Nux Vomica; Uses, Dosage, Site Effects, Interactions

Nux vomica (family Loganiaceae) is commonly known as kuchla. It is a major source of the highly poisonous, intensely bitter alkaloids strychnine and brucine derived from the seeds inside the tree’s round, green to orange fruit.^[1] The seeds contain approximately 1.5% strychnine, and the dried blossoms contain 1.0%.^[2] However, the tree’s bark also contains brucine and other poisonous compounds. Kuchla contain 2.6%–3% total alkaloids, out of which 1.25%–1.5% is strychnine, 1.7% is brucine, and the rest are vomicine and igasurine.[3] Some other minor alkaloids are α-colubrine, β-colubrine, 3-methoxyamine, protostrychnine, novacine, n-oxystrychnine, pseudostrychnine, isostrychnine, chlorogenic acid, and a glycoside, loganin.[4] Crude drug kuchla is used in the treatment of anemia?, lumbago, asthma, bronchitis, constipation?, insulin? is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes?, malarial fever?, skin disease, paralysis, muscle weakness?, and appetite loss.[5] Suppressive effect of S. nux-vomica was observed on the induction of ovalbumin-specific IgE antibody response in mice.[6] Strychnine was identified and analyzed in detoxified kuchla seeds using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.[7] Strychnine and brucine were separated and quantified in S. nux-vomica by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis.[8] Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and time of flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) analysis of crude and processed S. nux-vomica seeds allowed rapid screening? of alkaloid components.[9]