Family : Scrophulariaceae

Hindi : Katuka

Gujarati : Katuki

English : Gentian

Sanskrit : Katvi

Part used : Root

Botanical Description: A small nearly hairy perrenial herb with a woody creeping root stock; leaves spathulate, serrate flowers white or bluish in dense terminal spicate raceme; fruits ovoid capsules. The dried rhizome is cylinderical, deep greyish brown in colour and longitudinally wrinkled with annulations at the tip. Floweing and fruiting from August to November.

It occurs in the Himalayas at an elevation of 2,700-4500m.

Modern Pharmacological Action:The rhizome of P. kurroa exerts therapeutic action on gastric ulcer predominantly by its antioxidant property.