TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF SHODHANA SAMSKARA OF ASHODHITA AND SHODHITA DATURA BEEJA – A ANALYTICAL STUDY

Datura metel Linn. is a well known herbal drug and easily available worldwide. Ayurveda has mentioned mainly two types of poison – sthavara and jangama visha, Datura is included under sthavara visha. All parts of Datura are poisonous but seeds are more toxic as compared to the parts of the plant. To reduce the toxicity of a noxious drug Ayurveda mentions samaskara (procedure) known as shodhana (purification). The phytochemical analysis is very effective to see the active principles of plant to check its therapeutic value. The present study will evaluate the same through physicochemical parameters in Ashodita (unpurified) and Shodhita (purified) Datura beeja. After the analysis of the Datura beeja reduction of percentage of total ash, loss on drying and increase in the extractive values of Shodhita Datura beeja as compared to the Ashodita Datura beeja. Thus the current study shows the importance of Shodhana samskara to minimize the toxicity of the drug.