Impact of shodhan on toxicity of kupeelu beeja (strychnos nuxvomica)
Journal name: Ayushdhara
Original article title: The effect of shodhan process on toxicity of upavisha kupeelu beeja (strychnos nuxvomica): a critical study
AYUSHDHARA is an international peer-reviewed journal. It focuses on research in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Allopathy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Shukla Archana Subodh
Associate Professor, Dept. of Agadtantra evum Vayvahar Ayurveda, S.R.C. Ayurveda College, Chikhali, Pune, Maharashtra
Ayushdhara:
(A peer-reviewed, bi-monthly open-access journal)
Full text available for: The effect of shodhan process on toxicity of upavisha kupeelu beeja (strychnos nuxvomica): a critical study
Year: 2017
Copyright (license): CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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Summary of article contents:
Introduction
Ayurveda aims to promote health, prolong life, and eradicate disease, emphasizing that a deadly poison can become a medicinal drug if administered correctly. The detoxification process known as "Shodhana" plays a vital role in converting toxic substances into safe medicinal agents. This study focuses on "Kupeelu beeja" (Strychnos nuxvomica), which contains the potent toxin strychnine. Despite its toxicity, Kupeelu beeja has therapeutic potential, necessitating its detoxification before medicinal use. The objective of this research was to examine how the Shodhana process influences the phyto-chemical properties and toxicity of Kupeelu beeja.
Detoxification Process and Its Significance
The Shodhana process highlights the detoxification of poisonous drugs by employing methods described in Ayurvedic texts. In this study, Kupeelu beeja was subjected to detoxification by boiling it in cow’s milk for three hours, followed by washing, removing seed coverings, and drying the seeds. This detoxified powder, or Shodhit Kupeelu beeja churna, was compared with the non-detoxified version to assess the changes in toxicity. The study aimed to validate the efficacy of the detoxification process using modern testing parameters like LD 50� the dose required to kill 50% of the test population, highlighting the safety and authenticity of using detoxified poisonous substances in contemporary medicine.
Observations from the LD 50 Study
The findings from the LD 50 study revealed critical changes in toxicity due to the Shodhana process. Before detoxification, the LD 50 value of Kupeelu beeja churna was found to be between 50 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, indicating high toxicity. After the detoxification process, this value increased to more than 2000 mg/kg, significantly demonstrating the reduced toxicity of the substance. Additionally, physicochemical analyses showed a decrease in moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and strychnine content after the detoxification, indicating that active toxic components were removed during the Shodhana process.
Conclusion
This research underlines the efficacy of the Shodhana detoxification process applied to Strychnos nuxvomica, revealing substantial reductions in its toxic properties and demonstrating safety in potential medicinal applications. By increasing the LD 50 value, the study establishes that the detoxified Kupeelu beeja churna can be utilized safely in medicinal formulations. Future research is recommended to explore further the target organ toxicity and other health impacts following the detoxification process, consolidating the findings of this study and ensuring the credibility of using Ayurvedic medicines based on purified toxic substances.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the Shodhana process in Ayurveda?
Shodhana is a detoxification procedure aimed at purifying poisonous drugs, converting them into beneficial medicines. It is crucial for making toxic substances safe for therapeutic use by removing harmful constituents.
How does the Shodhana process affect Kupeelu beeja?
The Shodhana process reduces the toxicity of Kupeelu beeja (Strychnos nuxvomica). It leads to a significant increase in the LD 50 value, indicating a lower risk of toxicity after detoxification.
What were the findings regarding the toxicity of Kupeelu beeja?
Before Shodhana, the LD 50 of Kupeelu beeja was under 300 mg/kg. After detoxification, it increased to over 2000 mg/kg, demonstrating a substantial reduction in toxicity and enhanced safety.
Glossary definitions and references:
Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Impact of shodhan on toxicity of kupeelu beeja (strychnos nuxvomica)�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.
1) Shodhana (Sodhana):
Shodhana is a detoxification process mentioned in Ayurvedic texts that converts poisonous drugs into beneficial ones. It is crucial for preparing medicines from toxic substances like Kupeelu beeja, ensuring their safety and efficacy. The process involves purification techniques like boiling in cow's milk.
2) Toxicity:
Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can cause harm to an organism. In the article, toxicity levels were measured using the LD50 method to determine the safety of Kupeelu beeja before and after the Shodhana process, demonstrating a reduction in toxicity post-detoxification.
3) Drug:
In the context of Ayurveda, a drug can be any substance with potential therapeutic benefits. The article discusses the conversion of toxic substances like Strychnos nuxvomica seeds into safe medicinal drugs through the Shodhana process, highlighting the importance of detoxification for medical use.
4) Animal:
Animals, specifically albino mice, were used in the toxicity studies to determine the effects of Shodhana on Kupeelu beeja. The study involved administering different doses of the seed powder to observe toxic signs and mortality rates, providing a model for understanding drug safety before human application.
5) Powder:
The article describes the preparation of Kupeelu beeja powder from Strychnos nuxvomica seeds both before and after the Shodhana process. This powder was used in phytochemical tests and animal experiments to assess changes in toxicity and physicochemical properties resulting from the detoxification process.
6) Substance:
A substance in Ayurveda can range from herbs to toxic compounds. The article discusses how even poisonous substances like Kupeelu beeja can be used medicinally after undergoing the Shodhana process, converting them into non-toxic and therapeutically valuable forms.
7) Ayurveda (Ayus-veda):
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine aimed at promoting health and longevity. The article focuses on Ayurvedic principles that advocate the purification or Shodhana of toxic substances like Kupeelu beeja before using them as medicine, reflecting its holistic approach to health.
8) Medicine:
Medicine in Ayurveda includes any therapeutic substance, whether of plant, animal, or mineral origin. The article emphasizes that purified toxic substances, through processes like Shodhana, can become medicinally beneficial, exemplified by the detoxification of Kupeelu beeja for safe therapeutic use.
9) Visha (Visa):
Visha refers to poisons in Ayurvedic terminology. The article details the Shodhana process to detoxify visha substances like Kupeelu beeja (Strychnos nuxvomica), making them safe for medicinal use while retaining their therapeutic properties, according to Ayurvedic practices.
10) Milk:
Milk, specifically cow’s milk (Godugdha), is used in the Shodhana process as a detoxifying agent. The article describes boiling Kupeelu beeja in cow’s milk to remove its toxic components, thereby reducing its toxicity and making it safe for medicinal application.
11) Upavisha (Upavisa):
Upavisha refers to lesser toxic poisons classified in Ayurveda. Kupeelu beeja (Strychnos nuxvomica) is considered an Upavisha. The article outlines how the Shodhana purification process is particularly important for transforming Upavisha into safe, therapeutic substances by reducing their toxicity.
12) Purification:
Purification or Shodhana is a critical Ayurvedic process used to detoxify and convert poisonous substances into safe medicinal ones. The article details the purification process for Kupeelu beeja, involving boiling in cow’s milk, and examines its effects on the substance’s toxicity and therapeutic potential.
13) Disease:
Disease in Ayurveda is understood as an imbalance of body doshas and dushyas. The article discusses how purified toxic substances, like Kupeelu beeja, can be used to treat various diseases when properly detoxified, highlighting the therapeutic potential of traditionally poisonous compounds.
14) Shukla (Sukla):
[see source text or glossary: Shukla]
15) Dolayantra (Dola-yantra, Dolayamtra):
Dolayantra is an apparatus used in the Shodhana process described in the article. In this study, it was used to boil Kupeelu beeja in cow’s milk, facilitating the detoxification process. The apparatus helps maintain controlled conditions for effective purification of toxic substances.
16) Phytochemical:
[see source text or glossary: Phytochemical]
17) Maharashtra (Maharastra, Maha-rashtra):
[see source text or glossary: Maharashtra]
18) Sthavara:
[see source text or glossary: Sthavara]
19) Godugdha:
[see source text or glossary: Godugdha]
20) Yantra (Yamtra):
[see source text or glossary: Yantra]
21) Dosha (Dosa):
[see source text or glossary: Dosha]
22) India:
[see source text or glossary: India]
23) Pune:
[see source text or glossary: Pune]
24) Human body:
[see source text or glossary: Human body]
25) Discussion:
[see source text or glossary: Discussion]
26) Irritation:
[see source text or glossary: Irritation]
27) Dushya (Dusya):
[see source text or glossary: Dushya]
28) Jangam:
[see source text or glossary: Jangam]
29) Cotton:
[see source text or glossary: Cotton]
30) Ayus (Ayush):
[see source text or glossary: Ayush]
Other Science Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: �Impact of shodhan on toxicity of kupeelu beeja (strychnos nuxvomica)�. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Cow milk, Therapeutic properties, Detoxification process, Treatment group, Research article, Experimental studies, Shodhana process, Physico-chemical properties, Acute toxicity study, Chemical studies, Albino mice, Toxicity study, LD 50, Bovine milk, Dosing schedule, Study aim.