Evaluation of Effect of Shodhana Treatment on Pharmacological Activities of Aconite

The lethal plant origin cardiac and neuro-muscular poison ‘aconite’ is used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of fever, arthritis, in Ayurvedic system of medicine after Shodhana treatment. The present study was designed to evaluate likely impact of Shodhana treatment on cardiac activity, antipyretic activity and neuro-muscular activity of aconite. Pharmacological activities of raw aconite (RV), treated aconite in cow’s urine (SM) and treated aconite in cow’s milk (SD) were evaluated and compared. Cardiac activity study was done on Charles Foster albino rats by taking ECG. Antipyretic study was carried out on yeast induced pyrexia in Wistar rats. In vitro neuro-muscular activity study was done on leech dorsal muscle by recording contractions. Increase in the heart rate, prolongation of the duration of the QRS complex and prolongation of the repolarizaion period between two QRS complexes were found in RV treated group. No such changes were observed in SM and SD treated groups. A significant (P<0.05) body temperature lowering effect was found in RV treated group, the activity was found less in SM and SD treated groups. Muscle relaxant activity of RV and myo-contraction activity of SM and SD was noticed. Shodhana treatment removes cardiac and neuro-muscular toxic effect from raw aconite without affecting antipyretic activity in a drastic manner.