Holarrhena antidysenterica

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Holarrhena antidysenterica (kutaja in Ayurveda) is a deciduous tree whose bark and seeds (indrajav, indrayava) are traditional remedies for amebic dysentery and diarrhea.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Amebic dysentery / diarrhea (traditional)

Limited Evidence

Older clinical work and traditional use support antiamebic activity. Modern guideline-driven antiprotozoal therapy is the standard of care for confirmed amebiasis.

How it works

The bark contains conessine and related steroidal alkaloids that have demonstrated activity against Entamoeba histolytica in vitro and in older clinical reports. The herb is one of the classical Ayurvedic remedies for 'grahani' and dysentery. Clinical evidence comes mostly from older small studies and traditional practice; modern high-quality trials are sparse.

Dosage

There is no RDA. Traditional Ayurvedic doses are roughly 1-3 g of bark powder daily, in divided doses. DSLD does not provide a median dose for this entry.

When and how to take it

Traditional preparations are taken in divided doses with meals during acute dysentery episodes.

1 commercial form

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Kutaja bark powder / extract

Used as a single herb and in classical formulas (e.g., Kutajghan vati).

Alkaloid content varies by preparation.

Safety

Generally well tolerated short-term at traditional doses. Conessine at high doses has neuropsychiatric side effects (anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbance) and should not be used long-term unsupervised.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Caution in psychiatric conditions and in the elderly. Not appropriate for chronic daily use.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with histamine H3-receptor and sigma-1-active drugs based on conessine pharmacology. Limited clinical interaction data.

Frequently asked questions

Is kutaja safe for daily use?⌄

No. It is traditionally used short-term for acute symptoms. Long-term use can cause CNS side effects.

Should it replace antibiotics?⌄

No. Confirmed amebiasis or bacterial dysentery requires guideline-based medical treatment.

References

Holarrhena antidysenterica on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Holarrhena antidysenterica on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Holarrhena antidysenterica (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.