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ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572

PHYSICO CHEMICAL STANDARDIZATION OF DIFFERENT SAMPLES OF SUVARNAMAKSHIK (CHALCOPYRITE)

Abstract

Author(s): Preetam Pradip Itnar*, Pradip Ramchandra Itnar

Rasashastra is branch of Ayurveda dealing with mainly metallic and herbomineral preparations. These formulations are unique due to its innate qualities like quick action, low dose, tastelessness, prolonged shelf life and better palatability. But due to ever increasing demand of these drugs and depletion of natural resources, they are replaced with substandard and adulterated samples these days. Suvarnamakshik (Chalcopyrite) is the drug mentioned under the category of Maharasavarga(group of minerals)in ancient texts. But, on pilot survey of this particular drug it was found that the samples of Suvarnamakshik available in market were not genuine. Hence, this study was undertaken to ensure the procurement of potent Suvarnamakshik samples with application of appropriate tests along with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry for elemental assay. Three samples were included in study, sample collected from Khetri copper mines, Rajasthan (SMKh) was found authentic which had presence of 20.72% of copper as compared to other two market samples (SMAl and SMKo) which showed 0.84% and 0.95% copper respectively. Copper being the key element in Suvarnamakshik authentic sample will definitely prove beneficial in therapeutics.