Abstract

A LITERARY REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY, TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND THERAPEUTIC USES OF KUCHALA FORM VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF MEDICINES INCLUDING AYURVEDA

Dr. Ashish S. Giri* and Dr. Rajendra D. Lambat

Abstract

Kuchala (strychnous nuxvomica Linn) is one of the poisonous plant explained in Ayurveda text under Upavisha. It is a Sthavara Vanaspatik visha(Upavisha), and phala visha (beeja visha). Strychinine is a popular traditional drug used from ancient times. Acharya Charaka stated that, an acute poison can be used as a drug, if it is administered with proper idea i.e making firm diagnosis, deciding ideal dose and in other hand even a drug can be act as poison, if it is not administered properly. According to Ayurveda and Modern science, Kuchala is a known vegetable poison and used in many pharmaceutical preparations of Ayurveda and other systems of medicine. Strychnine is a main contain of kuchala which was first used medically in 1540, and continued to be used in many stimulants, Tonics and cathartics. The medicinal preparations of Kuchala which stated in Ayurveda are Agnitundirasa, Laxmivilasarasa, Shulnirmulanarasa, Suptivaatarirasa, Vishatinduka etc. This review article is a sincere attempt to summarize the information concerning about poisonous drug Kuchala (strychnous nuxvomica Linn) described in Indian system of medicine in respect to its literary, pharmacological activity, toxicological effects, and therapeutic uses in various systems of medicines including Ayurveda.

Keywords: Sthavara Vanaspatik visha, strychnous nuxvomica, phala visha, Agnitundirasa.