Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Uses | Formulas or Dosages | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Coptis teeta
- Coptis teetoides
Common Names
- Mishmi Tita (Assamese)
- Gold Thread (English)
- Mamira (Hindi)
- Mamira-chini (Arabic)
- Pitarohini (Tamil)
- Supita (Sanskrit)
- Yunnan Goldthread (Chinese)
Parts Usually Used
The rhizome, roots, and leaves, with the rhizome being the primary medicinal part.
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Coptis teeta is a small, stemless, perennial, flowering, evergreen herb native to the eastern Himalayas. The plant grows to a height of 30-50 cm with a 5-15 cm long horizontal to oblique rhizome. The leaves are 5-20 cm long, pinnatifid, with 3-lobed lamina and are glabrous. The inflorescence is panicled with few white or yellowish flowers. The fruits are capsules up to 6 mm long containing several black seeds. The rhizome is bitter in taste, yellowish-brown externally and golden-yellow internally.
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Where Found
Coptis teeta is found in:
- India (primarily Arunachal Pradesh – Lohit, Dibang Valley, Siang, and Upper Subansiri districts)
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- China (Yunnan province)
The plant grows at elevations between 1,700-3,000 meters in temperate regions, preferring acidic soil and moist conditions. It can grow in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, thriving in both semi-shade and full sunlight.
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Medicinal Properties
Coptis teeta exhibits numerous pharmacological activities:
- Antimicrobial and antibacterial
- Antidiarrheal
- Antihypertensive
- Antiarrhythmic
- Antihyperlipidemic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antidepressant
- Antioxidant
- Antitrachoma
- Antidiabetic
- Analgesic
- Phosphodiesterase-inhibiting
- Antihistaminic
- Antimalarial
Biochemical Information
Primary alkaloids:
- Berberine (6-8.5%)
- Palmatine
- Jatrorrhizine
- Coptisine
- Columbamine
- Epiberberine
Other constituents:
- Carbohydrates
- Flavonoids
- Glycosides
- Organic acids
- Phenolic compounds
- Reducing sugars
- Saponins
- Starch
- Terpenoids
- Tannins
Uses
In India:
- Treatment of malaria
- Relief from stomach ache and dysentery
- Management of fever and infections
- Treatment of eye disorders
- Relief from skin problems
- Management of gastrointestinal issues
- Treatment of jaundice and diabetes
In China:
- Clearing heat and dampness
- Treatment of vomiting and diarrhea
- Management of high fever
- Relief from heartburn and upset stomach
- Treatment of toothache
In Myanmar:
- Relief from constipation
- Regulation of bowel movement
- Stimulation of digestion
- Treatment of malaria
- Management of cough and asthma (when combined with Piper nigrum)
Formulas or Dosages
For tribal medicine preparation:
- The rhizome is uprooted, cleaned, and sun-dried
- The dried rhizome is either cut into pieces or ground into powder
- The powder is soaked in water (cold/lukewarm) for at least 30 minutes until the solution appears yellow
- The decoction is typically consumed twice a day before food
How Sold
The dried root and rhizome are sold in the market for approximately Rs. 2,000/kg. The plant material is sometimes adulterated with:
- Rootstock of Geranium wallichianum
- Root of Thalictrum filiolosum
- Roots of Swertia species
Warning
- The plant is listed as endangered in the Red Data Book
- Wild populations are declining due to over-collection and habitat destruction
- The species has a low reproductive success rate
- Proper identification is crucial due to common adulterants in the market
Conservation efforts are ongoing through:
- Small-scale cultivation by local farmers in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland
- Forest Department cultivation programs
- Traditional agroforestry methods by the Lisu people in Yunnan
- Both in situ and ex situ conservation approaches
Resource Links
Mishmi Tita Herb Uses, Benefits, and Conservation Insights
Phys.org – Mishmi Tita’ research provides an overview of the medicinal herb’s uses and conservation
