Standardisation of different extracts of detoxified Nux-vomica seeds with its comparative study by TLC and HPTLC

Introduction: Detoxified Nux-vomica (detoxified Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.) is a very popular crude herb used in Unani and Ayurvedic pathy after detoxification for many years. The first person to identify Nux-vomica with the Indian drug kuchla was Haji Zainuddin. Detoxified Nux-vomica has significant effects on various disorders like rheumatic arthritis, inflammation, and gout (Anonyms, 2007; Bentley and Trimen, 1983). It has proved the best remedy for paralysis, nervous disorders, nervous debility, tremor, diarrhoea, and mental emotions (Nadkarni, 2000). The present study is designed to develop the qualitative as well as quantitative parameters of crudely detoxified Nux-vomica seeds and their comparative study by Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and High-per-formance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Methods: Organoleptic characters, ash values, extractive values, phytochemical analysis, fluorescence analysis, TLC and HPTLC profiles, etc. were the parameters used for the standardisation of the test drug. Results: Total ash values, water, alcohol, ether-soluble extractive values, and volatile oil percentages were found to be 1.925%, 6.54%, 3.25%, 3.20%, and 2.00%, respectively. The TLC profile of Detoxified Nux-vomica shows three spots for aqueous extract and five spots for hydroalcoholic extract in Toluene: Ethyl Acetate: Triethylamine (7:2:1) and four spots in Methanol: Ethyl Acetate: Triethylamine (0.5:8.5:1) with exposure in Dragendorff's Reagent. The percentage yield of strychnine in the hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Detoxified Nux-vomica is 7.48 and 2.10, while it is 6.17 and 1.85 for brucine, respectively. Conclusion: The present study used secondary data for the identification and quantification of active constituents in detoxified Nux vomica seeds.