THE THERAPEUTIC AND TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECT OF KUPILU (STRYCHNOS NUX-VOMICA L.)- A REVIEW

Kupilu (Strychnos nux-vomica L., family-Loganiaceae) is a poisonous herbal plant, also known as Kuchla in Ayurvedic samhitas and has been commonly used in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. It is also described in Surasadi gana of Sushruta and Amradi phala varga of Bhavprakasa. It is a deciduous tree which is widely distributed in India and found throughout tropical areas of India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. In this review, an endeavor has been made to explore the therapeutic utilities of Strychnos nux vomica and its poisoning effect as mentioned in Ayurveda. It is observed that seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica are used as an ingredient of compound formulations of Ayurvedic medicine, indicated for nervous debility, paralysis and weakness of limbs, sexual weakness, dyspepsia, dysentery and chronic rheumatism. Additionally, it is employed in the treatment of anemia, asthma, bronchitis, colic, intermittent fever, hysteria, etc in a specific therapeutic dose. In higher doses, it produces tetanic convulsions ultimately resulting in death. Kupilu has been described as a toxic plant in Ayurveda so certain Shodhan process of the seeds are considered mandatory before its administration

A Comparison of Rubrics in Boger Boenninghausen Characteristics and Repertory with the Rubrics of Repertory of Hemorrhoids by W.M.J Guernsey in Hemorrhoids

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed in understanding the comparison of rubrics in boger boenninghausen characteristic repertory with the rubrics of repertory of hemorrhoids by w.m.j guernsey in hemorrhoids Hemorrhoid is a life disturbing disease which affects all age group but especially more in adults. Due to low fibre diet, strainning while passing stool and prolonged sitting while passing stool these are identified as the common cause of hemorrhoids. Apart from this females are prone to suffer from hemorrhoids after preganancy. Homoeopathy being a hoilistic system of medicine which is most economical, has a major role in individuals suffering from Hemorrhoids and can able to reduce the rate of surgery and helpful for preventing the complications of surgery and also recurrence. METHODS: The present study with sample of 30 cases and age group of 18-65 years suffering from hemorrhoidal pain were selected from OPD/IPD and rural centres of Sarada krishna Homoeopathic medical college & Hospital. Thirty cases of adults presenting with complaints of Hemorrhoids were Randomly selected and were analaysed for disease intensity according to colorectal Evaluation of clinical Therapeutics scale (CORECTS) and History was taken as per the case performa. Case were followed for a period of 6 months. Observations were recorded and pain before and after treatment were evaluated based on scoring criteria RESULTS: Thirty cases were analysed.After 6 months of treatment there is a significant difference in symptom. Sulphur & nuxvomica was the remedy which was most used and potency was 200. occupation in which people who have to sit for prolonged periods are at risk of developing hemorrhoids. Case score was analysed before and after treatment which shows 23 cases of marked impovement and 5 cases of moderate improvement and 2 cases of mild improvement. CONCLUSION: Based on the result of study it is evident that Homoeopathic medicine are very effective in treatment of Hemorrhoids in adults and are capable of reducing the recurrenc

Effect of Purificatory Measures through Cow’s Urine and Milk on Strychnine and Brucine Content of Kupeelu (Strychnos nuxvomica Linn.) Seeds

Strychnos nux vomica Linn.(Loganaceae) commonly known as Nux vomica (Kupeelu), is a poisonous plant and its seeds are used widely in Ayurvedic system of medicine since time immemorial. Ayurveda advocates that nux vomica seeds are to be administered in therapeutics only after going through certain purificatory measures (Shodhana). There are more than six media: cow’s urine (Go mutra), cow’s milk (Go dugdha), cow’s ghee (Go ghrita), Kanji (thin gruel), castor oil (Eranda taila) and fresh ginger juice (Ardraka swarasa) etc., which have been reported in different classical texts of Ayurveda for proper processing of nux vomica seeds. In this study, an attempt has been made to purify the seeds by using three different methods as described in ancient treatise by using cow’s urine and cow’s milk as media alone and together. This study revealed that all the methods studied reduced the toxicity of strychnine and brucine contents in comparison to the raw seeds as determined by HPTLC. Out of these three methods maximum reduction in strychnine and brucine contents was found when the seeds were purified by keeping them in cow’s urine for seven days followed by boiling in cow’s milk for three hrs.Key words: Kupeelu; Strychnos nuxvomica ; Shodhana; strychnine; Ayurveda; brucine ; Cow’s milk, Cow’s urin

THE EFFECT OF SHODHAN PROCESS ON TOXICITY OF UPAVISHA KUPEELU BEEJA (STRYCHNOS NUXVOMICA): A CRITICAL STUDY

The principle objectives of Ayurveda are to promote perfect health and to prolong life and to completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body. Charaka opined that a deadly poison can become a very good medicine if it is administered in a proper way and with proper technique. Various processes of purification, especially for Visha and Upvisha,are mentioned in Ayurvedic texts. They are called as Shodhan sanskar (detoxification procedure). Shodhana is the process which involves the conversion of any poisonous drug into a medicinally useful and harmless drug. Kupeelu beeja (Strychnos nuxvomica), a Sthavara vanaspatij visha contains spinal neurotoxic poison, strychnine. But pure Kupeelu beeja has many therapeutic properties as well. So, it is necessary to subject Kupeelu beeja to detoxification (Shodhana) process before using it as medicine. To prove the authenticity and safety of the use of purified and Shodhit Vishadravya (detoxified poisonous drugs), it must be subjected to modern parameters. In this article, attempt has been made to study the changes in phyto-chemical properties and LD50 values of Kupeelu beeja churna (Strychnos nuxvomica seed powder) due to Shodhan sanskar. The detoxification of Strychnos nuxvomica seeds was done by boiling it in cow’s milk for 3 hrs. Then the seeds coverings were scrapped and embryo was removed and dried. Thereafter, a fine powder was prepared and stored. This detoxified powder (Shodhit Kupeelu beeja churna) was used in studying phytochemical properties and animal experiment in comparison with the powder of non detoxified Strychnos nuxvomica seeds (Ashodhit Kupeelu beeja churna). The study revealed that the detoxification process of Strychnos nux vomica seed powder affects its physico-chemical properties. Shodhana process increases the value of LD50 of Kupeelu beeja churna. i.e. it reduces the toxicity of Kupeelu beeja churna. Thus the safety of the detoxified drug can be established

Pesticidal properties of Anamirta cocculus, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cocculus laurifolius and Strychnos nux-vomica against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

295-306Spodoptera litura, commonly known as taro caterpillar, is a major pest of several vegetables and economically important crops. The pest is reported to reduce the yield of the affected crop up to 10-30%. Hence, controlling this pest is one of the very crucial steps in increasing crop yield. The extensive use of broad-spectrum chemical pesticides to control S. litura has many negative impacts. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the efficacy of certain plants against S. litura. In this study, we investigated the anti-insect properties of leaf and bark extracts of Anamirta cocculus, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cocculus laurifolius and Strychnos nux-vomica. All four plant extracts showed significant anti-feedant activity compared to control at different concentrations. The leaf extracts showed the activity in the order S. nux-vomica >C. halicacabum >C. laurifolius >A. cocculus at the exposure of maximum concentration. Anti-feedant activity of the bark extract was in the order C. laurifolius >S. nux-vomica >C. halicacabum. The leaf extracts of three plants A. cocculus, C. halicacabum and S. nux-vomica showed significant repellent activity. The repellent activity of the bark extracts was in the order, C. laurifolius > C. halicacabum >S. nux-vomica >A. cocculus. The GC-MS analysis of these plant extracts have shown many compounds with known anti-insect properties and specific molecule-based bio-assays might be required to ascertain the distinctive effects of these compounds

Pharmacokinetic, acute toxicity, and pharmacodynamic studies of semen strychni total alkaloid microcapsules

Purpose: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of semen strychni total alkaloid microcapsules (SSTAM), compared with semen strychni total alkaloids (SSTA). Methods: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to assess pharmacokinetics of brucine and strychnine in rats. Acute toxicity was investigated in pre-test and formal experiments in mice. The pharmacodynamics of SSTAM and SSTA were evaluated by their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Results: With respect to brucine, the half-life of SSTA group (1.6 mg/kg), low-dose SSTAM group (6 mg/kg) and high-dose SSTAM group (10 mg/kg) was 5.723, 9.321 and 9.025 h, respectively. With respect to strychnine, the half-life of SSTA group, low-dose SSTAM group and high-dose SSTAM group was 4.065, 8.819 and 8.654 h, respectively. The LD50 values of SSTAM group and SSTA group were 236.59 and 30.27 mg/kg, respectively. The pain inhibition rates of SSTAM groups (25 and 50 mg/kg) were higher than that of SSTA group (p < 0.05) while the pain threshold values of the SSTAM groups (25 and 50 mg/kg) were higher than that of blank control (p < 0.01) and SSTA groups (p < 0.01) at 60 min and 120 min. The inhibition rates of the SSTAM groups (25 and 50 mg/kg) were higher than that of SSTA group based on ear swelling and cotton ball granulation tests. Compared with blank control and SSTA groups, the absorbance values of SSTAM groups (25 and 50 mg/kg) were lower (p < 0.01). Conclusion: SSTAM increases the dosage of administration but reducea the toxicity of the alkaloids in rats, and is thus a potentially safe and effective drug delivery system

Phytochemical analysis and biological activity studies of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos Henningsii

This project sees the chemical investigation of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos henningsii. The aim of this project was to investigate the phytoconstituents and activity of organic extracts of S. henningsii as well as isolation and characterization of single compounds. S. henningsii is one of the most widely used tree bark in the Eastern Cape in treating a variety of ailments. Evaluation of the traditional herbal use of the S. henningsii bark was warranted. Both the ethyl acetate and methanol extract proved to possess non-toxic properties and showed cell growth potential at low concentrations. The anti-inflammatory response of both extracts showed appreciable results, and they did not promote inflammatory due to the alkaloidal presence. Although the extracts both showed the presence of phenols, the anti-oxidant capacity by DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC assays was considerately lower than expected. The ethyl acetate extract presented a compound thought to be a terpenoid (4.1). Three compounds were isolated from the methanol extract; two alkaloidal compounds and one acrylate. The alkaloids were isolated from the methanol extract, stryvomicine (4.2) and an isovomicine derivative (4.3). Their structures were deduced from NMR (1D and 2D experiments) and HRMS spectra. This acrylate was found to be 3-(4-methylphenyl)acrylic acid via single-crystal XRD, and this is the first report of it being isolated from the Strychnos genus. Profiling of S. henningsii was performed via Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy. Other spectroscopic techniques utilised in the interpretation of isolated compounds included Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared, single-crystal X-Ray Diffraction and High Resolution Mass spectroscopy

Pesticidal properties of Anamirta cocculus, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cocculus laurifolius and Strychnos nux-vomica against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera litura, commonly known as taro caterpillar, is a major pest of several vegetables and economically important crops. The pest is reported to reduce the yield of the affected crop up to 10-30%. Hence, controlling this pest is one of the very crucial steps in increasing crop yield. The extensive use of broad-spectrum chemical pesticides to control S. litura has many negative impacts. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the efficacy of certain plants against S. litura. In this study, we investigated the anti-insect properties of leaf and bark extracts of Anamirta cocculus, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cocculus laurifolius and Strychnos nux-vomica. All four plant extracts showed significant anti-feedant activity compared to control at different concentrations. The leaf extracts showed the activity in the order S. nux-vomica >C. halicacabum >C. laurifolius >A. cocculus at the exposure of maximum concentration. Anti-feedant activity of the bark extract was in the order C. laurifolius >S. nux-vomica >C. halicacabum. The leaf extracts of three plants A. cocculus, C. halicacabum and S. nux-vomica showed significant repellent activity. The repellent activity of the bark extracts was in the order, C. laurifolius > C. halicacabum >S. nux-vomica >A. cocculus. The GC-MS analysis of these plant extracts have shown many compounds with known anti-insect properties and specific molecule-based bio-assays might be required to ascertain the distinctive effects of these compounds