Enicostemma littorale, White head, Maja-Makka booti, Nahi, Vellarugu

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 8 min read

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Key Takeaways

This article explains Health Benefits in simple medical language.
This article explains Traditional uses in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

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Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

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Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Enicostemma littorale is a perennial herb that belongs to the Gentianaceae family is cultured in India. It acts as a laxative, rheumatism, helps in curing fever, abdominal disorders, skin diseases, obesity, snake bite and regulates blood sugar levels. Plant constituents possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, hypolipidaemic, and hypoglycemic properties.

Enicostemma littorale is an erect and perennial herb that grows 5 to 30 cm tall and is simple or branched at the base. It has glabrous and cylindric stems with a decurrent ridge below leaf. Leaves are sessile narrowed into petiole-like bases and longer than internodes. Lamina is 5-8 × 0.3-1 cm, linear to lanceolate or narrowly oblong. The inflorescence is found in many auxiliary clusters and diverse in axils of each pair of leaves. Usually, flowers are white with green lines, sessile or subsessile. Bracts are long and shorter than calyx, lanceolate to acuminate and carinate.

Name	Enicostemma littorale
Name in Other Languages	Tamil: Maja-Makka booti, Nahi, Vellarugu; Malyalam: Vallari; English: White head; Kanada: Chikka chiraayuta; Sanskrit: Mamajjakah; Gujarati: Mamejavo; Bengal: Nagajivha; Hindi: Chota chirayata; Hindustani: Kaviyatu; Telugu: Nela-guli
Plant Growth Habit	Erect, perennial
Plant Size	5-30 cm tall
Stem	Cylindric, glabrous
Leaf	Sessile
Flower	White, sessile or subsessile
Seed	0.4–0.5 mm. in diameter, subglobose, reticulate faveolate

Health Benefits

1. Prevention of microbes

Enicostemma littorale has reported antifungal activity. The chloroform extracts exhibit activity against Aspergillus niger and negligible activity against Candida albicans at a concentration of 100, 200 µg/mL. The Ethyl acetate extract displays slight activity against A.niger and moderate activity against C.albicans. It observed antimicrobial activity against many pathogenic microorganisms with the use of different solvents such as ethyl acetate, chloroform, petroleum ether and methanol. Ethyl acetate and methanolic extract showed extrusive antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pserudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei and antifungal activity against C.albicans and Aeromonas hydrophila.

2. Anthelminthic activity

Enicostemma littorale has antihelminthic properties. Petroleum extracts and ethanolic extracts of E. littorale was evaluated to determine antihelminthic effect on an adult Indian earthworm. Five contrasting concentrations of each extracts were used to learn antihelminthic activity in which death of worm and time of paralysis was observed. Results showed ethanolic extract of E. littorale was potent than petroleum ether extract.

3. Antinociceptive

Indian medicinal plants contain high content of swertiamarin, secoiridoid which provides relief from pain. Variety of medicinal plants contains iridoids that possess high medicinal properties. In vivo anti-nociceptive activity of swertiamarin isolated from E. axillare was carried with the use of three different methods in mice. In a hot plate, a significant increase was observed for treating with swertiamarin at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight after 30 and 45 minutes.

4. Acts as antioxidant

Hyperlipidaemia is a condition of alcohol-induced liver injury as it assembles and triglycerides in liver as well as in blood resulting in several complications. The hyperlipidaemic condition or antioxidant effects on injured male albino rats by administering with E. littorale extract at dose of 250 mg/kg body weight. It lowers the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and fatty acids reduced in serum and activity levels of TBARS and lipid peroxidation levels were lowered and CAT, SOD, GPx were extended in liver tissue. Also the restorative effect on aqueous leaf extract on oxidative stress and hyperlipidaemic. Oxidative stress is responsible for nephrotoxicity. The role of E. littorale Blume as an antioxidant therapy in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. E. littorale improves the antioxidant defense system of mitochondrial fraction with better progress in the mitochondrial fraction. The extract is used in antioxidant therapy to neutralize mitochondrial and post-mitochondrial oxidative stress formed in kidneys and also prevent nephrotoxicity.

5. infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।" data-rx-term="anti-inflammatory" data-rx-definition="Anti-inflammatory means reducing inflammation, pain, or swelling. সহজ বাংলা: প্রদাহ/ফোলা/ব্যথা কমায়।">Anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer

A. littorale are used against ethanol, aspirin, and pyloric ligation in rats and bovine serum albumin denaturation. The extract was administered to overnight fasted rats preliminary to aspirin or alcohol or pyloric ligation challenge. Tissue GSH levels, ulcer index and lipid peroxidation levels in all models of ulcers and volume of gastric secretion, pH and acidity in pyloric ligation model of ulcers. The extract of E. littorale displayed dose-dependent reduction in ulcer index against aspirin, pyloric ligation and ethanol challenge. It also lowered total acidity, volume of gastric secretion, free acidity and elevated gastric pH. Moreover, it also inhibits the serum albumin denaturation in dose-dependent manner. The methanolic extract shows anti-ulcer activity.

6. Anti-tumor

Methanolic extract of E. littorale shows anti-tumor activity that has been evaluated against Dalton’s ascetic lymphoma in Swiss albino mice. The methanolic extract treated tumor in mice concerning to control group. When used E. littorale on animals it inhibited tumor cell growth. The methanolic extract is able to reverse chance in haemotological parameters, protein to tumor inoculation.

7. Hepatoprotective activity

The experiment was conducted to find out the hepatoprotective effects of medicinal plant extracts. Highly reactive trichloro free radical formation attacks polyunsaturated fatty acids of the endoplasmic reticulum. It forms hepatotoxicity by altering liver microsomal membranes during experiments. E. littorale acquire a chemical compound known as swertiamarin that has hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties against D-GaIN induced hepatoxicity. It provides a rationale use of E.littorale in liver disorders. The alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, acid phosphatase, sorbitol drhydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, total protein, total jaundice. সহজ বাংলা: জন্ডিসে বাড়তে পারে এমন হলুদ রঞ্জক।" data-rx-term="bilirubin" data-rx-definition="Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that can build up in jaundice. সহজ বাংলা: জন্ডিসে বাড়তে পারে এমন হলুদ রঞ্জক।">bilirubin and albumin in serum were restored to normal level dose-dependently after E. littorale extract when compared to respective controls.

8. Antihyperlipidaemic activity

A. littorale lowers serum cholesterol level in rats with hepatoma that promotes hypercholesterolemia. The component promotes cholesterol acyltransferase by esterification of free cholesterol in HDL. The study shows that new property of swertiamarin as a lipid-lowering agent when being compared to atorvastatin and also contributes antiatherosclerotic and cardioprotective role effects. It lowered total serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects are evaluated by allocating an aqueous extract of E. littorale to rats. When treated with this extract lowers activities of erythrocyte CAT, LPO and SOD levels with increment in reduction of glutathione levels, liver or kidney cholesterol levels were also lowered in E. littorale treated rats.

9. Hypoglycemic activity

Diabetic rats were treated with E. littorale whole plant extract regularly for 45 days lowered blood glucose, SOD, TBARS, GPx and CAT. E. littorale extract was effective in comparison to standard drug insulin. Also observed that insulin to alloxan prompt diabetic rats for 45 days that brought back all parameters to normal. The extract of dose 2 g/kg is considered to be effective with hot or cold aqueous extracts of E. littorale in type 1 diabetic rats for three weeks. Treatment with hot aqueous extract lowered food and water intake and glucose or AUC glucose levels and reduced serum glucose, triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels.

Traditional uses

Roots and leaves are used to treat several ailments such as skin diseases, malaria, insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes, leprosy etc.
In India, it is used as bitter tonic, stomachic and carminative to lower fever and also a tonic for loss of appetite.
It is used for treating type 2 insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes as it has a crucial role in lowering blood glucose and promoting serum insulin levels and improving kidney functions and lipid profile.
It is used to treat tooth decay, fever, obesity, rheumatism, skin diseases, snake bite, abdominal disorders, and regulation of blood sugar levels.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink safe fluids and monitor temperature.
In dengue-prone areas, discuss CBC and platelet count when fever persists or warning signs appear.
Use tepid sponging for high fever discomfort; avoid ice-cold bathing.

OTC medicine safety

For fever, common fever medicine may be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist.
Avoid aspirin/ibuprofen-like medicines in suspected dengue unless a doctor says it is safe.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Fever with breathing difficulty, confusion, repeated vomiting, bleeding, severe weakness, stiff neck, or dehydration needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician

Tests to discuss with doctor

Temperature chart and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

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Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.