Chirayita, Kirayata (Swertia chirayita) Part 1


Chirayita, Kiraytatikta (Swertia chirayita) Part 1

Introduction

Chirayita, a popular medicinal plant displays pleiotropic pharmacological activity. It is indigenous to India. The ethnomedicinal herb is known mostly for its bitter taste caused by the presence of different bioactive compounds that are associated with human health-welfare. The medicinal usage of Chirayita is well-documented in Indian pharmaceutical codex, the British and the American pharmacopoeias and in different traditional medicines such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and other conventional medical systems.

As this bitter plant is found mostly in jungles, especially jungles of mountainous areas; the plant is known as Kirata-tikta. Because the herb bears some semblance of Neem and is found in Nepal it is also known as Neem Nepali. The plant was introduced in Europe in 1839 and has been widely used since then.

The high usage mostly of its underground tissues, illegal over destruction from its habitat, narrow geographic occurrence and inherent problems of seed viability and seed germination has resulted in drastic reduction of its population. The plant is now on the verge of extinction. Alternative approaches for propagation and conservation are urgently required to avoid the possible extinction of this species.

The increasing national and international demand for this medicinally valuable plant led to unscrupulous collection from the wild and adulteration of supplies. Swertia angustifolia Linn, Swertia pulchella Linn, Swertia decussate Linn and Swertia corymbosa Benth are less bitter and are used as adulterants. Swertia chinensis Franchet a smaller herb is a better substitute for Swertia chirayita.

Providing high-quality genetically uniform clones for sustainable use and thereby saving the genetic diversity of this species is important. In this regard, micropropagation, synthetic seed production and hairy root technology can play a significant role in holistic conservation strategy. [1], [2], [3], [4]

Fortunately according to the new International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN) criteria, Swertia chirayita has been categorized as critically endangered species. Hence the plant Swertia chirayita has been prioritized by the National Medicinal Plant Board of Government of India for conservation and cultivation in Uttranchal, emphasizing the need to develop agro-technology packages. [5], [6]

History

Kirayat has long been known to be a valuable medicinal plant to Ayurvedic scientists. It is mentioned by Sushruta under the name ‘Kirata-tikta’ which means the bitter plant of the ‘Kiratas’, an outcast race of mountaineers in the Himalayas. It is also popularly known as ‘Anarya-tikta’, “the bitter plant of non-Aryans”. The herb is much esteemed by Ayurvedic physiacians on account of its pleotropic pharmacological activities.
Mahomedan writers on Indian drugs have identified Kirayata (Chiretta) with ‘Kasab-ed-darira’ of Arabs and ‘Sweet flag’ (Calamus aromaticus/Acorus calamus) of Dioscorides, a Greek physician, botanist and pharmacologist.

In Europe the plant was first described by Roxburgh (also known as Rosbroch), a civil parish under the name Gentiana chirayita in 1814. In England the plant began to attract attention about the year 1829. In 1839 it was introduced into the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. It is now official in the British and Indian Pharmacopoeias, and is generally accepted as a valuable bitter tonic. [7]

Other Names  
          
Taxonomic Name: Swertia chirata, Swertia chirata Buch
Sanskrit: Kirata, Kirataka, Kirat-tikta, Kirat-tiktaka, Chirayita, Anaryatikta, Bhunimba and many more
English: Chiretta
Arabic: Qusa Buzzaraioh
Assamese: Chirata
Bengali: Chirata, Chireta  
Burma: Se Khag       
Farsi: Nainihaabandi
Gujarati: Kariyatu, Kariyatun
Hindi: Chirayita
Kannada:  Chirata, Chirayat, Kaddi, Kiratatikta, Nilabevu, Nalebevu,           
Kashmiri: Lose Chiraita            
Malayalam: Nilavipaa, Nilaveppa                        
Marathi: Kirait   
Nepali: Cherota
Oriya (Orissa): Chireita,         Chirito
Patna: Cherayata
Punjabi: Charatin, Chiraita                 
Tamil: Nilavembu                                        
Telugu: Nilavemu
Urdu: Chiraita, Cheriyota [8], [9], [10], [11]

Taxonomic Classification

Genus: Swertia

Species: chirata  [12]

Kingdom: Plante                         

Family: Gentianaceae
Division: Angiosperm
Subdivision: Dicotyledon

Class: Gamopetallae

Subclass: Bicarpellotai

Order: Gentionale

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperm

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentiales
Family: Gentianaceae
Subtribe: Swertinae
Genus: Swertia
Species: chitata [13]
                                    
Varieties of Chirayita

Narhari Pandit quoted two varieties viz. Kiratatikta and Naipala Nimba. The latter also appears as Himalayan species. 

Kaalamegha-Kalmegh (Andographis panuculata) is often confused with Kirayata.
In Kerala Kaalamegha-Kalmegh (Andographis panuculata) Ness and Bruhatee (Solanum indicum) Linn are used in place of Kirata-tikta.

Commonly three types of Kirata-tikta are recognized.
1) Swertia chirata- Kirata-tikta
2) Swertia angustifolia- Meetha Chirayita (Sweet or less bitter variety)
3) Swertia alata  [14]

Tibetan Medicine recognizes three varieties of Tig ta:
1) Indian SwertiaSwertia chirata, Swertia racemosa (Rgya tig)
2) Nepalese Swertia, Swertia ciliate (Bal tig)
3) Tibetan Swertia, Swertia spp (Bod tig) [15], [16]

Substitutes for Chirayita

If Chirayita (Swertia chirata) is not available, Ayurveda recommends use of functionally similar herbs of Gentianaceae family as substitutes for medicinal purpose. Here they are:
1.   Swertia purpurascens Wall  
2.   Swertia decussata Nimbo  
3.   Swertia chinensis Franchet
4.   Swertia paniculata Wall.
5.   Swertia perennis Linn 
6.   Swertia lawii Burkill
7.   Swertia affinis C. B. Clarke
8.   Exacum bicolor Roxb
9.   Exacum tetragonum Roxb
10. Erythraea roxburghii G. Don
11. Enicostemma littorale Blume [17]

Geographical Distribution

Chirayita also known as Indian gentian is a robust annual herb. It is distributed from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhanda, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to the temperate Himalayas from the height of 4 thousand to 10 thousand feet. It is also found in Bhutan and Kosi hills. Nepal is the prime cultivator country of Chirayita. Chirayita is now cultivated in hills of Madhya Pradesh and South India. The plant prefers sandy, loamy as well as clay soils especially along the streams or marshlands. The plant thrives and flourishes well in neutral, acidic as well as alkaline soils. The plant can grow well in shade or somewhat woodland conditions and needs humid or damp soil. The plant actually develops best in areas where summers are cool. It is a hardy plant as it can withstand temperatures as low as       -150 C and up to 100 C. The plants bloom between September and October when the soil contains plenty of humus. [18], [19]    
Plant Morphology                      
Macroscopic Characteristics
Plant              
       

                              Chirayita plant                       Chirayita young sapling
Chirayita is an erect, annual, branched herb growing up to 1.5 m in height  [20]

Root


Chirayita root

The root is simple, tapering, stout, short, 7 cm long and 2 to 3 cm thick [21]
Stem   

                       


                         Chirayita stem                            Chirayita dried stem

The stem is erect, robust, branching, about 2-3 feet long, orange to brown or purplish in color, cylindrical below but four angled upwards, with a prominent decurrent line at each angle, containing a large pith [22], [23]

Leaves




                                               Chirayita leaves

Leaves are opposite, decussate, sessile, broadly ovate or lanceolate, 3.5 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 4.0 cm broad, obtuse or cordate at base acute at apex margins entire, usually with 3 to 7 lateral veins; basal leaves 6.40 to 17.50 cm long and 2.5 to 6.60 broad, having 7 veins, middle leaves 4.00 to 19.70 cm long and 2.30 to 4.60 cm broad having 5 veins, top leaves 2.5 to 7.40 cm long and 1.00 to 3.00 cm broad having 5 to 7 veins. [24], [25], [26]

Flowers



                                   
                             


                                     Chirayita inflorescence


Inflorescence

Flowering in chirayita is in the form of solitary axillary or axillary and terminal clusters of 3-5 flowers; numerous small, axillary, opposite, lax chymes arranged as small branches (the inflorescence). The inflorescence of chirayita is a large panicle, 2feet long. 
     



 Chirayita flowers 


Flowers

Flowers small, stalked, yellowish-green outside, purple inside, tetramerous, drooping or erect, bracteates, pedicellate, complete, bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous, 9.2 to 11.5 mm in diameter, 8 to 9.3 mm in length, pedicel 4.9 to 5.7 mm long.
Flower tube is twice as long as the sepal-cup, divided near the base into four ovate lance like segments

Calyx: Sepals are four gamosepalous, lanceolate, smaller than corolla, elongated at capsule maturation stage, sepal tip acute, green, 5.3 to 6.1 long and 1. 0 to 2.0 mm

Corolla: Petals four, gamopetalous, ovate, greenish yellow tinged with purple at margines. The upper surface of the petal has a pair of green, honey secreting glands (nectaries) covered with oblong scales and ending as fringes, fringed with hairs, hairs extending up to half the length of corolla tube; petals 6.2 to 7.0 mm long and 2.7 to 3.2 mm broad.

Androecium: Stamens four, epipetalous, alternipetalous, polyandrous, bithecous, inferior. Stamens 4.9 to 5.7 mm long; filament 3.8 to 4.2 mm long; anther 1.0 to 1.4 mm long  

Gynaecium: Bicapillary, syncarpous, unilocular, parietal placentation, stigma bifid, style slender, superior, 1.2 to 2.0 mm long; no of carpels 2; ovary 2.6 to 3.0 mm long; pistil 3.8 to 5.0 mm long [27], [28], [29]

Fruit


Fruit of Chirayita



Fruit a capsule, ovoid or ellipsoid or egg shaped, many sided, haired, sharp, pointed and pink in color, 6 mm in diameter. [30], [31], [32]

Seeds




Seeds of Chirayita

Seeds numerous, minute, globose, brownish, smooth and many angled; testa closed, oveolate. [33]

Microscopic characteristics (A)

Stem:

The transverse section (TS) of a young stem of Chirayita (Swertia chirata) reveals a single layered epidermis, with tangentially elongated cubical cells measuring 14-25-32 x 11-18-25 microns. The epidermis is covered externally by a striated cuticle. The epidermis does not rupture even in older stages when considerable amount of secondary growth has taken place.

At the corners of the young stem, there are four outgrowths, the ribs, measuring 182-208-260 (unit not clarified) in length. Two of them are parallel to each other. In older stem, these become less conspicuous and finally disappear towards the basal part of the stem.  

The sub-epidermal collenchyma is 2 to3 layered followed by a wide zone of 8 to 10 layered parenchyma. The cells of collenchymas show angular thickenings. They measure 21-28-35 x 18-24-30 (unit not clarified) in cross section and fill almost the whole space within the ribs. The cells of the parenchyma measuring 22-30-50 x 14-20-32 (unit not clarified) are somewhat elongated tangentially with marked intercellular spaces. 
 
In mature stems the endodermis is distinct with 2 to 3 radial walls. The pericycle is indistinct. On both sides of xylem, phloem is present. The phloem consists of phloem parenchyma, sieve tubes and companion cells. The internal phloem is more developed than the outer phloem. Between the phloem and xylem there is a thin layer of cambium. The pericycle is indistinct.   

Root:

The transverse section of the rootlets show a single layered epidermis consisting of arched cells measuring 22-30-38 x 13-19-30 (unit not clarified), eight groups of xylem (octarch xylem). The parenchymatous cortex has 3 to 6 layers of thin-walled cells, the endodermis being the innermost. The endodermal cells show 2 to 4 radial walls.
During the secondary growth, the cortical cells do not rupture in as much as they divide radially and thus meet the pressure of the secondary tissue developing within. When the growth advances further, epidermal and cortical tissues rupture leaving the endodermal cells which become prominent by the possession of 3 to 4 radial walls. The pericycle is thin walled.  

In early stages the xylem has abundant parenchyma with a few scattered, annular and spiral elements. In later stages the parenchymatous primary xylem is surrounded by secondary xylem composed of thick-walled tracheids, a few xylem vessels and fibers. The vessels are mostly isodiametric. The tracheids are mostly cylindrical and the fibers are thick-walled and lignified. In the root calcium oxalate crystals are absent. 

Leaf:

In the leaf, the mesophyll is undifferentiated. The epidermis is covered by striated cuticle and is devoid of any trichome. The upper epidermis consists of a single layer of tangentially elongated cells with walls perpendicular to surface (anticlinal walls). In surface view the epidermal cells appear sinuous, measuring 38-64-95 x 38-57-75 (unit not clarified) on the upper surface and 36-52-78 x 29-47-65 (unit not clarified) on the lower surface. Stomata are present on the lower surface of the leaf only. The stomata are surrounded by three subsidiary cells of which one is smaller than the other two.
The mesophyll consists of 3 to 6 layers of loosely arranged parenchymatous cells. They are isodiametric or somewhat elongated in radial direction. The structure of the lamina is similar to that at the margin. 

Midrib:

The regions midrib and lamina are very distinct. The epidermis consists of a single layer of cells which are cubical measuring 22-36-44 x 24-42-50 (units not clarified), covered externally by thin cuticle.
Below epidermis is a wide zone of cortex, composed of a single layer of collenchyma showing angular thickenings and a wide zone of parenchyma. The parenchymatous cells are thin-walled, isodiametric, measuring 23-36-45-57 (units not clarified) in diameter. There are marked intercellular spaces in the cortical parenchyma. The cells towards the vascular tissue are small measuring 14-19-24 (units not clarified). In the vascular region phloem surrounds central xylem.  
[Note: The microscopic features of Swertia chirata and Swertia alata are similar. As Swertia alata is easily available, botanists describe the microscopic features of Swertia alata. Here I compare the microscopic features of both the species.]   

Stem:

Swertia chirata                             
1. Acinular crystals of calcium  oxalate in the cortical cells     
Swertia alata
1a. Calcium oxalate crystals absent in the whole plant
Swertia chirata                             
2. Interxylary region of phloem is narrow
Swertia alata
2a. Interxylary region of region of phloem is wide.     
Swertia chirata               
3. In older stem, cavities appear in the premedullary zone due to disintegration of the cells of the pith
Swertia alata
3a. Cavities do not appear in older stem and the pith remains intact.
Swertia chirata                             
4. Oil globules present in the cortical cells.
Swertia alata
4a. Oil globules are absent

Leaf:

Swertia chirata
5. The mesophill is differentiated
Swertia alata
5a. The mesophill is undifferentiated
Swertia chirata
6.  The upper epidermal cells show reticulate thickening
Swertia alata
6a. No reticulate thickening in the upper epidermal cells
Swertia chirata
7. In the surface view, the upper epidermal cells have straight walls
Swertia alata
7a. The upper epidermal cells have sinuous walls

Root:

Swertia chirata
8. Internal phloem is present
Swertia alata
8a. Internal phloem is absent [33]


Microscopic characteristics (B)
Root:
Transverse section of root shows 2 to 4 layers of cork, secondary cortex represented by 4 to 12 layers of thick-walled parenchymatous cells, some showing radial wall formation, tangentially elongated with sinuous walls; secondary phloem composed of thin-walled strands of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma; secondary xylem composed of vessels, tracheids and xylem fibres, all elements lignified and thick-walled in older roots; centre of woods more or less spongy and hollow in most cases, outer woody ring remaining strongly lignified, vessels show scalariform thickening and also simple and bordered pits, tracheids similar in thickening as the vessels, fibres have simple pits, mucilage present in secondary cortical cells, minute acicular crystals present in abundance in secondary cortex and phloem region, resin also present as dark brown mass in secondary cortex cells.  
Stem:
Transverse section of stem shows single layered epidermis, externally covered with a thick striated cuticle present in young stem, epidermis remains intact but cells flattened and tangentially elongated in older stem; four ribs also consist of epidermis and parenchymatous cortical cells, endodermis distinct, showing anticlinal or periclinal walls, followed by single layered pericycle consisting of single thin walled cells; stem posses amphiphloic siphonostele, external phloem represented by usual elements; cambium between external phloem and xylem composed of a thin strip of tangentially elongated cells; internal phloem similar in structure as that of external phloem excepting that sieve tube strand is more widely separated; xylem continuous and composed mostly of tracheids, a few xylem vessels present singly or rarely in groups of two while tracheids and fibres present in abundance, vessels and fibre tracheids have mostly simple and bordered pits and fibres with simple pits on the walls; medullary rays absent; central part of the stem occupied by pith consisting of rounded and isodiametric cells with prominent intercellular spaces; mucilage present in cortical cells minute acicular cells also present in abundance, resin present as dark brown mass in some cortical cells along with oil droplets.   
Leaf:
Transverse section of leaf shows very little differentiation of mesophyll tissues; epidermis single layered covered with thick striated cuticle, more strongly developed on the upper surface than on the lower surface; stomata of anisocytic type; palisade tissue single layered; cells at places become wider and less elongated particularly in bigger veins; spongy mesophyll represented by 4 to 7 layers of somewhat loosely arranged, tangentially elongated cells; some epidermal cells prominently arched outside at the margin; mucilage present in epidermal and mesophyll cells while minute acicular crystals also present in abundance in mesophyll cells; in leaf parenchyma oil droplets also present. [33, B]


Parts used
Whole plant    

References:

1. Vijay Kumar et al, A Review of Swertia chirayita (Gentianaceae) as a Traditional Medicinal Plant, Front Pharmacol, 2015; 6: 308
2. https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/Kiratatikta-swertia-chirata/
3. K. P. Sampath Kumar et al, Swertia chirata: A traditional herb and its medicinal uses, J. Chem. Pharm. Res, 2010, 2(1): 262-266
4. http://www.biologydiscussion.com/botany/pharmacognosy/chirata-decsription-preperation-and-uses/42940
 5. Anon, Biodiversity Conservation Prioritization Project, Conservation assessment and management plan (CAMP) for endemic medicinal plants in India. CIMAP, Lucknow, 1997
6. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Official documents: appendices I, II and III.
11. https://www.ayurvitewellness.com/2954/kiratatikta-swertia-chirata/


17. Prof. K. C. Chunekar, Bhavprakasha Nighantu, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy Varanasi, edited by Dr. G. S. Pandey, Reprint: 2015, Page 70

18. https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/kiratatikta-swertia-chirata/
20. Vikaspedia.in
21. https://www.aimilpharmaceuticals.com/herbs/chirayita/
22. vikaspedia.in
23. https://www.aimilpharmaceuticals.com/herbs/chirayita/
24. Aruna Mehta, Comparative morphological Studies of some Swertia Species, Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(1): 482-487
25. https://echarak.in
26. http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/CITES/Swertia%20chirayita.pdf
27. https://www.aimilpharmaceuticals.com/herbs/chirayita/
28. Aruna Mehta, Comparative morphological Studies of some Swertia Species, Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(1): 482-487
29. http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/CITES/Swertia%20chirayita.pdf
31. http://echarak.in

33. http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/CITES/Swertia%20chirayita.pdf
33 (B) http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-1.pdf    
34. P. N. Natarajan and S. Prasad, Pharmacological studies on Swertia Alata


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