Qualitative and quantitative studies on the chemical changes during Ayurvedic detoxification process of Acorus calamus Linn. (Indian Vacha)

Abstract

BackgroundAcorus calamus, commonly known as Vacha holds a significant place in Ayurvedic medicine, addressing memory issues and acting as an anthelminthic. A. calamus rhizomes are known to be toxic due to presence of β-asarone and are used in Ayurvedic medicines only after elaborate processing known as Sodhana (detoxification or purification). As mentioned in Ayurvedic texts like Rasatrangini and Bhaisajya Ratnavali, Sodhana entails the transformation of potentially poisonous plants/substances into non-toxic forms. This study aims to uncover the chemical basis of this ancient detoxification process. Study designThe plant material was detoxified following the methods mentioned in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India. The plant material was boiled in gomutra (cow urine) and decanted. Subsequently, it was boiled with Spaeranthus indicus (Alambusa kwath) and then with Panchpallav kwath (a decoction of leaves from five different plants). The plant material so obtained was dried and subjected to swedana (steam distillation), dried again and extracted to obtain processed (detoxified) extract. Both the unprocessed and processed extracts were analyzed for secondary metabolites using HPLC, LCMS, and 1H NMR. ResultsThis study demonstrated that detoxification process resulted in morphological changes in rhizome, almost ten-fold reduction in extractive yield, reduced amount of major toxic component β-asarone and other toxic metabolites like asaronaldehyde, acorone, calamusin, acoraminol, acoramone, 1,2-dihydroxyasarone, asarotonide, propioveratrone, azulene and calamol in the extract, and isomerisation of β-asarone to α-asarone. Further the toxic metabolites were screened for genotoxicity by molecular docking. ConclusionOur findings have identified the chemical basis of Ayurvedic detoxification process.