Studies on metals and pesticide content in some Ayurvedic formulations containing Bacopa monnieri L.

OBJECTIVE： Ayurvedic formulations are preferred over other formulations as well as commercialized on broad level to treat various ailments. The World Health Organization has established certain guidelines for quality control of heavy metals and pesticide residues. Bacopa monnieri, a popular herb with immunomodulator and memory-enhancing properties is the chief constituent of several Ayurvedic formulations, which include Brahmi Vati （BV）, Brahmi Ghrita （BG） and Saraswat Churna （SC）, etc. In view of the World Health Organization guidelines, two products of each formulation from six different manufacturers were purchased from Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Bulanala-Varanasi, India for testing heavy metal and pesticide residue. METHODS： In the present study, all the formulations--BY, BG and SC--were selected for estimation of four heavy metals namely lead （Pb）, cadmium （Cd）, chromium （Cr） and nickel （Ni） by a plasma emission spectrophotometer. Organochlorine pesticidal residues were estimated for dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane （HCH） and a-endosulfan, etc. in total 12 samples of test formulations containing Bacopa monnieri L. using gas chromatography technique. RESULTS： Out of 12 samples, Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni were present in all samples but below the permissible limit. Although atrazine, aldrin, dialdrin were in below detection limit, but other pesticides were detected in some samples as oxamyl, hexachlorocyclohexanes （α-HCH, β-HCH and y-HCH）, dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene. CONCLUSION： The presence of heavy metals in evaluation of heavy metals and pesticide residue the formulations was low to cause toxicity. However n every batch is necessary.

In-house preparation and characterization of an Ayurvedic bhasma:Praval bhasma

OBJECTIVE： To prepare the Praval bhasma （PB） and to perform its characterization. METHODS： The preparation was performed strictly as per method prescribed in Ayurvedic formulary of India followed by preliminary tests including Nischandratva, Rekhapurnatvam, Varitaramtavm, Nisvadutvam and Amla pariksha. The physicochemical characterization was done with the use of instrumental techniques such as Fourier transform infrared （FTIR） spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X ray diffraction （XRD）, and energy dispersive X-ray （EDAX）. RESULTS： The FTIR bands appearing in final product spectra showed a significant shift in infrared vibration frequency as well as intensity when compared with the raw material, which was indicative of formulation of bhasma. The XRD analysis revealed that raw material contained CaCO3 whereas in case of final product of bhasma, CaO was identified. SEM analysis revealed the difference in particles size of bhasma （10-15 IJm） and raw material （100-150 IJm）. The EDAX analysis showed presence of different concentration of carbon in both the samples. CONCLUSION： It may be concluded that modern analytical techniques may be involved to evaluate the quality aspects of PB. The findings of the present research work may be helpful for further formulation and standardization of PB in routine analysis.