Journal of Medical Research and Surgery
PROVIDES A UNIQUE PLATFORM TO PUBLISH ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND REMODEL THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE AREA OF MEDICAL AND SURGERY
Journal of Medical Research and Surgery
PROVIDES A UNIQUE PLATFORM TO PUBLISH ORIGINAL RESEARCH AND REMODEL THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE AREA OF MEDICAL AND SURGERY
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Sumera Mehfooz1*, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir2, Abdul Wadood3, Hamidudin4
1P.G Scholar, Department of Pharmacology, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru
2Medical Officer, ISM Jammu and Kashmir Health services
3Director, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru
4Reader, Department of pharmacy, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru
Correspondence to: Sumera Mehfooz, Department of Pharmacology, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru; E-mail: Sumeralakecity57@gmail.com
Received date: April 10, 2020; Accepted date: April 18, 2020; Published date: April 25, 2020
Citation: Mehfooz S, Mir IA, Wadood A, et al. (2020) Physiochemical Standardization of Kushta Nella-Tutia: A Versatile Drug. J Med Res Surg. 1(2): pp. 1-9.
Copyright: ©2020 Mehfooz S, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Introduction: Kushta Nella-Tutia has a wide range of Pharmacological actions in Unani system of medicine. It is used both internally as well as externally. In Unani system of medicine, it is commonly used for Qatil e-deedane-am’a (Anthelmintic), Mundamil qurooh (Healing of wound), Aatishak (syphilis), Juzam (leprosy), Qarha asir al indimal (Indolent ulcers), Nawasir nafidha (Fistula).
Methods: Kushta Nella-Tutia has been evaluated by using classical, organoleptic and physicochemical tests. The methodology was followed according to the protocol of ASU drugs. Results: Physiochemical results revealed that Kushta Nella-Tutia is Black in color, odorless, lusterless, tasteless and soluble in organic solvents, but insoluble in water and all the physiochemical standards were set.
Conclusion: The present study has provided evidence-based scientifically validated data for the standardization of Kushta Nella-Tutia and will serve as a useful tool to minimize adulteration and substitution of Kushta Nella-Tutia. The standardization of herbal drugs is very important for quality control. it improves the efficacy and safety of the drug. Physiochemical results of Kushta Nella-Tutia will serve as a reference standard for identification in the future and the intern will prevent adulteration and improve the quality, identity, and purity of the drug.
Kushta Nella-Tutia, Herbo-Mineral, Standardization, Unani medicine
Literally, Kushta means killed, in Persian [1,2] but technically it means incinerated material containing only oxides of inorganic materials. Neela-Tutia is a mineral origin drug [3]. It is semimetal derived from copper. It occurs in blue crystalline masses [3,4]. it is prepared by roasting copper pyrites with sulfur [5]. It is dark brown in color, granular in appearance. The color of Tutia resembles to that of the feather of picoke so it is called NeelaTutia [6]. In English, it is called Verdigris [7]. Externally copper sulphate is applied to indolent ulcers, exuberant granulations, sinuses, fistula in ano and is used in solid or preferably liquid form as the solution (2 grains in an ounce of water) [3,6]. Important formulations in which Neela-Tutia is one of the ingredients are Kushta Tutia [8] Marhum zangar [9], Habbe dibbe-atfal [9], Manjan mufeed [9], Marham sa’afa 9 Salaya Tutia [1], Koahal Chikni dawa [9]
The drug was procured from the Pharmacy of the National Institute of Unani Medicine Bengaluru. The drug was properly identified by experts in the Reputed Institute Indian Bureau of Mine (IBM) Bengaluru.
The sample of Kushta Nella-Tutia was subjected to various methods of standardization including Classical, organoleptic as well as physicochemical methods.
Kushta Nella-Tutia has been tested for various classical tests like Test for lustreless, Floating test, Fineness test, Wall stick test, Lemon test and Curde test [10,11].
A small amount of Kushta was taken in a Petridish and observed for any lustre in daylight through a magnifying glass [2].
A small amount of Kushta was taken in a Petridish and observed for any lustre in daylight through a magnifying glass [2].
A small amount of Kushta was taken in between the thumb and index finger rubbed to see that the Kushta has entered into the lines of the finger and easily washed out from the cleavage of the lines [10].
A small amount of Kushta was sprinkled over the still water in a beaker to observe that the particles of Kushta floated over the surface of water or not [12].
A pinch of Kushta was mixed with a little amount of curd in a clean and dry Petri dish to observe any colour changes [12].
A pinch of Kushta was mixed with lemon juice in a test tube to observe any color changes [13].
The Kushta was examined by throwing on the wall to check whether it sticks on the wall or not [12].
The organoleptic evaluation of Kushta Nella-Tutia was done to rule out the color, odor, taste etc.
The physicochemical evaluation of Kushta Nella-Tutia was done by testing Loss of drying at 105ºC in hot air oven, Total ash, Acid insoluble ash, water-soluble ash were also assessed, pH of 1% and 10% solution was observed by digital pH meter. The methodology was followed according to the protocol of ASU drugs [14,15].
Organoleptic characters are important for standardization and proper identification of Herbal drugs. The observations and results for organoleptic characters of Kushta Nella-Tutia are presented in Table 1.
Table 1:Organoleptic characters of Kushta Nella-Tutia.| S. No. | Properties | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Color | Black blackish |
| 2 | Odour | Odorless |
| 3 | Taste | Tasteless |
| 4 | Touch | Smooth |
| 5 | Appearance | Lusterless |
Classical tests are important for proper identification of Herbal-Mineral drugs in general and Kushtas (Calx) in particular. These important classical parameters gave an idea about the purity of Kushtas. Kushta Nella-Tutia was evaluated on classical parameters like Wall stick test, fineness test, floating test, Lemon test, and curd test, the results are depicted in Table 2.
Table 2:Classical tests of Kushta Nella-Tutia.| S. No. | Tests | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Test for lustureness | Negative |
| 2 | Floating test | Positive |
| 3 | Fineness test | Very fine |
| 4 | Wall stick test | Positive |
| 5 | Lemon test | Positive |
| 6 | Curde test | Positive |
The physiochemical standards are the reliable parameters used for quality, purity, and identity of Mineral drugs. The following Physicochemical constants have been analyzed and results are given in Table 3.
Table 3: Physiochemical characters of Kushta Nella-Tutia| S.No | Parameters | Results (n=3) ± SD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOD at 105ºC | 1.53 ± 0.03 |
| 2 | Total ash (%w/w) | 1.54 ± 0.10 |
| 3 | Water soluble ash (%w/w) | 0.36 ± 0.12 |
| 4 | Acid insoluble ash | 0.46 ± 0.15 |
| 5 | pH (1%) | 6.24 ± 0.01 |
| 6 | pH (10%) | 5.24 ± 0.01 |
| 7 | Solubility | Soluble in organic solvents, but insoluble in water. |
Classical tests like tests for lustureness, floating test, fineness test, curd test, lemon test, and wall stick test are important parameters for standardization of Kushta. In the present study, the Kushta Nella-Tutia was evaluated physiochemically to set its physiochemical standards. The standards will be used for identification and quality control. For Herbal drugs standardization is an important measure for knowing the quality, identity, and purity of the drug. Standardization can help to maximize productivity, compatibility, Safety, repeatability or quality.
The present work has not been reported earlier, the results obtained could be considered as the standard for Kushta NellaTutia for future studies. Quality assurance is an integral part of all systems of medicine. In the present research work, an attempt has been made to standardize and develop scientific data for identification and Quality control of Kushta Nella-Tutia. The physicochemical methods are simple, accurate, rapid, and economic and can be used for routine quality control analysis of Herbal drugs. The Methodology, findings and physicochemical parameters evaluated in this study might be considered as standard parameters of Kushta Nella-Tutia
There are no conflicts of interest.
The authors have not received any funding to conduct this study.
The authors are highly thankful to all the Staff of IBM Bangaluru for properly identifying the drug. The authors would like to express their thanks to all the staff of the Pharmacology National Institute of Unani Medicine Bengaluru who helped directly or indirectly in compiling this research paper.
