Kupeelu (Strychnousnuxvomica Linn) is a spinal poison of vegetable origin which comes under Upavisha[1,2,3,4] (semi-poisonous group). Even though it is a poisonous drug; it possessesabundant therapeutic values,it’s seeds are highly toxic but after adopting proper shodhana (purificatory) procedures it attains medicinal values and can be used in the treatment of many diseases.[5] Accidentally or homicidal or because of misuse of drugs during medication, may lead into so many complications like convulsions, coma etc. and eventually death occurs.[6] In the present study kupeelu seeds were subjected to shodhana sing Gomutra, Godugda and Goghrita and to evaluate itseffect of shodhana on convulsive property of kupeelu by comparing the toxic effects produced byashodhita (unpurified) kupeelu seeds with shodhita (purified) kupeelu seeds in wistar rats. Animals were grouped and one group received ashodhita kupeelu seed powder and another group received shodhita kupeelu seed powder. And they were dosed in a single oral dose of 666mg/kg body weight, following by 24 hrs observations for toxic signs and symptoms pertaining to convulsions. An observation reveals that all the animals of ashodhita group got convulsions fallowed by death of all animals, whereas there is no occurrence of convulsions in all the animals of shodhita group. So shodhita group shows 100% protection against convulsions in albino rats. Hence the present study concludes that by adopting proper shodhana procedure, it reduced the effect of toxicity when compared with ashodhita group.

Keywords: Gomutra; Godugda; Goghrita; Ashodhita; Shodhita; Convulsions.