Effect of Shodhana on chemical and toxicological profile, isolation of bioactive constituents from a potent Indian medicinal plant, Nerium indicum

Abstract

Ayurveda emphasizes the need of Shodhana (purification / detoxification) for poisonous herbal, animal and mineral drugs. After proper Shodhana process only the herbs should be administered to the patients. This process enhances the therapeutic efficacy and quality of the crude drugs and makes them potent and less toxic. The knowledge of traditional purification/detoxification methods is mentioned in various Ayurvedic literatures and text. Here the roots of Nerium indicum was detoxified, and scientifically validated the detoxified roots of Nerium indicum based on chemical and toxicological profile (Determining heart rate, acute oral toxicity evaluation in mice). The results showed that the toxic chemical constituents were reduced after Shodhana process. Methanolic extract of roots of Nerium indicum was investigated for presence of bioactive constituents using column chromatography technique, two chemical constituents were isolated from the species and were analyzed using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR and mass spectroscopy, the isolated compounds were identified as lupeol and 5-hydroxyflavone.