ABSTRACT
Background: Metals, minerals and gemstones are used to prepare drugs in combination with variousherbal materials in ayurvedic treatments. During the process of preparation, metals, minerals or gemstones are converted into special form known as bhasma by series of pharmaceutical processes; shodhana, bhavana and marana. Puta is the amount of heat required to produce specific bhasma in a cycle oftreatment in the process of marana. Traditionally, heat is produced by burning cow dung cakes and theamount of heat to be provided is described in terms of cow dung cakes (fuel) burnt.Objective: The present study was aimed to obtain the temperature profile of the traditional Varaha Putaand to establish a complementary temperature profile in a muffle furnace.Materials and methods: The temperature profile of Varaha puta was determined using dried cow dungcakes (which were prepared using cow dung and paddy husk) with an average calorific value of 15.44 MJ/kg as the fuel. Then temperature profile of traditional Varaha Puta was mapped with an electric mufflefurnace and Swarna Makshika (Chalcopyrite) bhasma was prepared using both traditional method and inelectric muffle furnace.Results: Bhasma prepared using both Varaha Puta and muffle furnace have shown similar propertiesaccording to classical tests of Ayurveda and laboratory techniques.Conclusion: The results show the possibility of using a muffle furnace to prepare Swarna Makshikabhasma instead of using traditional Varaha Puta
ABSTRACT
Background: Rasashastra needs to be upgraded using the technological advances, with regards to drugprocessing, development and therapeutics. The potential of Rasaaushadhis need to be explored by subjecting them against newer life threatening diseases like cancer where contemporary medicine haslimitations. Abhrak Bhasma, one of the drugs of Rasashastra, has some peculiar attributes. According toclassical Rasashastra texts, Shataputi Abhrak Bhasma is regarded as a Rasayan, whose efficacy is in directproportion to the number of Putas. Thus increasing number of Putas not only has a significant effect onthe physical, analytical aspects but also the therapeutic effect of the Abhrak Bhasma.Objectives: To screen in vitro anticancer activity of Abhrak Bhasma at various stages of Putas (20, 50, 100).To evaluate and thus validate the principle from classical Rasashastra texts, which explains direct relationof number of Putas with therapeutic efficacy.Materials and methods: Shataputi Abhrak Bhasma, at various stages of its preparation was subjected toin vitro anticancer activity on three different cancer cell lines (LungHOP62, LeukemiaU937, ProstateDU145) at Tata Memorial Centre- Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research Education in Cancer, NaviMumbai. SRB assay was followed to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity.Results: It was found that Abhrak Bhasma shows concentration dependent positive in vitro anticanceractivity on all three cell lines with highly significant activity on prostate cancer cell lines. Anticanceractivity of Abhrak Bhasma is in the order 100 Puti > 50 Puti > 20 Puti. Shataputi Abhrak Bhasma hadmaximum activity on prostate cancer cell lines almost equivalent to positive control drug adriamycin.Conclusion: The in vitro anticancer activity of Shataputi Abhrak Bhasma increases with increasing numberof Putas, thus revalidating the direct relation between number of Putas and efficacy of the drug.© 2017 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Publishing Services byElsevier B.V
ABSTRACT
In the present research paper an attempt has been made to introduce standard operating procedure (SOP) for preparation of Naga Bhasma described in Ayurvedic formulary of India (AFI) using traditional Puta method. A total 60 Putas were given, out which first 50 Puta were Ardha gajaputa, followed by last 10 Puta as Gajaputa. In this method Manahshila and Kanji were taken as media. Arddha Gaja Puta (burnt with 4 kg Cow dung cake) was given for first 50 puta and the last ten Putas was given Gajaputa (burnt with 8 kg cow dung cake). The percentage increase in the Naga bhasma prepared after 60 Puta was 12%. Upto 50 Puta the increase in weight of Naga was 208%, while in last 10 Putas the percentage of decrease in weight was 63.66%. The average percentage purity of Naga decreased from 93.18% to 81.44% after Shodhana. The percentage of (Pb) Lead in Naga Bhasma 50 Puta and 60 Puta were 14.118% and 14.872 % respectively. Chemically Naga Bhasma was found in the form of PbS form.
ABSTRACT
In the present research paper, the pharmaceutical preparation of Lauha bhasma (calcined iron) is being presented. The various procedures adopted in the preparation of Lauha bhasma includes Samanya Shodhana (common purification process for iron) and Vishesha Shodhana (specific purification process for iron), Lauha marana by Bhanupaka (Heating of iron under sunrays) Sthalipaka (Heating of iron in a vessel) and Puta paka (Incineration of iron). Lauha was finally subjected to the process of Amriikaran (nectarization). The process of Puta paka was undergone in electric muffle furnace (EMF) and was repeated for sixty times each under identical conditions, at the temperature of 7500 C till 35th Puta and thereafter at 7000 C till the end of the Marana process i.e. 60 Puta. During the processing of iron, Triphala kwatha (decoction of three myrobalan) has been used as liquid media for Vishesha Shodhana, Bhanupaka, Sthalipaka and Puta paka. The study showed an increase in weight of Lauha after Bhanupaka and Stahlipaka i.e.,, 216% and 105.3%, respectively. It may be due to addition of solid content of Triphala kwatha. After Puta paka, 63%weight gain was observed in final product which may be attributed to addition of ash from Triphala kwatha. The Bhasma obtained fulfils all criteria and was found safe for oral administration.
ABSTRACT
Swarna makshika (chalcopyrite) bhasma (SMB) has been used for different therapeutic purposes since long in Ayurveda. The present study is conducted to evaluate the effect of conventionally prepared SMB on different bio-chemical parameters in experimental animals, for providing scientific data base for its logical use in clinical practice. The genuine SMB was prepared by following classical techniques of shodhana and marana most commonly used by different Ayurvedic drug manufacturers. Shodhana was done by roasting raw swarna makshika with lemon juice for three days and marana was performed by 11 putas. The experimental animals (rats) were divided into two groups. SMB mixed with diluted honey was administered orally in therapeutic dose to Group SMB and diluted honey only was administered to vehicle control Group, for 30 days. The blood samples were collected twice, after 15 days and after 30 days of drug administration and different biochemical investigations were done. Biochemical parameters were chosen based on references from Ayurvedic classics and contemporary medicine. It was observed that Hb% was found significantly increased and LDL and VLDL were found significantly decreased in Group SMB when compared with vehicle control group. This experimental data will help the clinician for the logical use of SMB in different disease conditions with findings like low Hb% and high LDL, VLDL levels.