Ramesh Kumar Gupta¹, Sumer Singh² and C. B. Jha³

¹Department of Rasa Shastra, Govt. Ayurvedic College Varanasi India. ²Department of Rasa Shastra, S.K.D. State Ayurvedic College Muzaffarnagar India. ³Department of Rasa Shastra, Faculty of Ayurvedic IMS, BHU, Varanasi India.

Abstract

Minerals and metals of remedial value and their pharmaceutical processing techniques are dealt in Ayurvedic pharmaceutical science with a view to make them adoptable, nontoxic and efficacious. Toxicity of minerals and metals are proved information pharmaceutical processing techniques convert them into such a compound form, which acts as a safe and effective therapeutic agent. Shodhana (purification), Marana (incineration/calcinations) are the main pharmaceutical procedures by which raw and crude material converted in to high potent therapeutic agent. Pelletization (Chakrika nirmana) and Casserole sealing (Sarava samputikarana) are intermediary step of incineration processes which plays a significant role to establish S.O.P.of Ayurvedic bhasma.

Keywords

Metals Minerals bhavana; Shodhana; Marana; Chakrika; sarava

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Copy the following to cite this article: Gupta R. K, Singh S, Jha C. B. Significance of Pelletization and Casserole Sealing in Ayurvedic Bhasma Preparation. Biomed Pharmacol J 2010;3(1)

Copy the following to cite this URL: Gupta R. K, Singh S, Jha C. B. Significance of Pelletization and Casserole Sealing in Ayurvedic Bhasma Preparation. Biomed Pharmacol J 2010;3(1). Available from: http://biomedpharmajournal.org/?p=1470

Introduction

The Vedas are oldest repository of human knowledge,Ayurvedic is one of the upaveda or subsidiaries to the Veda. Therefore, all topics described in Ayurvedic are considered to be derived from the Vedas, Several Ayurvedic classic were composed thereafter samhitas like Charaka and Sushruta are the richest source of knowledge, regarding drugs and disease. Charaka has classified drugs in to three categories viz. plant, animal and mineral origin, plant origin drugs were very much popular and widely used for medicinal purpose during Samhita period. Up to Samhita period, the use of metals, minerals in therapeutics were very limited and their processing techniques are not developed. During that period, minerals and metals were converted into the fine powder form with the help of heating, quenching, grinding and filtering and used for therapeutic purpose, After development of Rasa Shastra in medieval period as an independent branch of learning , many other specialized processing techniques like Shodhana (Purification).Marana (incineration), Amritikarana (Nectarization), Satavapatana (Extraction of metals), Samskara (specialized processing techniques specially used for mercury) etc. and some intermediate steps of above techniques like levigation (Bhavana), Pelletizatoin (Chakrikanirmana), Casserole sealing (Sarava-samputikarana) were developed to produce Ayurvedicbhasma with higher therapeutic potential. In this article we have tried to explore significance of Pelletization and Casserole sealing in Ayurvedicbhasma preparation.

Important pharmaceutical procedures for making bhasma

Pre treatment :Shodhana (Purification)

Main/Chief treatment : Marana (Incineration/Calcination)

Intermediate steps of Chief treatment :Bhavana (Levigation), ChakrikanirmanaPelletizationSarava-samputikarana  Sealing of Casserole

Post operativetreatment :Lohitikarana, Amritikarana,

Pharmaceutical steps of ayurvedicbhasma preparation

Mineral material (Raw drug) – Sodhana (Samanya&Vishesh) – Jarana (in case of putilohas) – Bhavana (Wet trituration) – Chakrikanirmana (Pelletization) – AatapaShoshana (Drying of pelletes) – Saravasamputikarana (Sealing of Casserole) – Puta system of heating – Bhasma obtained

Pelletization (Chakrikanirmana)

It is process in which small, round, flat pellets are prepared from triturated doughy mass of substances to facilitates uniform and homegenous heating1.

No reference of chakrikanirmana is available in any Vedas and Samhita. The word chakrika is first time observe in Rasa RatnaSamuchhaya in context of lohamarana2.

In Abhrakasatvapatana, AcharyaVegbhata has mentioned that the size of the Chakrika should be slightly bigger than the fruit of Strychnosnuxvomica3.

Size and thickness of the Chakrika plays a significant role in the preparation of bhasma. In Rasamritam it is mentioned that chakrika should never be more than 1-2 tola by weight4.

A definite thickness facilities proper transmission of heat from periphery to core of the chakrika. More thickness may cause unsymmetrical reaction process with periphery to core where as very less thickness may speed up the transmission of heat which is not required for proper paka of the bhasma.

Objective of pelletization (chakrikanirmana)

To facilitates the drying process of material.

To adjust high amount of material is sarava (casserole)

To avoid loss or contamination.

To increase surface area of the material, that is going to be incinerated to allow maximum heat transfer during heating treatment.

Chakrika is a parameter for testing the amount of heat supplied to the material with the help of color intensity.

Chakrika plays an important role in heat transformation to each and every molecule of the material.

For getting desirable color of specific bhasma, heat pattern of heating system and shape of chakrika should be smooth ad homogenous. Any disturbance in the temperature rising and self cooling system causes uneven and desirable color of pellets. 

Pellets

The term ‘pellet’ is now applied for small sterile cylinder about 3.2 mm in diameter and 8 mm in length which are formed by compression of medicated masses5.

Sealing of Casserole (Saravasamputikarana)

The container in which 8 pala of material (chakrika) canbe put is called sarava (Saucer or casserole)6.the sarava containing material is covered by another sarava and junction of the two is sealed by mud smear cloth or rust and jaggery or any other material is called samputa and whole apparatus is known as sarava – sampura.

Properties of casserole (Sarava)

it must be inert (should not react with pellets)

it should not be so thick or thin.

it must be heat stable.

it should not be good conductor of heat. 

Objective of Casserole Sealing (Saravasamputa)

To protect the material fro contamination from ash and gas produced by fuel.

To avoid loss during patapaka (heating treatment).

To facilitate homogeneous atmosphere for desired chemical reaction, this takes place in the presence of heat and vapour pressure.

To provide compete oxidation of material.

To check undesired excessive heating of the material due to its insulation properties.

Properly sealed sarava prevents the escape of volatile material.

Discussion

Ayurveda and its medicines are serving the needs of ailing humanity since beginning of civilization. Particularly bhasmas have good preventive, curative and rejuvenating potential. This goal can only be achieved by well and organized processing techniques. Sodhana and Marana are the two main processing techniques by which the crude ad heterogeneous material converted into powerful therapeutic agent i.e. bhasma. Bhavana, chakrikanirmana, saravasamputikarana and putapaka are the intermediary steps of marana process. Each intermediary processing step has great significance for proper bhasma preparation. Standard shape, diameter and weight of chakrika are very much helpful for proper heat transformation within each and every molecule of materials during heating treatment in saravasamputa. Our ancient Acharyas are very clearly mentioned that chakrika should be the shape of Tindukaphala (Strychnosnuxvomica) and slightly bigger in size. Mahapatra S. et al 2007 have observed chakrika having diameter, thickness and weight 1.9cm – 2.0cm, 0.7 to 0.8cm, 15 – 17gm respectively are considered best for proper bhasma preparation7. there is a need of systematic and well – organized coordination of allied science along with adequate infrastructure and facilities to solve various problems related to the standardization of metallic bhasma. This may facilitate the development of this discipline and lead to its global recognition.

Conclusion

Ancient Ayurvedic scholars are very much rational and have strong scientific backgrounds in fundamental principle, which are concern with Ayurvedicbhasma preparation.

By virtue of shadhana and marana, the drug become non – toxic, easily digestible and absorbable, suitable for metabolic changes, assimmilable by tissue cells and become therapeutic potent.

Appropriate shape & size of chakrika, Saravasamputikarana and required quantum of heat make the way of prepare good quality of metallic bhasmas.

Chakrika having diameter, thickness, and weight slightly bigger to that of tindukaphala (Strychnosnuxvomica) is considered best for proper heat transformation during heating treatment and to achieve desirable particle size of bhasma.

References

1. Sarkar P.K. et al, A comparative pharmaceutico – pharmaco – clinical study of lauhabhasma and mandura Bhasmaw.s.r. to its pandu – hara effect, IPGT & RA, Gujarat Ayurved university Jamnagar (2005).
2. Acharya Vegbhata, Rasa Ratna Samuchhaya with Rasaprada Hindi commentary by Dr Indra Dev Tripathi, Chaukhambha Sanskrita Bhawan, Varanasi, 2nd edition, Chap 5/117 – 18(2003).
3. AcharyaVegbhata, Rasa RatnaSamuchhaya with Rasaprada Hindi commentary by DrIndraDevTripathi, ChaukhambhaSanskritaBhawan, Varanasi, 2nd edition, Chap 2/32 (2003).
4. Vaidya Yadavji Trikamji Acharya, Rasamrita with English commentary by Dr. damodarjoshi and G.prabhakar Rao, Chaukhambha Sanskritabhawan, Varanasi, 1stedition, Appendix – 1 page No. 253(1998).
5. Genard A.R. Remingon ; The science and practices of pharmacy, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, London (2002).
6. Kaviraj Umesh Chandra Gupta, Vaidyak Sabda Sindhu compile by Sri nagendranath Sen, 3rd edition chaukhambhaorientialia, Varanasi (1983).
7. Mohapatra S.et.al, process standardization of Swarnamakshikabhasma and its experimental evaluation for hypnotic and behavioral activities on experimental animal, IMS, BHU, VARANASI (2007).

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