title: Detoxification of Croton tiglium L. seeds by Ayurvedic process of Śodhana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Croton tiglium seeds, known as Jamālgoṭa in Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu is well-known for its toxicity (severe purgative action). In Ayurvedic texts, the plant is known as Kumbhinī and is used for the treatment of constipation after Śodhana (detoxification process) of the seeds with Godugdha (cow milk).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, C. tiglium seeds were purified with cow milk as reported in Ayurvedic classics. Phorbol esters equivalent to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and crotonic acid contents were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography method in the seeds of C. tiglium before and after the purification process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of the phorbol ester equivalent to PMA in unpurified and purified sample was found to be 5.2 mg/100 g and 1.8 mg/100 g of dried seeds of C. tiglium, respectively. The quantity of crotonic acid in unpurified seeds of C. tiglium was found to be 0.102 mg/100 g of dried seeds while it was absent in the purified seed extract of C. tiglium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The toxicity of C. tiglium seeds may be due to the presence of phorbol esters and crotonic acid along with other constituents. These constituents are oil soluble and may be removed by cow milk during the process of Śodhana. Reduction in the level of these constituents after the purification decreases the toxicity of C. tiglium seeds. Reduction in the oily content from the seeds of C. tiglium during the purification process is also supported by the results obtained from the physiochemical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Ayurvedic Pharmacy Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, India.
authors.forename: Prince Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, India.
authors.forename: Manmath Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Ayurvedic Pharmacy Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, India.
authors.forename: Narendra Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Croton tiglium; crotonic acid; phorbol ester; purification