ABSTRACT
Background: To protect the massive trust of patient in Ayurveda, a need aroused for the researches toascertain the quality, safety & efficacy of herbo-mineral preparations on scientific lines. The rasa-aushadhis are having qualities such as instant effectiveness, requirement in very small dosage and ampletherapeutic utility. Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa [AFI, 20:27] has been used for treatment of a variety of ailmentssince time immemorial.Objective: To prepare Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa as per standard operating procedures (SoPs) mentioned inclassical text and to characterize it chemically using modern analytical techniques.Materials and Methods: The drug (Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa) in three batches was prepared in GMP certifiedpharmacy. Physico-chemical analysis, HPTLC, Assay of elements by AAS & ICP-AES were carried out as perAyurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was conducted using Rigaku UltimaIV X-ray diffractometer.Results: The elemental analysis shown the presence of Mercury, Sulphur, Calcium, Copper, Gold, Iron &Tin etc. and HPTLC revealed presence of organic constituents from plant material. The XRD had indicatedthat prepared drug contained free sulphur, cinnabar (mercury sulphide added as Kajjali), cassiterite (tinoxide, Vanga Bhasma), orpiment (Hartal, arsenic III sulphide) and mica (Leucite/ Zeolite, Abhrak Bhasma).The drug was also tested for residual pesticide and microbiological contamination which were foundwithin permissible limits.Conclusion: Classical pharmaceutical procedures of Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa showed converting the macroelements into therapeutically effective medicines of micro form. Standards laid down in this study certainlyutilized as an important tool for standardization and quality assurance of this herbo-mineral formulation.© 2018 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Publishing Services byElsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this study was standardization and Chemical characterization of rasamanikya prepared as per standard operating procedures (SOP) mentioned in the classical text. Methods: Rasamanikya was prepared by putting churnodaka shodhita haratala (Orpiment-As2S3) between two abhraka (white mica) sheets which are heated for a while to obtain a red colored finished product. The Ayurvedic specifications for the analysis of rasamanikya were performed through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Physicochemical analysis, assay of elements by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were carried out and some other tests such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (EDAX) were also performed to ensure the quality of the drug. Results: In the finished drug Arsenic and Sulphur are present in the form of As4S4, As2S3, As2S5. On the basis of XPS survey scans, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (SEM-EDAX) and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur (CHNS) analysis the Arsenic to Sulphur (As to S) ratio is thus standardized as 39-47: 53-61. In addition to this powder, XRD shows a major conversion into an amorphous phase. Conclusion: The results could be used to lay down a new set of pharmacopoeial standards for the preparation of rasamanikya for getting optimal efficacy of medicine. Therefore, the information will help the Scientists and Researchers to build comprehensive standards, to screen the compounds responsible for different bioactivities, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action.