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The study of the proper storage of medicinal plants after being harvested becomes necessary to minimize the loss of active constituents from microbial reactions, heat, moisture, light and enzymes etc. In the present study, fresh rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) were collected from 2600 m to 3300 m altitude of Himachal Pradesh (Rohtang area), India. The harvested material was washed to remove soil and other adhering materials, and then cut into small pieces and dried under shade. The air dried samples were packed in the different packing materials (i.e. Gunny bags or poly bags), stored either at room temperature or in refrigerator at 4° to 6 °C or in humid environment (85% humidity and 25 °C) for different storage durations and then analyzed their chemical constituents bimonthly. The study showed that the content of picroside-I and picroside-II decreased with the increase in storage duration irrespective of storage condition. However, the loss in picroside-I and picroside-II with storage was maximum when “Kutki” samples were stored under humid condition (85% humidity, 25 °C) and minimum loss was observed when samples were stored at low temperature (4-6 °C). So, to minimize the loss of picroside-I and picroside-II content in the drug Kutki during storage, Kutki must be stored at low temperature.

There exists a wide diversity of medicinal plants in Western Himalaya and among them, the drug "Kutki" (Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.) is one of the highly renowned medicinal plants of this region. More than 50 secondary metabolites have been recorded from the dried rhizomes and roots of this endangered plant and it is harvested for medicinal purpose to treat various types of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, malaria, chronic dysentery, viral hepatitis, upset stomach, scorpion sting, stimulation of appetite and improvement of digestion, liver protection, skin conditions, peptic ulcer and neuralgia, vitiligo and rheumatic arthritis. Overexploitation and consequent degradation of natural habitat are reported to be a major threat to this plant. Due to its remote location, narrow distribution range and small population size, scientific investigations on this species are sporadic and fragmentary. Much information on this species is scanty and fragmented and need to be compiled. It is important because they provide insight into the scientific information available, even if too little, with a view to determining the gaps that need to be addressed in the future. This article tries to consolidate all the available information into a single compilation. After thorough investigation and literature search, it was observed that less work has been done on this plant especially on its extraction methods and storage conditions and durations.

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