Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants in Myanmar
213
integrifolia are important for melanin deposition or melanin-enhancing effects, but
the mechanism(s) of action of the most potent compounds in this regard should be
clarified.
2.24 Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.
Picrorhiza kurroa is a small perennial medicinal herb belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. However, this is an unresolved name on www.theplantlist.org where it
is currently classified in the Plantaginaceae [491]. The plant is distributed in the eastcentral parts of Myanmar, and in India, the Himalayan region (Garhwal to Bhutan),
southeast Tibet, west China, and Sri Lanka. P. kurroa, known in Myanmar as Saungmay-ga [492] (Fig. 81), is an important medicinal plant and a common component of
TMF-8 (Thway-dular-hsay), TMF-17 (Thway-hsay-ni-gyi), TMF-25 (Ma-te‘-myintmo-hsay), TMF-37 (Kat-pu-yar-di-thu-dathana-hsay), and TMF-38 (Kat-pu-yar-dimyin-thay-myat-ke‘-hsay), which have been used for blood purification and the treatment of fevers, liver cirrhosis, diarrhea, and dysentery [493]. The crude extracts and
Fig. 81 The crude drug Picrorhiza kurroa (stems) known as Saung-may-ga. The stems and roots
have use in Myanmar traditional medicine
213
integrifolia are important for melanin deposition or melanin-enhancing effects, but
the mechanism(s) of action of the most potent compounds in this regard should be
clarified.
2.24 Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.
Picrorhiza kurroa is a small perennial medicinal herb belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. However, this is an unresolved name on www.theplantlist.org where it
is currently classified in the Plantaginaceae [491]. The plant is distributed in the eastcentral parts of Myanmar, and in India, the Himalayan region (Garhwal to Bhutan),
southeast Tibet, west China, and Sri Lanka. P. kurroa, known in Myanmar as Saungmay-ga [492] (Fig. 81), is an important medicinal plant and a common component of
TMF-8 (Thway-dular-hsay), TMF-17 (Thway-hsay-ni-gyi), TMF-25 (Ma-te‘-myintmo-hsay), TMF-37 (Kat-pu-yar-di-thu-dathana-hsay), and TMF-38 (Kat-pu-yar-dimyin-thay-myat-ke‘-hsay), which have been used for blood purification and the treatment of fevers, liver cirrhosis, diarrhea, and dysentery [493]. The crude extracts and
Fig. 81 The crude drug Picrorhiza kurroa (stems) known as Saung-may-ga. The stems and roots
have use in Myanmar traditional medicine