Article: PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MUNDA LOHA AND MANDOORA BHASMAS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR HAEMATINIC EFFECT IN ALBINO RABBITS

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.100249

Pages: 112-120

Author: Sujith A, Rajam R *, Sasikumar Nechiyil, Shibi IG

Abstract: Rasasastra practitioners are well-versed in the processing of metals and minerals before making it applicable to the human body as medicines. South Indian Physicians flawlessly and keenly use some loha preparations for many ailments. One among them is bhasmam made from Munda loha which is used in place of Mandoora for making bhasmam. The present study was carried out to identify the physicochemical nature of Munda loha and Mandoora and the changes associated with the transformation of the same to the bhasmam state. Modern techniques like XRD, ICP-AES, SEM, FTIR and so forth are made use for the analysis. Munda loha (ML) is found to be fayalite-orthorhombic and the Munda loha bhasmam (MLB) obtained is αFe₂O₃. The Haematinic effect of the Bhasmam prepared from Munda loha and Mandoora are studied using Albino rabbits for comparing their respective activity. It is experimentally seen that Munda loha bhasmam has better action than that of Mandoora bhasmam (MB).

Keyword: Munda loha, Mandoora, Physicochemical, Haematinic effect, Animal study