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Strychnos Nuxvomica.
Plant parts used:
Bark, seeds, berries.
Description :
It is a deciduous tree, that grows well through- out India. It has a thin grey
bark and shiny elliptical leaves.The flowers are arranged in terminal
cymes,and are greenish white. The fruits are bitter red berries.
Chemical composition :
Alkaloids are present in all the parts of the plant. The bark and the leaves
contain brucine, strychnine, as well as pseudobrucine, pseudostrychnine
and beta-colubrine. The roots contain 0.99% alkaloids of which strychnine is
0.7% and brucine 0.276%.
Medicinal properties :
A poultice made of leaves is used for chronic ulcers. Juice of the fresh bark
is used in cholera and dysentery.
Strychnine and brucine have been known for their action on the
neuromuscular junction which is paralysed by a curare like action of
depolarization with initial tetanic spasm leading to paralysis. At the spinal
level, the action of strychnine is to produce generalized muscle
spasm-opisthotonic tetany is a characteristic of strychnine poisoning.
The onset of action of brucine is slower(*1). In Large quantities can cause paralysis of the respiratory
muscles. Small doses of the alkaloids stimulate the respiratory centre, larger doses paralyse it.
The seeds boiled in milk, are pounded into a paste and given to opium addicts: this is believed to he
effective in curing addiction.
Contraindication:
The toxic effects have been well recorded in ancient ayurvedic literature. This herb needs careful handling.
References:
1. Nadkarni, K. M.: Indian Materia Medica. 3rd Edn., Vol. 1. Popular Prakashan, Bombay (1976).
Reference: http://www.pioneerherbs.com
