Description

Plumbago zeylanica, the Ceylon leadwort, is a semi-woody perennial shrub of the family Plumbaginaceae, native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, distributed across India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia in hedgerow habitats, scrub forests, and disturbed dry ground from sea level to moderate altitude. Known in classical Ayurveda as Chitraka, its root and root bark are among the most cited Agni-deepana (digestive fire-enhancing) substances in classical texts. The Charaka Samhita lists Chitraka as a primary ingredient in formulations for digestive disorders, Medoroga (lipid conditions), and skin diseases. The active compound plumbagin — a naphthoquinone — has attracted significant phytochemical research interest. Harvested commercially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.