Nagadanti
Nagadanti is a substance used in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Use with caution; purgative at higher doses. Bioavailability: Jatrophin and curcin (toxic proteins) have limited oral bioavailability due to GI degradation, but are still potent at low concentrations.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Nagadanti |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
What is it made of?
Mineral/Elemental Profile
- Primary component: Mineral-derived preparation
- Note: Composition varies by specific preparation method
Analytical Methods: XRD, ICP-OES, SEM-EDS
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (root/leaf powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsules, Svarasa (leaf juice), Lepa (topical paste)
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g root powder per day; 3-5 g leaf powder; 20-40 mL decoction twice daily; 5-10 mL leaf juice. Use with caution; purgative at higher doses.
Bioavailability: Jatrophin and curcin (toxic proteins) have limited oral bioavailability due to GI degradation, but are still potent at low concentrations. Flavonoids show moderate absorption. Diterpene esters are lipophilic with variable oral absorption. Purgative principles (curcanoleic acid) act primarily on intestinal mucosa with minimal systemic absorption.
Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach for purgative action; as per Virechana Panchakarma schedule; topical as needed
Standardized Extract: Shodhita (purified) root extract with controlled purgative activity. Leaf extract (8:1 aqueous) for milder indications. Topical preparation at 5-10% extract concentration for skin conditions.
Shelf Life: Shodhita root powder: 18 months. Capsules: 24 months. Leaf powder: 18 months. Topical paste: 12 months.
Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight containers. Restricted access due to potent purgative action. Label ‘Not for unsupervised use.’ Protect from moisture and light. Keep raw material separately from finished products.
Marker Compounds: Montanin, Baliospermin, Jatrophin, 12-Deoxyphorbol esters, Curcanoleic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-60% ethanol)
- Cold maceration of leaves
- Fresh leaf juice expression
- Purification (Shodhana) of root per classical method
Synergistic Combinations
- Trivrit (purgative combination for controlled Virechana)
- Haritaki (mild laxative combination)
- Eranda/Castor (laxative synergy)
- Guduchi (hepatoprotective co-administration)
- Nimba (antimicrobial topical combination)
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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