Critical Analysis of Kaaraskara Beeja Shodhana in Milk

International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences ISSN (Online): 2581-3277

Manju Raj K.1, T.D. Sreekumar2 1Final Year PG Scholar, Department of Rasasastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura, Kerala 2Principal, Former Professor and HOD, Department of Rasasastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura, Kerala. 682301 Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala 680596 Email: manjurajk123 @ gmail.com, drtdsree @ gmail.com

Abstract— Strychnos nuxvomica or Karaskara is one among the visha dravyas mentioned in Ayurveda science. It contains poisonous alkaloids like Strychnine and Brucine which may harm the body. In spite of its toxic nature, the seeds of this tree are used in various pharmaceutical preparations after purification. Strychnos Nuxvomica is included in Upavisha varga in Rasasastra. Acharyas has explained different methods of purification of the seeds. Dolayantra swedana in milk is one among the media for purification of Kaaraskara beeja. It has been already proven that the Strychnine and Brucine content of beeja significantly reduced after the swedana in milk. While comparing the ashodhita and shodita seeds, loss on drying and extractive values were increased after shodhana which clearly indicates incorporation of active principles to the shodhita Kaaraskara beeja.

Keywords— Dolayantra swedana; Kaaraskara Beeja; Shodhana.

I. INTRODUCTION embedded in a grey endosperm. It has got no characteristic yurveda, the ancient science of life focuses on the odour but tastes very bitter. human well-being both in curative and preventive Chemical Constituents A aspects. Ayurveda therapeutics mainly uses herbal, Brucine, Strychnine and Vomicine; Kajine and Novacine animal and mineral sources of drugs. These drugs fall in two (N- methyl pseudobrucine); Strychnine and Isostrychnine; categories, Poisonous and non-poisonous. Visha dravyas are Cuchiloside, Loganic acid etc. used pharmaceutically only after processing and purifying them, which falls under the samskara Shodhana. Acharyas has Properties of Nuxvomica mentioned different purification methods for different visha TABLE I. Rasapanchaka of Kaaraskara Beeja dravyas in detail. The poisonous herbs are divided into class S No Rasa panchaka Properties visha and upavisha dravyas. Kaaraskara beeja is one among 1 Rasa katu, tikta the upavisha dravyas mentioned in Rasasastra. They are 2 Guna Laghu 3 Veerya Ushna nothing but Nuxvomica seeds which find wide range of 4 Vipaka Katu application in pharmaceutics. Strychnine was once used in 5 Dosha karma kapha vata hara diseases of Cardio vascular system and Respiratory complaints as a stimulant while Brucine has been shown to have anti- Toxic Effects of Nuxvomica tumour effects, on both hepatocellular carcinoma and breast Strychnos nuxvomica is included under the group of spinal cancer. Its narrow therapeutic window has limited its use in poisons. Impure or excess dose of Nuxvomica causes treatment. So a well-defined and efficient purification method convulsions and causes symptoms similar to tetanus. The will definitely help in exploring the therapeutic potentials of symptoms appear within 10 to 20 minutes after its oral Kaaraskara Beeja. administration and causes death due to asphyxia. The most direct symptom caused by strychnine is violent convulsions Strychnos Nuxvomica due to simultaneous stimulation of the motor or sensory Strychnos nuxvomica is a poisonous medium sized tree ganglia of the spinal cord. During convulsions there is rise in belonging to Loganiaceae family. It is included under Aamra blood pressure. Brucine closely resembles strychnine in its 1 phala varga by Bhavaprakasha Nighantu . Strychnos action, but is slightly less poisonous as it only causes paralysis Nuxvomica is a perennial deciduous tree that grows up to 100 of the peripheral motor nerves2. feet in height. Tree has sharp and strong axillary spines. The leaves are opposite and broadly elliptic. Flowers are Greenish Purification of Kaaraskara beeja white and numerous with short pedicel. Fruits are Globose and According to Rasa Tarangini, purification of Nuxvomica contain seeds which are poisonous. Seeds are Discoid and seeds is done by three methods 3. about 2 cm in diameter, much compressed, concave on one 1. The well grown seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica are soaked side and convex on the other side. Internally the seed consists in Kanji for 3 days. On 4th day the seeds are removed from of a small embryo with two heart shaped cotyledons, Kanji and wiped. Their external cover is removed and dried

Manju Raj K. and T.D. Sreekumar, “Critical Analysis of Kaaraskara Beeja Shodhana in Milk,” International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences (IRJPMS), Volume 3, Issue 6, pp. 44-47, 2020. International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences ISSN (Online): 2581-3277

under sun. The dry seeds are pounded in khalwa yantra and  Pottali was then subjected to dolayantra swedana in cow’s stored as shuddha Kuchala. milk for 3 hours. 2. Seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica are fried in an open iron vessel along with required quantity of ghee. The process of TABLE II. Materials required and quantity taken for Kaaraskara beeja shodhana frying is continued until the colour of seeds become reddish S No Materials required Quantity yellow. Soon the frying process is stopped, the external cover 1 Kaaraskara 330 gram is removed and the seeds are pounded in Khalwa yantra and 2 Milk Quantity sufficient stored as shuddha Kuchala. 3 Cotton cloth Quantity sufficient 3. Strychnos nuxvomica are tied in a cloth like pottali and 4 Pot 1 hung in dola yantra having Go dugdha as liquid media. The  Pottali from dolayantra was taken out on self-cooling. dolayantra is placed over mild fire and cooked for 1 yaama.  Kaaraskara seeds were collected from pottali and washed When cool on its own the seeds inside the pottali are in hot water thrice. collected, the external cover is removed and the seeds are  Its outer seed coat was scraped off one by one. pounded in Khalwa yantra. The powder obtained is stored as  Then the seeds were cut longitudinally with knife to shuddha Kuchala. expose the plumule. The plumule from the seeds was removed. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Then seeds were washed in hot water twice and rubbed Shodhana of Kaaraskara beeja was done as per reference with dry cloth to remove the moisture content. in Rasa Tarangini. Seeds of Nuxvomica were subjected to  From next day onwards it was kept under sunlight Dolayantra swedana in milk for 3 hours/ 1 yaama.  Drying was continued for 3 weeks. Procedure  Kaaraskara seeds were then weighed and kept in a sealed container.  Mature Kaaraskara seeds were taken and tied into a loose pottali. Kaaraskara beeja shodhana

Fig. 1. Ashoditha Kaaraskara seeds Fig. 2. Seeds tied into pottali Fig. 3. Dolayantra swedana in milk

Fig. 4. Seeds after swedana Fig. 5. Seed with Plumule Fig. 6. Removed Plumules

Fig. 7. Seeds after shodhana

Observations the peeling off of the seed coat helps in reducing the  Kaaraskara seeds became soft after dolayantra swedana strychnine content after swedana.  Milk after 3 hours of swedana turned into light yellowish Loss on drying is designed to measure the amount of water colour and thicker in consistency and volatile matters in a sample when the sample is dried under specified conditions. Total Ash determination furnishes  Kaaraskara seeds were tied in loose pottali before a basis for judging the identity and cleanliness of a drug and swedana. Seeds got swollen on swedana making the pottali gives information relative to its adulteration with inorganic full and tightly packed. matter. Acid insoluble ash may give the percentage of sand  Even though the seeds were soft and swollen after 3 hours and impurities. It is to ensure the percentage of silica and of swedana, the scraping of seed coat was a strenuous job. oxalates which are introduced accidently at the time of  Almost four hours were taken to completely scrap off the collection and value might be raised due to improper washing seed coat and to remove the plumule. of the crude drug. Generally lower the value of Acid insoluble Precautions ash, higher the purity. Water soluble extractive value plays an  Handle Kaaraskara seeds only after wearing gloves. important role in evaluation of crude drugs. Less extractive value indicates addition of exhausted material, adulteration or III. RESULTS incorrect processing during drying or storage. The alcohol soluble extractive value is also indicative for the same purpose  Weight of Ashodhita Kaaraskara seeds: 330 g as the water soluble extractive value. It mainly represents the  Weight of Shodhita and dried Kaaraskara seeds: 265g percentage of organic plant constituents such as alkaloids,  Weight loss: 65 g phenols, flavanoids, volatile oils, resins, steroids, glycosides, carotenoids, terpenoids etc. present in the drug 5, 6 Loss on TABLE III. Results of Physicochemical analysis of Shodhita and Ashodhita . Kaaraskara beeja drying and the extractive values were increased after S Ashodita Shodita shodhana. It clearly indicates the addition of active principle Test parameter No Kaaraskara Kaaraskara to the Kaaraskara beeja after shodhana. Total ash and Acid Pale brown 1 Description Pale brown colour insoluble ash levels before and after shodhana indicate the colour purity of the drug. Purification process not only detoxifies the 2 LOD (%w/w) 2.89 4.19 3 Ash (%w/w) 2.92 2.65 seeds but also increase the medicinal properties of Kaaraskara Acid insoluble ash beeja. 4 BDL BDL (%w/w) Water soluble extractive V. CONCLUSION 5 29.49 29.52 (%w/w) Alcohol soluble extractive Kaaraskara is one among the popular visha dravya used in 6 17.62 20.7 (%w/w) Ayurveda. It is used extensively in different formulations. Acharyas have advised several methods to purify them. This IV. DISCUSSION shodhana procedures need to be properly executed so as to Strychnos Nuxvomica commonly known by the name render them safe. Poisonous and potent alkaloids present in Kaaraskara/ Kupilu/ visha tinduka is a visha dravya Strychnos Nuxvomica always raised concerns among the frequently used in Ayurveda therapeutics. Strychnine and scientific community as its effective dose turned out to be Brucine are two important alkaloids which are potent toxins toxic for human beings. Kaaraskara seeds were subjected to present in Strychnos nuxvomica seeds. Ingestion of this seeds dola yantra swedana in milk and its seed coat and plumule causes severe health concerns to human, but the seeds upon was removed. After washing in hot water purified seeds were purification are proved to be excellent medicaments. Since dried and stored as Shuddha Kuchala. Physicochemical Kaaraskara seeds are said to have ugra virya the influence of analysis of Kaaraskara seeds clearly indicates the effect of the seeds over the body will be so quick. Seeds of Nuxvomica shodhana. Thus with proper shodhana as explained in are nervine tonic, aphrodisiac, anthelminthic, digestive and Ayurveda classics, not only toxicity levels of Strychnos Nux stimulant. It cures atinidra, amlapitta, grahani roga, unmada vomica can be reduced but also its therapeutic properties can and many other vataja vyadhis. be enhanced. Concept of Dolayantra swedana in milk helps in uniform ACKNOWLEDGMENT swedana of all parts of Kaaraskara beeja. Moreover Dolayantra swedana in milk reduces the total alkaloid content I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my Guide Dr. in cotyledon portion and seed coat. Studies shows that total T.D. Sreekumar MD(Ay), Principal, Government Ayurveda alkaloid in cotyledon portion and seed coat of crude drug College, Tripunithura, for his explicit instructions, meticulous which was 1.2 % and 5.67 % reduced to 0.116 % and 4.54 % guidance, sustained encouragement, expert ideas, critical respectively after shodhana in Go dugdha. Percentage of Total suggestions, affectionate and unaccountable help throughout strychnine content in cotyledon portion and seed coat of crude my study. I acknowledge gratitude to Dr. G. Jai MD(Ay), drug was 2.18 % and 0.436 %, which on shodhana in Go Professor and former HOD, Department of Rasasastra and dugdha changed to 0.4375 % and 1.112 % respectively 4. Thus Bhaishajya Kalpana, Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura for her precious and timely valuable advices

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