Nitin Dubey, Rajendra S. Mehta, Ajay K. Saluja, and Dinesh K. Jain

pp. 501 - 510

Abstract

Mukta shouktic bhasma (MSB) is a traditional Ayurvedic medicinal preparation. This biomedicine is synthesized through special calcination of mother of pearl as mentioned in the classical Ayurvedic text. Physicochemical characterization of MSB was carried out using modern techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The study showed that the raw material mukta shouktic (mother of pearl) is an organo-mineral matrix containing calcium carbonate in aragonite form. The aragonite form of calcium carbonate transforms to a stable calcite form during the process of bhasma formation and forms the main crystalline component of MSB. The heat treatment does result in partial conversion of calcite to calcium oxide, which appears as calcium hydroxide (not more than 2% w/w) in the final product. The organic content of processed material degraded gradually. Physical evaluation revealed that MSB is a fine grayish white powder having a poor flow property with narrow particle size distribution of
1.22 to 22.52 μm having a mean particle size of 10.20±0.45 μm. A clearly identifiable fraction of MSB particles was below 50 nanometer. The presence of nanosized particles in MSB might impart the therapeutic property of this medicine. Trace element analysis of MSB revealed the presence of metals, like arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, and tin under regulatory acceptable limits at the prescribed dose of MSB. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed calcium as the major
element (40.22 wt %) in MSB. Microbial load for the formulation was found to be within limits. Animals were found to be safe up to a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight in acute toxicity studies. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in hyperpyrexia in rat was produced by MSB.