Evidence supporting the use of: Holarrhena antidysenterica
For the health condition: Dysentery

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Holarrhena antidysenterica, also known as Kutaja or Kurchi, has a long-standing reputation in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda and Unani) for the treatment of dysentery and other gastrointestinal disorders. The plant’s bark and seeds have been used for centuries to manage diarrhea, particularly amoebic and bacillary dysentery. Scientific investigations have begun to substantiate these claims. Several studies have demonstrated that extracts of H. antidysenterica possess significant anti-diarrheal, anti-amoebic, and antimicrobial activities. For example, research published in Phytotherapy Research (2001) showed that ethanolic extracts of the seeds exhibited marked inhibition against Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan responsible for amoebic dysentery. Other studies have reported the presence of active alkaloids (notably conessine) in the bark, which display anti-amoebic and antibacterial effects both in vitro and in animal models. Clinical trials are limited but some small-scale human studies from India have reported effectiveness comparable to standard anti-amoebic drugs, though with variable methodology and sample size.

Despite the promising pharmacological evidence and strong traditional foundation, large-scale, well-controlled human clinical trials are still lacking. Thus, while there is credible scientific basis for its use in dysentery, particularly in traditional settings, the overall strength of evidence rates as moderate (3/5), pending further rigorous trials to determine efficacy and safety in larger populations.

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