Proximate analysis, HPTLC finger print analysis and multi spectrometric analysis of Strychnos nux-vomica nuts

Shakila Ramachandran; Saravanan Meenatchisundaram; Rajesh Allu; Sujith Thatipelli; Achintya Kumar Mandal

doi:10.1515/jcim-2021-0528

Article

Proximate analysis, HPTLC finger print analysis and multi spectrometric analysis of Strychnos nux-vomica nuts

Shakila Ramachandran , Saravanan Meenatchisundaram , Rajesh Allu , Sujith Thatipelli and Achintya Kumar Mandal

Published/Copyright: December 24, 2021

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 19 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

In alternative medicine, plants pay a major role. Some plants are known for their poisonous nature but still have some importance in the herbal drug industry for their medicinal value. Strychnos nux-vomica is one such plant. Its nuts are called as poison nut due to the presence of alkaloids. Both the nut and its minerals are having medicinal properties and hence the present study was indented to understand the nature of primary metabolites and multi elemental composition.

Methods

The nuts of S. nux-vomica were procured, authenticated, powdered and subjected to proximate analysis parameters, visualization of thin layer chromatographic separation (TLC) and finger print profiling through high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC); surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, powder X-ray diffractometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Results

In HPTLC, 7 spots each under 254 nm, 366 nm, derivatization with vanillin sulphuric acid (VSR) reagent appeared and 2 spots with Dragendorff’s reagent. In HPTLC, 12 peaks at 254 nm, 9 peaks at 366 nm, 7 peaks at 520 nm after derivatization with VSR reagent detected. Elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, aluminium, iron, manganese, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, copper, zinc, sulphur and silicon were identified. PXRD revealed that the presence of potassium chloride, calcite and dolomite as major elemental composition.

Conclusions

The presence of all the above elements has vital roles on human physiology. Potassium, calcium, chlorine, aluminium, nickel, phosphorus, sulphur and silicon are reported for the first time in this study.

Keywords: Ettikkai; Ettikottai ooral kudinir; Ettikottai uppu; Poison nut; Viṣamuṣhṭi

Corresponding author: Shakila Ramachandran, Research Officer (Chemistry) and Head, Department of Chemistry, Siddha Central Research Institute (Central Council for Research in Siddha, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India), Anna Hospital Campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai 600106, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: shakilasiva@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to The Director General, Central Council for Research in Siddha and The Assistant Director I/c, Siddha Central Research in Institute for grant and encouragement. M/s.Gesra analytical labs, Chennai, India for ICP-OES facility; CIF, CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi, India for XRF and FESEM-EDX Facilities.

Research funding: Funded by Central Council for Research in Siddha under Intra Mural Research Scheme vide sanction no. 457/2016-17 dated 17.01.2017.
Author contribution: Study design, planning, execution, data compilation, manuscript preparation by SR; data generation, literature collection, references by SM, RA, ST and AKM. All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Ethical approval: Not applicable.

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Received: 2021-11-20

Accepted: 2021-12-04

Published Online: 2021-12-24

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2021-0528

Keywords for this article

Ettikkai; Ettikottai ooral kudinir; Ettikottai uppu; Poison nut; Viṣamuṣhṭi