Akarkara (Pellitory): Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

Introduction

Anacyclus pyrethrum, commonly known as Akarkara in Hindi and Pellitory in English, is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is also called Akkirakaram in Marathi. The roots of the plant have good therapeutic value as per the traditional systems of medicine¹. It is also known as the African pyrethrum. The species is Indigenous to Morocco, Spain, and Algeria and has two varieties: Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum (L.) and Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball) Maire². Some varieties can be found in Jammu Kashmir, and Bengal. It is imported to India from Algeria¹.  

Chemical Constituents

Phytochemicals like alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, and tannins are present in the Anacyclus pyrethrum variety. The root extract contains free fatty acids, sterols, and unsaturated amides. Pellitorin, anacyclin, phenylethylamine, inulin, polyacetylenic amides, and sesamin¹. 

Nutritional Benefits

Phytochemical screening of Akarkara shows the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids³. 

Akarkara Uses

The therapeutic uses of Akarkara are due to the presence of phytochemicals like Flavonoids and terpenoids. The roots and leaves of the Akarkara have a therapeutic role in the traditional Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine as well as the herbal medicine of the East¹.    

The plant is used as an  

• anti-inflammatory  
• antibacterial  
• aphrodisiac  
• antiviral  
• carminative  
• diuretic  
• emmenagogue (stimulate menstrual flow)  
• vermifuge (anthelmintic)  
• febrifuge (reducing fever)  
• sialagogue (stimulate saliva)  
• analgesic (pain reliever)  
• antiarthritic  
• nerve tonic¹ 

Maintain your oral health by using a herbal formulation (dantkanti) containing Akarkara (Anacyclus pyrethrum). Akarkara might help in strengthening teeth and gums and relieves toothache as they possess antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties⁶.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Benefits Of Akarkara

1. Benefits of Akarkara in Diabetes

• Oral administration of the root extract of Akarkara was beneficial in bringing down spiked blood glucose levels in diabetic animal models.
• Akarkara could show antidiabetic benefits in animal studies.
• Further trials on humans are awaited to make it available as mainstream anti-diabetes medication¹.  

2. Benefits of Akarkara on the Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Akarkara root extract produced significant antidepressant effects in animal studies.
• Akarkara also showed muscle relaxant benefits in animal models¹.
• Extract of Akarkara enhanced memory and showed improvement in cognitive processes by increasing the brain levels of the enzyme cholinesterase⁴. 
• Extract of Akarkara also showed anticonvulsant activity.
• The extract reduced seizures associated with cognitive impairment and reduced oxidative stress in an experimental model of seizures⁵. Animal studies have confirmed the CNS activities of Akarkara.
• However, the same activities are yet to be established in humans through trials.  

3. Benefits of Akarkara for Immunity

• Akarkara extract showed immunostimulatory activity in rat models.
• There was a huge improvement in the humoral as well as the cellular component of immunity.
• The results suggest the potential use of Akarkara as an immunomodulator in the Ayurvedic system of medicine¹.  

4. Benefits of Akarkara in Wound Healing

• Akarkara plant extract showed wound healing benefits in rats which were evident by the improvement in the wound diameter.
• The wound-healing activity of Akarkara could be attributed to its antibacterial properties.
• The wound healing benefit could also be attributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of Akarkara².  

Polysaccharides extracted from the root of Anacyclus pyrethrum may possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These properties can help in reducing various allergy-causing respiratory ailments⁷.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

5. Benefits of Akarkara as a Fertility Enhancer

• The root extract of the Anacyclus pyrethrum improved the sexual potential of rats in an animal trial.
• Extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum also showed a potent libido-enhancing ability, along with its fertility-enhancing effects in several animal trials.
• Akarkara extract has shown promising results as a fertility enhancer in animal trials, but these activities are yet to be confirmed in humans¹.  

Improve your digestive health with Akarkara. Akarkara roots might aid in increasing and stimulating the secretion of saliva and other digestive juices which help in improving digestive health. Additionally, they might facilitate gas flatulence due to their carminative property⁸.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

How To Use Akarkara?

Akarkara can be used in powdered form. The powder can be taken with honey.

An Ayurvedic physician will better guide you on the dose and frequency of taking the powder.  

Also Read: Ashokarishta – Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & Precautions

Precautions To Take with Akarkara

• There are no safety studies about its usage in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Therefore, it should be used with the doctor’s advice and supervision.   
• There are no safety studies about its usage in children.  

Also Read: Triphala: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

Interactions with Other Drugs

There is a lack of data regarding the interaction of Akarkara with other drugs. Therefore, patients are advised to talk to a doctor about its usage if using any other medication or supplement.  

Also Read: Kumaryasava – Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Estimation Of Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoids And Total Protein Content Of Hydroalcoholic Extract Of Anacyclus Pyrethrum | Request PDF [Internet]. [cited 2022 Feb 24]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333746572_ESTIMATION_OF_TOTAL_PHENOLIC_TOTAL_FLAVONOIDS_AND_TOTAL_PROTEIN_CONTENT_OF_HYDROALCOHOLIC_EXTRACT_OF_ANACYCLUS_PYRETHRUM  

2. Pandey S, Rani Kushwaha G, Singh A, Singh A. Chemical Composition And Medicinal Uses Of Anacyclus Pyrethrum. 2018; Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324042819  

3. Elazzouzi H, Fadili K, Cherrat A, Amalich S, Zekri N, Zerkani H, Tagnaout I, Hano C, Lorenzo JM, Zair T. Phytochemistry, Biological and Pharmacological Activities of the Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag: A Systematic Review. Plants (Basel). 2022 Sep 30;11(19):2578. doi: 10.3390/plants11192578. PMID: 36235444; PMCID: PMC9573456. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9573456/

4. Ibrahim RM, Abdel-Baki PM, Elmasry GF, El-Rashedy AA, Mahdy NE. Combinative effects of akarkara root-derived metabolites on anti-inflammatory and anti-alzheimer key enzymes: integrating bioassay-guided fractionation, GC-MS analysis, and in silico studies. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 Nov 17;23(1):413. doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04210-6. PMID: 37978514; PMCID: PMC10655324. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10655324/

5. Pahuja M, Mehla J, Reeta KH, Joshi S, Gupta YK. Root extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum ameliorates seizures, seizure-induced oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in experimental animals. Epilepsy Res. 2012 Feb;98(2-3):157-65. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.09.006. Epub 2011 Oct 12. PMID: 21993359. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21993359/

6. Singh K, Singh P, Oberoi G. Comparative studies between herbal toothpaste (Dantkanti) and non‑herbal toothpaste. Int J Dent Res. 2016;4(2):53‑56. DOI:10.14419/ijdr.v4i2.6633. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328600529_Comparative_studies_between_herbal_toothpaste_dantkanti_and_non-herbal_tooth_paste

7. Alliouche K, Benosmane L, Namoune S, Ouled‑Diaf K, Ghaliaoui N, Bendjeddou D. Anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the hot water‑soluble polysaccharides from Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag. roots. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Dec 5;281:114491. DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114491. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121007200

8. Usmani A, Khushtar M, Arif M, Siddiqui MA, Sing SP, Mujahid M. Pharmacognostic and phytopharmacology study of Anacyclus pyrethrum: An insight. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2016 Mar;6(3):144‑50. Available from: https://japsonline.com/admin/php/uploads/1818_pdf.pdf

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