title: Ayurvedic processed seeds of nux-vomica: neuropharmacological and chemical evaluation.
abstract: The effect of detoxification on Strychnos nux-vomica seeds by traditional processing with aloe and ginger juices (B), by frying in cow ghee (C), and by boiling in cow milk (D) was investigated. The ethanolic extracts of these samples were subjected to spontaneous motor activity (SMA), pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis, PTZ induced convulsions, diazepam-assisted protection, and morphine-induced catalepsy. All samples reduced SMA and inhibited catalepsy. The seeds processed in milk (D) showed the lowest strychnine content in the cotyledons, exhibited marked inhibition of PTZ induced convulsions and maximal potentiation of hypnosis, and were the safest (LD(50)).
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. ck_katiyar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chandrakant
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katiyar
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005260:Female; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk; D009020:Morphine; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013331:Strychnine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031461:Strychnos nux-vomica / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009020:Morphine; D013331:Strychnine; D003975:Diazepam; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole