Herbal Medicine: Open Access

Comparative Physio-Chemical Evaluation of Different Brands of Lauha Bhasmas

Objectives: Rasashastra is a subject which deals with metals and its therapeutic effect. It mentions the use of metals in a refined form as bhasma. Lauha is used extensively in the Ayurvedic literature for the management of various diseases like Pandu (Anemia), Shotha (Oedema), Kamala (Jaundice) etc. It is very hard metal hence it should be made into bhasma for using it for medicinal purposes. During storage of the formulation no of physical or chemical changes may occur which may affect efficacy of Lauha Bhasma. Pharmaceutical and analytical studies were conducted during the storage conditions of the Lauha bhasma to know the changes in the chemical composition at various stages. The present work was conducted to establish the quality aspects of the use of Lauha bhasma. Methods: But to make the bhasma globally acceptable some of the modern parameters adapted to evaluation such as organoleptic evaluations, physical evaluations (Loss on drying, Ash value, Acid insoluble ash, Ash value extractive, Phytochemical screening by TLC), chemical evaluations (Qualitative determination of metals such as Sodium, Iron & Potassium). We purchased two well established brands of Lauha bhasma from India and subjected to above mentioned evaluations in laboratory using standard official procedures. Results: Result showed that brand A was found complying LOD (0.39% w/w), Total ash (0.93%), Acid insoluble ash (103.08%), Alcohol soluble ash (17%), Water soluble ash (20%), Phytochemical TLC screening Rf 0.5 with color Yellow, Qualitative metal Iron present and quantitative Iron as Fe2O3 95.578% with Iron as Fe 73.211% standard set as per Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia. But other brand B was found LOD (0.43% w/w), Total ash (0.72%), Acid insoluble ash (115.06%), Alcohol soluble ash (15%), Water soluble ash (18%), Phytochemical TLC screening Rf 0.22 with color Purple, Qualitative metal Iron present and quantitative Iron as Fe2O3 82.245% with Iron as Fe 60.205%. Conclusion: So, our study suggests that brand B total ash value less revels less care taken during its preparation as compared to brand A. Higher limit of acid insoluble ash of brand B revels that silica presence or calcium oxalate content of drug is very high. As per our observation sample A product as per quality control parameters more reliable and may be more effective to patients.

Author(s):

Milind Pande and Kabeer Bello Mohammed

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