
Topical toxicity studies can be carried out.
Other closely related species of Kiratatikta can be tested for
their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcal infections.
Above properties can be tried experimentally with different
animal models to find out different pharmacological activities
of the drug.

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THANK YOU

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