In this presentation i have tried to explain in detail about the nux vomica and khurchi bark. This presentation is useful for the individuals who are looking for information on this topic especially for those students who are studying Pharmacognosy.

1. A PRESENTATION
ON NUX VOMICA
AND KURCHI
BARK
By: Dr. Ankit Gaur
B.Pharm, M.Sc,
Pharm.D

2. NUX VOMICA

3. SYNONYMS: Bechlor’s Button, Nux Vomica Seed.
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE:
 Nux vomica consists of the dried ripe seeds of Strychonos
Nux vomica. It should contain not less than 1.2% of
Strychnine.
Family:Loganiaceae.
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE:
 It is mainly found in South India, Malabar Coast,
Kerala, Bengal, Eastern Ghats, North Australia and
Ceylon.

4. CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION:
 The ripe and mature fruits are collected in the
month of November to Febuary.The fruits are 3-5 cm
in diameter and are sub-spherical yellowish brown
orange like berries. The epicarp is leathery and the
pulp is bitter whitish and mucilaginous in which
two to five seeds are embedded. The epicarp is
seperated and the seeds are removed and washed to
remove pulp. They are dried on the mats in the sun
and graded according to size.

5. MORPHOLOGY:
 Colour - Greenish grey seeds, fruits are orange.
 Odour - Odourless.
 Taste - Bitter.
 Shape - Disc shaped seeds, fruits are globular.
 Size - Seeds are 10-30 mm in diameter, 3-5 mm in
thickness ,fruits are 3-5 cm in diameter.
 Margin - Rounded .

6. MICROSCOPY:

7. POWDER CHARACTERISTICS:
(a) Aleurone grain.
(b) vessel.
(c) Fiber.
(d) Starch grains.
(e) Endosperm.

8. Chemical constituents:
It consists of Indole alkaloids such as Strychnine
(1.25% ), Brucine (1.5%), Fatty Matter 3%, Strychinine,
Caffeotannic acid & a trace of copper.

9. Uses:
 Respiratory and cardiac stimulant.
 Bitter tonic.
 It is used along with cascara for constipation.
 Seeds used in rheumatism, paralysis, asthma,
diabetes, piles.
 Powdered seeds used for atonic dyspepsia.
 Insomania.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:
 Anti-microbial, Anti-venom, Anti-diabetic,
Immunomodulatory, Anti-Inflammatory,
Analgesic, Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Tumor.

10. TOXICOLOGY:
 It is a deadly poison with a lethal dose of about 30 to
120 mg in humans.
 Doses of 5 mg or more (as little as one seed) can
cause anxiety, restlessness, painful convulsions,
respiratory difficulty and even death from suffocation
or exhaustion.
 In case of poisoning, a stomach pump should be
used immediately and potassium permanganate
given to inactivate strychnine. There is no specific
antidote. Treatment is supportive.

11. MARKETED PRODUCT:
Neo Tablets (Charak Pharma Pvt. Ltd).

12. KURCHI BARK

13. SYNONYMS: Holarrhena, Kurchi (Hindi).
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE:
 It consists of dried stem bark of Holarrhena antidysentrica.
FAMILY: Apocynaceae.
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE:
 The plant is found throughout India, ascending upto 1,250 m
in the Himalayas, especially in wet forests.
CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION:
 Kurchi is a small tree, 9-10 m high. The bark is collected
from the tree by making suitable transverse and
longitudinal incisions. The alkaloidal content is high
soon after the rains when new shoots are produced.

14. MORPHOLOGY:
Colour - Brownish.
Odour - Odourless.
Taste - Bitter.
Fracture - Short and granular.

15. Microscopy:

16. POWDER CHARACTERITICS:
 Cork cells.
 Stone cells.
 Starch grains.
 Prismatic Calcium oxalate crystals.
 Medullary rays.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
 It contains alkaloidal constituents upto 1.1% to 4.72%.
Main steroidal alkaloid is Conessine (20-30%). Other
Alkaloids isolated includes conessimine, conamine,
conimine, Holarrhimine, Isoconessimine also contains
Gum, Resin, Tannin, Digitenol glycoside.

17. USES:
 Stomachic.
 Astringent.
 Tonic.
 Anti-amoebic.
 Used in Diarrhoea.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:
 Anthelmintic, Anti-diarrhoeal, Anti-dysenteric,
Astringent, Carminative, Diuretic, Helps in
Establishing Fertilization, Galactogogue.
TOXICOLOGY:
 Currently no Toxicity information is available for
kurchi Bark.

18. MARKETED PRODUCTS:
Purodil Capsules (Aimil Pharmaceuticals).
Mahamanjisthadyarishta (Dabur).
Diarex Syrup, Diarex Tablets (Himalaya Drug Company).

19. QUESTIONS & QUERIES ?????