Shodhana (processing) of Rakta-Snuhi (Euphorbia caducifolia Haines.) latex with Chincha (Tamarindus indica L.) leaf juice: A pharmaceutical analysis

BACKGROUND: Latex of Euphorbia caducifolia Haines. (Euphorbiaceae), botanical source of Rakta Snuhi, a caustic irritant, is being used in different Ayurvedic therapeutics, after proper processing (Shodhana) in some specific media. Shodhana of Snuhi latex with Chincha-Patra Swarasa (juice of tamarind leaves) using Raudra Yantra (instrument/pot kept under sunlight for drying) has been recommended in Ayurveda texts. Snuhi is one of the Upavisha (sub toxic group of herbal drugs) and a well-known plant in the Indian system of medicine. It is used in pharmaceutical procedures like preparation and processing of drugs. AIM: The aim of the study was to carry out Shodhana of E. caducifolia latex with Chincha-Patra Swarasa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fresh latex of Snuhi was collected from the Sapada area of Jamnagar, Gujarat and fresh leaves of Tamarindus indica L. were collected from the herbal garden of the university and Swarasa was extracted by traditional expression technique. Shodhana of Snuhi Kshira was done under sunlight dried and shade dried method by mixing it with leaf juice of Tamarindus indica L. in a glass bowl in different ratio i.e. Kshira: leaf juice was 8:4, 8:2, 8:1 respectively. RESULTS: This study reveals certain changes in physico-chemical parameters (pH) and organoleptic characters of processed E. caducifolia latex by Tamarind leaf juice both in shade-dried and sunlight-dried samples. Under HPTLC, Shodhana of E. caducifolia latex with Tamarind leaf juice alters the number of spots both sunlight-dried and shade-dried samples. In sun-dried sample, the number of spots increased when the concentration of Tamarind leaf juice is decreased in HPTLC study. The study reveals that in case of shade-dried Shodhita (processed) Snuhi latex sample, the concentration of lupeol increases with the increasing quantity of Tamarind leaf juice. CONCLUSION: Shodhana with Tamarind leaf juice changes both qualitative and quantitative property of Snuhi latex.