Role of Castor oil in Processing( Shodhana) of Kupeelu(Strychnos nuxvomica Linn.) Seeds: An Approach of Traditional Ayurveda

Seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica Linn.(Loganaceae), a poisonous plant drug, after proper processing (Shodhana) with some specific media, is being used in different Ayurvedic therapeutics. As per the available references in Ayurvedic classics, media like cow’s urine, cow’s milk, cow’s ghee etc. has been incorporated for processing of nux vomica seeds. Apart from the classical methods some other methods are also implemented by the traditional practitioners of Ayurveda using castor oil (Eranda taila), ginger juice (Ardraka swarasa) etc. for the same purpose. In present study an attempt has been made to process the seeds by executing a traditional method employing Eranda taila (castor oil) as the medium. This study revealed that the method studied reduces the toxic strychnine & brucine contents by 67.40% and 46.58% respectively in comparison to the raw nuxvomica seeds as determined by HPTLC. Key words: Kupeelu; nuxvomica; purification,processing; strychnine; brucine.