Assessing the effect of Shodhana (detoxification) process using chromatographic profiling (HPTLC, HPLC, LC-MS, and GC-MS) and estimation of toxic content Abrine in Abrus precatorius L. (Gunja) seeds

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Abrus precatorius L. (Gunja) is popular in Ayurveda system of medicine for its seeds, which are toxic because of the presence of Abrine–an alkaloid. It is used for the management of skin disease (Kustha), itching (kandu), cough (kasa), wound (vrana), and alopecia (indralupta). The shodhana process in Ayurveda is used for the purification and detoxification of toxic plant materials. This study aimed to observe the effect of the shodhana (purification) on phytochemicals and the Abrine content of A. precatorius L. (Gunja) seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic and chloroform extracts of A. precatorius L. (Gunja) seeds are used to determine the R f value through high-performance thin-layer liquid chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Chemical profiling of seeds was carried out using sophisticated modern chromatographic different such as HPTLC, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS: The R f value 0.45 corresponds to Abrine and confirms its presence in Gunja seeds. GC-MS and LC-MS results show the presence of 19–22 compounds. Results of HPLC analysis showed that Abrine content in chloroform extract and ethanol extract reduced to 30.36% and 10.20%, respectively, after shodhana process. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed the significance and effectiveness of shodhana process in reducing the toxins present in A. precatorius.