PHARMACEUTICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY ON LOHA BHASMA

Rasashastra is a subject which deals with metals and its therapeutic effect. It mentions the use of metals in a refined form as bhasma . Loha 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. Iron fillings are subjected to samamnya shodhana and vishesha shodha to prepare the bhasma. Pharmaceutical and analytical studies were conducted during the process of preparation of the Loha bhasma to know the changes in the chemical composition at various satges. Namburi Phased Spot Test was done to prove the fineness of the bhasma. In this study an attempt has been made to standardize the process of the preparation of the Loha bhasma and to establish chemical standards like iron content in the bhasma and the Namburi Phased Spot Test.


Introduction:
The basic purpose of this science is to keep the human beings free from disease, old age & death. Rasashastra is one of the branches of Ayurveda which has a rich knowledge of mineral and metallic preparations. The minerals and metals were used in the form of Rajah (mineral waste during the processing of the minerals and metals). During the 8-9 th century A.D, the Ayurvedics, Siddhas, Nath yogis and the Tantrikas developed the medicinal uses of metals and minerals which ultimately attained the name Rasashastra or Rasatantra.
Rasashastra is a subject which deals with metals and its therapeutic effect. It mentions the use of metals in a refined form as bhasma. Their use reduced the quantity of the dose administered and increased the palatability, tissue availability and shelf-life of the drugs.
Loha 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. In the samhitas it was mentioned to use it in the form of powder. But in the texts of Rasasastra loha is mentioned in the form of shodhita bhasma (Purified form of bhasma) for the medicinal uses. Administration of impure form of the Loha leads to many medical problems which may damage the kidneys, liver etc. This can be achieved by shodhana followed by Trivida paka (Sthali paka, Bhanu paka and Puta paka) to convert Loha into Bhasma. To know the changes that occur after shodhana, Trivida paka of loha & also to bring to the lime light the pharmaceutical & analytical changes that occur during preparation of Loha bhasma this study is intended.

Aims and objectives:
* To these 12 parts of Shudha Loha curna was added & mardana was done to mix properly. After that this was given bhavana with Kumari & chakrikas were prepared and dried. These dried chakrikas are kept in Sharava & Sandhibandhana was done properly using multani soil. Then again the sharava was kept for drying. After drying, 700 cowdung cakes was arranged in pit and the Sharava was kept on it. Then it is covered by 300 more cowdung cakes. Then the cowdung cakes are ignited. After the complete burning and self cooling of the kiln the sharava samputa is taken out and opened. The charred chakrikas are collected, ground and again the same procedure is repeated for 7 times to get Loha bhasma. After completion of puta paka process, Loha bhasma was collected & made into fine & smooth by grinding.

Assessment criteria:
The proper formation of the Loha bhasma is assessed both in Ayurvedic and analytical ways. Ayurvedic tests for the bhasma are Apunarbhava and Nirutta bhasma. Analytical tests conducted are Namburi Phased Spot.

III. NAMBURI PHASED SPOT TEST (N.P.S.T)
Chromotography is relatively a new technique which was first invented by M. Tswett, a botonist in 1906, for the sepration of coloured substances into individual components. Since then, the technique has undergone tremendous modifications so that now a days various types of chromotographies are in use to separate almost any given mixture, whether coloured (or) colour less, into its constituents and to test the purity of these constituents. Paper chromatography one of the varieties of chromotographies in a special case of partition chrmotography in which the absorbent column in a paper strip. Namburi phased spot test (N.P.S.T.) is known as circular paper chromatography (variety of paper chromatography) which is called also radial paper chromatography. N.P.S.T. was introduced by Dr. Namburi Hanumantha Ro in the year 1970. The author has taken up the project of quality control of bhasmas and sinduras along with other projects to meet the challenges thrown both by the public and press about 32 years back. Definition of N.P.S.T.:-When a drop of clear solution of a substance that is under examination is put on one of the chemical reacting papers, a spot with a series of changes in colour and pattern will appear. It is the sludy of this spot and colour at three successive phases spreading over three different time intervals in known as the "phased spot test".

Advantages of N.P.S.T.:-This technique
is very helpful for quality assessment of bhasmas as per the standards of Rasasasthra. The study of differential identification of various bhasmas is made possible by N.P.S.T. This test has an advantage of measuring the sensitivity of reactions at different time intervals. This is a method to study or detect continual chemical changes (reaction) that take place gradually between two chemical substances on static media at very second or even at a fraction of a second. Some initial (or) intermediate reactions (or) changes which occur before culminating it to a major chemical reaction can be detected by the present technique.
Procedure: -0.25 gms of sample was taken into test tubes. Test tube was heated till the bottom appears and with the help of Bunsen burner & it was allowed to self cool for some time 0.5 ml of 5% HCl was taken in a graduated pipette and slowly dropped in the test tube. Now again test tube was heated for a while. The sample was allowed to stay for 24 hours without shaking. Two hours before treating with a chemical reaction paper, the test tube was shaken and kept as it. Then a drop of supernatant (clear) solution of sample was dropped on the 2.5% potassium ferrocyanide paper with the help of dropper carefully. No sooner the drop came in contact with the 2.5% potassium ferro cyanide paper an instantaneous characteristic spot began to form & changes rapidly & continually for some time.
Observations: -I Phase: The first phase of reaction extends from the very movement of formation of spot till the end of 5th minute. This phase is called "Immediate reaction".
II Phase: The second phase of reaction extends there after upto 20th minute. This phase is called "Delayed reaction". III Phase: The third phase extends from end of 20th minute to 24th hour or above. This phase is called as "Late reaction". In Loha bhasma formed contains Iron in the form of Ferrous or in oxide form which are considered to be the most compatible forms of iron supplementation in the body. The rate of the absorption of the iron depends on the fineness of the powder. Bhasma process makes the metal into very minute particles which are easy to absorb. NPST done on the bhasma prepared proved the fineness of the powder by developing the single expanded blue spot.

CONCLUSION
From the above pharmaceutical and analytical study on the loha bhasma it can be concluded that Loha should undergo samanya shodhana and vishesha shodhana for the proper formation of the bhasma. They help for the purification of iron and make the metal brittle.
Trividha paka process for Loha bhasma enhances the guna of it and reduces the size of the particles facilitating easy absorbtion into the body.
Tests of the ayurvedic parameters of bhasma like Apunarbhava, Nirutta and the Namburi Phased Spot Test proved the fineness of Lohabhasma and also help for the quality standardization of the Loha Bhasma.