Abstract

COMPARATIVE ANALYTICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF GHRITA BHARJANA ON KUPILU SEEDS OF WILD AND MARKET SOURCES

Shivaram N. G.* and Sathisha M. S.

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Abstract

Kupilu (Strychnus nux vomica) is one among the upavisha dravyas and its demand as well as utility are increasing daily because of its therapeutic significance in many diseases. Many formulations of Ayurveda contain kupilu as an important ingredient. Classical references explain about the collection of raw drug in detail. But due to industrialisation, Vaidyas are not collecting all the drugs by themselves. The stage in which the drug has to be collected will also decide the pharmacological action. The samples are collected in the state of raw and fresh in the wild and market (dry). Kupilu contains Strychnine and Brucine as the main chemical constituents which are responsible for its toxic effects. Time of collection and the state (matured / immature) of collection of seed may also impact on the quantification/ quality of these chemical composition. Beeja of matured raw kupilu is a potent spinal poison as well as a potent convulsant, whereas shodhita kupilu acts as nervine tonic, analgesic, aphrodiasic, anthelminthic, cardiac stimulant, purgative etc. Shodhana (Purification) is a process by which unwanted and harmful impurities are separated from the substance by various methods like boiling, frying, washing etc. with different media, thereby minimising the unwanted toxicity of the substance. As per Ayurveda classics, medias like cow‟s ghee, cow‟s milk, cow‟s urine, kanji, castor oil etc have been mentioned for the shodhana process of kupilu beeja. Here an attempt has been made to compare the impact of shodhana in the form of bharjana by cow‟s ghee on wild and market varieties of kupilu seeds by the physico-chemical parameters including HPLC analysis.

Keywords: Kupilu, Upavisha, Shodhana, HPLC, Strychnine, Brucine.