Abstract

DHATURA: A DRUG REVIEW

Dr. Bhupendra Yadav*, Dr. Ritu Kapoor and Dr. Manoj Adlakha

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Abstract

Ayurveda is considered as one of the ancient health care systems. The Atharva-veda primarily deals with thorough Ayurvedic knowledge. Agad Tantra is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda dealing with identification of poison, types of poison from minerals, plant and animal kingdoms as well as artificial poisons prepared from poisonous drugs and their treatment. Dhattura (Datura metel) is one of the Upavisha mentioned in Ayurveda. The nature of upavishas is less toxic. But taken in more quantity causes drastic toxic effects on our body. Alkaloids including Scopolamine, Hyoscyamine, and atropine, which are extremely toxic but also useful in medicine, are present in the seeds and flowers of the Dhatura plant. It is a plant from the Solanaceae family that grows wildly and is used in many Ayurvedic formulations. The scientific field of Indian systems of medicine has benefited from the pharmacological properties of this plant, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, hypoglycemic, anti-rheumatoid, and wound healing activities. Inappropriate Dhatura dosages have a negative effect on the central nervous system, causing symptoms like hallucinations, dysphagia, dementia, delirium, confusion, and convulsions.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Agad, Dhatura, Upvisha, Toxic.