Limited evidenceGut health

Kutaja (Holarrhena)

Bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica, used in Ayurveda for dysentery and intestinal parasites. Its alkaloid conessine has real antimicrobial activity in the laboratory, but no human trial has been run.

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What the science says

Antimicrobial and antiamoebic activity in vitro Limited evidence
Reviews of Holarrhena antidysenterica document antibacterial, antiamoebic and antidiarrhoeal effects of conessine and related steroidal alkaloids in cell and animal models.
Development has not reached human trials Limited evidence
A 2026 review of conessine covering its ethnomedical roots and pharmacology describes formulation strategies still at the preclinical stage; no randomized trial of kutaja for diarrhoea is indexed in PubMed.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTraditional use is 1–3 g/day of bark powder, or an extract per label. No clinically validated dose exists.

SafetyConessine is a pharmacologically active alkaloid with central nervous system activity in animals; high or prolonged doses have not been characterised for safety in people. Avoid in pregnancy and in children. Do not use it in place of proper treatment for diagnosed amoebiasis or giardiasis.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter on the available evidence.

With food?With food or warm water, which the bitter bark needs.

Worth knowingUse it for short courses only; conessine is pharmacologically active and nobody has characterised what prolonged use does in people.

Frequently asked questions

Does kutaja work for dysentery or diarrhea?

Kutaja's alkaloid conessine shows antibacterial, antiamoebic and antidiarrhoeal activity in cell and animal models, but no randomized trial of kutaja for diarrhoea has been run in humans. The evidence is limited.

Can kutaja treat amoebiasis or giardia?

Do not use kutaja in place of proper treatment for diagnosed amoebiasis or giardiasis: its antiamoebic activity has only been shown in the laboratory. Kutaja development has not reached human trials.

Is kutaja safe to take?

Kutaja's conessine is a pharmacologically active alkaloid with central nervous system activity in animals, and high or prolonged doses have not been characterised for safety in people. Use kutaja only in short courses, typically 1–3 g/day of bark powder traditionally, and avoid it in pregnancy and children.

Scientific references

Expanded Therapeutic Applications of Holarrhena Antidysenterica: A Review
Tiwari R, Khatri C, Tyagi LK — Comb Chem High Throughput Screen, 2024
Conessine, a steroidal alkaloid from Holarrhena antidysenterica: Ethnomedical roots, pharmacological insights, and formulation strategies for modern drug development
Mustafa G, Musa SI, Shinde P — Steroids, 2026

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Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)