Kutkin (also known as picroside or picroside I and II) is a major active constituent of the plant Picrorhiza kurroa, which has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of liver disorders, including hepatitis. The scientific rationale for its use in hepatitis is based on both in vitro and in vivo studies that have demonstrated hepatoprotective effects. Several preclinical studies have shown that kutkin can protect liver cells from damage induced by various hepatotoxins (such as carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol), reduce inflammation, and improve liver function markers in animal models. The proposed mechanisms include antioxidant activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, stabilization of hepatocyte membranes, and modulation of inflammatory pathways.

Some small clinical studies conducted in India have evaluated Picrorhiza kurroa extracts (containing kutkin) in patients with viral and non-viral hepatitis, reporting improvements in symptoms and liver function tests. However, most of these studies are limited by small sample sizes, lack of rigorous controls, and methodological shortcomings. While the evidence from laboratory and animal models is consistent and promising, robust clinical trials in humans are still lacking.

In summary, kutkin is used for hepatitis based on both traditional use and a growing body of preclinical scientific evidence supporting its hepatoprotective effects. The clinical evidence is suggestive but not definitive, placing the overall level of scientific validation at moderate (3/5).