An Attempt to Standardize Swarna Makshika - A Mineral Drug of Ayurveda

Swarna Makshika(SM) is a brassy golden yellowish mineral with chemical composition of CuFeS 2 (chalcopyrite). This deals with the mineralogical characterization of SM following the standards of classical as well as contemporary references. SM is widely used in therapeutics, in the form of Bhamsa to treat diseases such as Kasa (cough), Kushta (disease of skin), Pandu (anaemia), Prameha(diabetes), Jeernajwara (chronic fever), Rajyakshama (tuberculosis), Arsa (haemorraids) and various other diseases. It is thus necessary to validate and establish those properties on the basis of contemporary knowledge for the selection of genuine sample because raw drug standardization plays a vital role in assessing final drug for better therapeutic effects. For this study, the sample of SM was collected from Ayurvedic pharmacy, Banaras Hindu University and authenticated by the subject expert. The identification, physical verification, physical properties and mineralogical description of SM were conducted as mentioned in the Ayurvedic classic texts, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoea of India and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) study. The results showed that SM is chalcopyrite (Copper and Iron disulphide) with metallic luster, brassy golden yellow, resembles a tetrahedron crystal habit, brittle tenacity and conchoidal fracture. All these physical properties of mineral chalcopyrite are very well match with the acceptable characteristics of SM as described in Ayurvedic classics.


Introduction
Standardisation is the burning topic in Ayurvedic drug industry today. It is a measurement for ensuring the quality and is used to describe all the measures which are taken during manufacturing process and quality control leading to a reproducible quality. Ayurvedic metallic preparations with herbal juice/fruits widely used for treatment of a variety of chronic diseases. Metals play an important role in human body, the deficiency of which leads to various disorders. A number of metals as essential elements are present in the human body in different concentrations and combinations at various sites and help the respective body tissues to perform their normal activities. The excess or deficiencies of metals may disturb the body metabolism. Hence, genuine metallic drugs play an important role in curing various diseases. Bhasmas, the Ayurvedic metallic formulation are the products of inorganic compounds of certain metals and minerals in a very fine powdered form. In the process of Bhasma preparation the metals/minerals gets converted into desired formulations which eliminates the toxicity of the metal and has the necessary medicinal activities (1). It is therefore necessary to standardize raw metals/ minerals through detailed study of various physicochemical and analytical evaluation. It will make sure the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of the products.
Swarna Makshika(SM), shining like gold, is a copper ore containing chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) mineral. It was only in Samhita era, the use of SM started as medicine. It is used in the form of Bhasma with great therapeutic values. Rasaratnasamucchayakaara (13 th century) gave a detailed description of SM regarding its quality, shodhana, marana etc and grouped it under Maharasa Verg (2). The Rasajalnidhi Kaara (20 th Century) compiled almost all the description pertaining to SM about its occurrence, types, therapeutic properties, identification methods, physical properties, sodhana and marana procedures, from the available texts (3). The importance of SM was explained in the treatment of Kushta (disease of skin) and Pandu (anaemia) diseases (4). Further, it is widely used in the treatment of Kasa(cough), Sotha(inflammation), Prameha(diabetes), Jeernajwara(chronic fever), Rajyakshama(tuberculosis), Apsmara(epilepsy), Arsa (haemorrhoids), Krimi(worm infection), Rajahkrichra (scanty menstruation) etc (5). The mineral sources of SM are found mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim in India.
The manufacturing process for preparing Bhasma plays an important role in collection of authentic sample of SM which influences the quality of the final product and is directly related to the therapeutic potential of a drug. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (6) emphasized preliminary studies together with Grahyaagrahy Lakshana (acceptable and non-acceptable properties) of raw substance to identify and selection of genuine sample so that active formulations may be

Research Article
International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 2019, 10(4), 333-337 ISSN: 0976-5921 prepared. Hence, the present study has been taken to assess the characterization of SM for its mineralogical characterization through Ayurvedic as well as modern methods.

Materials and Methods
The samples of the raw SM were collected from Ayurvedic pharmacy, Banaras Hindu University and authenticated by subject expert. The mineral was tested by studying its characters as explained in classical texts (7). The physical properties and mineralogical characterization were made for acceptability of genuine sample by adopting different methods.
The identification and physical verification of SM according to Grahya-Lakhana (acceptable properties) was conducted as mentioned in the Ayurvedic classical texts (8). The analysis of the physical properties of SM was done as per the mineralogical description mentioned in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (6). The Electron Probe Micro Analysis was carried out at the Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, on instrument Cameca-SXFive Electro micro probe. Any query regarding instrumental technique, procedure and methodology may be obtained by Professor N. V. Chatapathi Rao and Dr. Dinesh Pandit who helped for EPMA analysis.

Identification of SM as per Ayurvedic classics
The procured sample of SM was identified and verified as per Ayurvedic classics (3,7,8).
Observations are depicted in Table-1.

DISCUSSION
SM is categorized under Maharasa verg by Rasaratnasamucchaya (2). However, the author of Rasatarangini (20 th Century) Sri Sadanand Sharma explains SM in Upadhatu verg and gave detail description (10). SM is mineral having peeta verna like Swarna. It is also described as Upadhatu of gold of two types i.e. Swarna Makshika having golden lister and Raupya Makshika having silver luster (11). It has been established by different studies that gold colored SM mineral should be used therapeutically. The present study was aimed to focus the mineralogical characterization of mineral SM according to Grahya Lakshana as explained in Ayurvedic classics as well as the mineralogical standards as mentioned in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoea of India. The most useful properties for identifying the minerals are color, crystal habit, crystal system, twinning, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, hardness, luster, streak, diaphaneity, specific gravity and fusibility. Some other properties such as reaction with acids, solubility in water, magnetism, taste, odor are helpful in identifying certain minerals (12). The most of the physical properties verified in this study are very well match with the standard of chalcopyrite (9) (Table-2, Figure- SM is chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) is widely spread and common which contains iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and Sulphur (S). It is one of the minerals referred to as "Fool's Gold" because of its bright golden color. It is differentiated from gold which is more buttery yellow, ductile and malleable. Luster describes the appearance of mineral when the light is reflected from its surface. Its metallic luster represents the presence of metal. SM, when rubbed on hand gives black color on hand and when rubbed on stone gives gold color lines on stone. When heated with charcoal, SM fuses to be a black mass without swelling which is strongly magnetic, as felt by a horse-shoe magnet. It is insoluble in H 2 O and HCl but soluble in nitric acid, becomes bluish black. On heating in oxygen atmosphere it gives smell of SO 2 (Sulphur dioxide) (13). SM (chalcopyrite) is oxidized as exposure to air or water or with slight heating to sulphates of iron and copper.
2 CuFeS 2 + 7.5 O 2 à 2 CuSO 4 + Fe 2 O 3 + 2 SO 2 EMPA analytical techniques has been applied for elemental analysis of SM. The EMPA study confirmed the presence of Cu, Fe, and S and formed the structure CuFeS 2 . The trace elements of Ni, Pb, Sn, As, Sb, Ba, Si, Al, Mg and Na are present in trace amounts. The presence of trace elements may be due to collection of raw material from different places.
Chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ), brass yellow mineral, occurs in most sulfide mineral deposits throughout the world. It is most important ore of copper for thousands of years. It has a positive vibration that is known to increase happiness, joy and belief in yourself. It is an excellent stone to use in meditation. This stone has an unusual energy that is brought through a strong spiritual, even mystical energy. It helps the universal energies to clear anything that prevents perfect health. It is also used in jewelry (14). The present analytical study confirms the authenticity of SM by following the standards of classical as well as modern methods. However, SM is therapeutically used by preparing. SM Bhasma after proper Shodhana and Marana (2, 3) with proper combination of other drugs and dosage form. The classical procedures (Shodhana and Marana) are very effective in converting the macro form/nano range. Thus, the Bhasma are considered as nano medicine and the application of which is one of the emerging trend used in medicine (15).

Conclusion
Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine deals with a number of metals and minerals. SM, a chalcopyrite, one such minerals has iron(Fe), copper (Cu) and sulphur(S) as major ingredients along with other trace elements of therapeutic importance. In today's era of science and technology, it is essential that the details about raw metals/minerals by which medicines are prepared, must be explored to the scientific community and regulatory authority for its validation, authentication and future development of Ayurvedic system of medicine. Studies related with characterization of SM are very few. In the present study, efforts has been made to analyse SM through the methods mentioned in Ayurvedic classics as well as modern methods. The study would be helpful in preparing therapeutically active SM Bhasma.

Conflict of Interest:
None