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Home , Aconitum ferox, Antidote, Datura metel

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Int J Ayu Pharm Chem REVIEW ARTICLE www.ijapc.com e-ISSN 2350-0204

A Critical Review on Upavisha and Its Toxicity

Ranjana K1*, Sudheendra Honwad2 and Shrinidhi.R3

1-3Department of PG Studies in Agadatantra; SDM College of , Udupi, Karnataka,

ABSTRACT As far as Ayurvedic literature is concerned upavisha are the group of which were less poisonous in nature and also not harmful but it can cause several toxic prodrome on consumption or administration .Datura (. Linn) is a well-known poisonous in Indian system of medicine. It is included in Upavisha by ayurveda texts. In modern view datura is a type of cerebral . . Every parts of Datura plant contains highly toxic in dangerous levels and may even cause death if it is consumed by humans or other animals.Seeds are the most toxic part, contains hyoscine, and alkaloids. In authentic books of Keraliya vishachikitsa like Kriyakoumudi reference of prathyoushada(antidote) for datura visha is available. This review article includes the overall information about the poisonous plant Datura, i.e. both ayurvedic and modern view of datura, in its Toxicological aspect, Medicolegal aspect, therapeutic uses and treatment of Datura poisoning etc.

KEYWORDS Datura, Datura metel, Ayurvedic view, Modern view, Toxicity

Greentree Group Publishers Received 11/06/18 Accepted 05/07/18 Published 10/07/18 ______

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INTRODUCTION adversely unless it is used for proper 4 Ancient scholars of Ayurveda has person with proper dose . classified poisonous drugs into two types Datura is well known and commonly used i.e. Sthavara (plant origin) and Jangama for treating various ailments and it is (animal origin) visha. Sthavara visha is an ingredient in most of the formulations again classified into mahavisha and in Ayurveda which is in practical use now. upavisha1.Among the mahavishas only the It is commonly known as ‘devil’s trumpet’ Vatsanabha ( ferox) is using for and it was first described by Linnaeus in medicinal purpose now. Upavishas are the 1753. In some places it is prohibited to buy group of drugs which were less poisonous or sell or cultivate Datura .The main in nature and also not harmful but it can chemical composition of Datura are cause several toxic prodrome on alkaloids hyoscine, hyoscyamine 5 consumption or administration2. and atropine alkaloids . This review article Depending on number of upavishas is a sincere attempt to synopsize the different views are there in Ayurveda. information concerning about poisonous Mainly upavishas include Vishatintuka drug Datura (Datura metel Linn) (Strychnosnux-vomica Linn), Ahiphena described in Indian system of medicine. 6 (papaver somniferum) Jayapala (Croton Scientific Classification Table 1 tiglium Linn), Dhattura bija (Datura metel Kingdom Plantae Linn.), Vijaya ( sativa Linn.), Clade Angiosperms Clade Gunja (Abrus precatorius Linn.), Clade Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium Order Family Linn.f.) Arka (Calotropis gigantica Linn.) Subfamily Solanoidae Tribe Datureae Snuhi ksheera (Euphorbia ligularia Genus Datura Roxb.), Langali ( Linn), Botanical Name-Datura metel Linn 3 Karaveera (Nerium oleander Linn) . Family - Solanaceae 7 Ayurveda also states that sometimes strong Vernacular Names Hindi – Datura serve as the best medicine but English- Thorn Apple, Jimson Weed Malayalam- Ummam used only after proper Shodhana Kannada- Unmathi (), provided in a proper Marati- Dhatra Gujarati- Dhaturo therapeutic dose and formulation. On the Tulu- Umbe contrary a good medicine may affect Tamil- Emanamam

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Sanskrit Synonyms of Datura Daturadiol, β-sitosterol, Daturanalone, Dattura, Dhoortha, Dhusthura, Unmatha, fastusinine15 Kanakahvaya, Devatha, Kithava, Thoori, Mahamehi, Shivapriya, Maathula, Madana8, Kanaka, shata, shivapriya, Mahamohi9 Bheda (variety) of Datura10 There are two main varieties, Rajadatura and Krishna Datura

Depending on colour of flowers -sita, nila,

Krishna, lohitha, pita Fig 1 (Datura flower) Classification Ayurveda: upavisha11 Modern medicine: under deliriant type of cerebral poison12 Habit and Habitat A sub glabrous spreading herb, sometimes shrubby. Common in waste places throughout India and occasionally in Fig 2 (Datura fruit &seeds) gardens13. Part used Plant description Root, fruit, seed, flower, leaf15 It is an herb, pubescent. Leaves are large, Ayurvedic view of Datura entire sinuate or toothed bar unequal. In Charaka Samhitha Acharya Charaka Flowers are erect, whitish purple, calyx delineated Datura in the context of visha long tubular, 5-toothed at apex, corolla chikitsa and in kushta chikitsa, he long tubular to funnel shaped. Fruits are described thrice in the name kanaka16. capsule globose or ellipsoid spinous 4- Susrutacharya and Vagbhatacharya valved or irregularly breaking up, seeds mentioned it as Datura in the context of are compressed rugose and brown14. alarkavisha17-18. In Haritha samhitha, it Major chemical constituent has been mentioned in the context of Datura contains mainly tropane alkaloids. vataja netra roga chikitsa as an ingredient , hyocyamine, hyosine in an anjanayoga19.while moving through ______

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nighantu kala in Dhanvantari nighantu Ayurvedic properties and Sodhala nighantu it included under The ayurvedic properties of Datura in karaveeradi varga20-21, and Madanapala ayurveda according to different Acharya’s nighantu quoted under abhayadi varga22, are explained in Table 2. while Bhavamisra described it under Karma and Rogagnatha guduchyadi varga23. Jwaranashana, twakdoshashamana, Table 2: Ayurvedic properties Rasa guna veerya vipaka prabhava doshaharakarma Dhanwantari Katu - Ushna - Jwarahara - Nighantu20 Sodhala - - - - - Pittakara Nighantu21 Madanapala - Guru Ushna - - Kaphahara Nighantu22 Bhava Kashaya, guru Ushna - - Kaphahara,vatakara prakasha23 madhura, tiktha Raja Katu - Ushna - - - nighantu24 Kaiyadeva Kashaya, Guru - - - Kaphahara Nighantu25 madhura, tiktha Nighantu Katu - Ushna Katu Jwaragna, Kaphavatashamaka Adarsa26 madakari Priya Tiktha - Ushna - - - Nighantu27 krimigna, shothahara, kanduhara, swasa Maatra of Purified Datura beeja choorna prashamana, karnashoola nibarhana, is ¼ ratti (30.37mg) to ½ ratti (60.75mg) vedanahara28 and purified Datura patra choorna is ½ Therapeutic uses ratti to 1½ ratti (182.25 mg) 31. Alarka -Datura and sweta punarnava Shodhana of Datura combination is very effective remedy29 First method- Datura seeds are tied in a Krimi-Juice of Datura leaves mixed with pottali. This pottali is heated with cow Mercury or juice of heated leaves singly milk in a dolayantra for three hours. Then destroys ticks and lice on local pottali is opened and Datura seeds are application30 washed with hot water. These pure Datura Pitakamaya-Juice of madukaparni and seeds are then used in the formulations. paste of Datura root destroys the boils30. Second Method- New Datura seeds are Maatra (therapeutic dose) of Datura heated in cow urine with the help of dolayantra and dried in the sun. These

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seeds are powdered & filtered through Toxic symptoms: cloth. Then it is used for therapeutic Summarised in the classical phrase: “blind purpose31. as a bat, hot as a hare, dry as a , red Datura visha lakshana as a beetroot, and mad as a wet hen”. A person if poisoned by Dattura, his visual The important manifestations can be better perceptions would all become yellowish remembered as a series of D’s (sarvam pashyathi peetakam) and also he  Dryness of mouth, thirst, slurred would develop symptoms like kampa speech (tremors), laala (excessive salivation),  Dysphagia mada (intoxicated), chardi (),  Dilated pupils smruthibhramsha (amnesia) and bhrama  Diplopia 32 (giddiness) .  Dry hot skin, with flushing Ayurvedic treatment for Datura ,hyperpyrexia poisoning  Drunken gait(ataxia), hyperreflexia, Cow’s milk with sugar can be given two convulsions 32 times a day for treating Datura .  Delirium with hallucinations,

Ayurvedic antidotes for Datura visha agitation, amnesia, incoherence

 Changeri swarasa internally  Dysuria, urinary retention, bladder  Administration of milk and sugar in distension deliriant condition  Death, preceded by tachycardia,  Chandana mixed with tender coconut arrhythmias, coma, and respiratory water for internal administration depression35  Haridra choorna with karpasa patra Toxic part: All parts especially seeds swarasa (Gossypium herbaceum Linn.) Fatal dose and administer internally The fatal dose is about 50-100 Datura  Mrunaala (stalk of lotus) kwatha or seeds, or about 10-100mg of atropine, 33 swarasa however recovery has been recorded with Vishishta yogas (Ayurvedic 1000 mg of atropine36. formulations) of Datura Fatal period Kanakasava, Sutashekhara rasa, In the majority of fatal cases death usually 34 Mahavishagarbhataila, Unmatta rasa occurs within 24 hrs. Modern view Diagnosis

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 Even minute traces of atropine in effects. Hyperthermia can can be detected by GC-MS (Gas be managed by hydration and cooling chromatography –mass spectrometry). measures. However, there is little or no correlation  Antidote- is the between dose of atropine, plasma antidote of choice, should be administered concentration and observed clinical effects if the indications like, coma, arrhythmias,  Neutrophil leucocytosis is often hallucinations, severe hypertension, encountered convulsions, are present. The adult dose is  Dilated pupils-if the pupils do not 2mg IV, slowly repeated if required in 20 constrict within 15-30 minutes after minutes. Do not give it as a continuous instillation of 2-3 drops of 1% pilocarpine, infusion. Physostigmine is an effective but it is indicative of atropine or dangerous antidote and can give rise to anticholinergic poisoning convulsions, systole, hypotension, and  Cat’s eye test-instillation of a few hyper salivation and Brady arrhythmias if drops of the patient’s urine into the eyes of administered without caution. a cat results in rapid mydriasis37.  Precaution-In the treatment of Datura Treatment: poisoning, certain drugs such as  Treat the patient in a quiet and dark antihistamines, phenothiazine, tricyclics, environment. Treat respiratory failure with quinidine, disopyramide, procainamide, 37 endotracheal intubation and assisted and should be avoided. . ventilation. Tidal volume should be at least Post Mortem Appearance 10 to 15 ml/kg. Monitor ECG, pulse, and The Datura seeds or their fragments may temperature continuously .Gut be found in stomach and intestine. It is decontamination- (after therefore necessary to make a careful intubation), activated charcoal. Dialysis search for the vomited matter, stomach and haemoperfusion do not appear to be contents and faeces. The oesophagus, effective. Catheterise bladder. Administer stomach and duodenum and other internal IV fluids keeping a close watch on intake organs are mostly congested. In rare cases and output and renal function. Agitation mucous membrane of stomach may be 38 can be controlled with judicious use of found slightly inflamed . . Do not use phenothiazine s or Medico legal importance antihistamines, since they can aggravate

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Accidental poisoning- Mistaken identity, dryness of mouth, excessive thirst, nausea, involving capsicum seeds for aging vomiting, giddiness. The most toxic part of children in the countryside chewing on the Datura is seeds in modern concept it is a seeds out of curiosity, therapeutic deliriant type of cerebral poison and the misadventures, overenthusiastic use of main toxic principles are hyoscyamine, atropine as an antidote for hyoscine, and atropine. So for getting rapid or carbonate poisoning. outcome in ayurvedic treatments we can Suicidal poisoning-Owing to easy use Datura like upavishas in ayurvedic acceptability, Datura is not infrequently formulations. reported in suicidal ingestions, especially in rural parts of India Homicidal-There have been rare instances of murder being accomplished with one or the other belladonna alkaloids Stupefaction-It is a process of making a victim debilitated suddenly by divulging him to a deliriant poison such as Datura in 39 order to ease robbery or rape .

CONCLUSION Datura is included one among the upavisha by laghutrayees, except sharangadhara samhitha. In Ayurvedic literatures, Datura is described as a useful remedy for various diseases like jwara, kushta, krimi, visha. For the preparation of many Ayurvedic formulations like Kanakasava, Sootashekhara rasa, mahavishagarbha taila Datura is used as one of the ingredient. Improper or inadequate shodhana and Datura in high dose, can give rise to toxic problems like

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