Improvement in Safety Profile of Semecarpus anacardium Linn. by Shodhana – An Ayurvedic Purification Method

Semecarpus anacardium shows the presence of bioflavonoids, phenolic compounds, bhilawanols, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. Detoxified S. anacardium and its oils are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties and is used in nervous debility, neuritis, rheumatism and leprous modules. S. anacardium if used without purification causes toxic skin inflammation problems because it contains toxic phenolic oils. During the Shodhana process, an Ayurvedic purification method, toxic phenolic oils were removed, which had a marked effect on the concentration of the phytoconstituent & antioxidant activity of S. anacardium. Total phenolic content decreased up to 70% (from 28.9% w/w to 8.94% w/w), while there is a negligible effect on the concentration of total flavonoid (7.51% w/w to 7.43% w/w) and total carbohydrate (0.907% w/w to 0.853% w/w) content. IC₅₀ & EC₅₀ values of extract of S. anacardium before and after purification are 171.7 & 314.3 while EC₅₀ values are 280 µg/mL and 304 µg/mL after processing showing that the antioxidant activity of S. anacardium is decreased but the safety profile of the drug is increased as the toxic phenolic oil was removed during Shodhana.