Abstract

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF KUSHTA KHARMOHRA (CYPREA MONETA CALX): AN ADVANCE TOWARDS STANDARDIZATION

Abstract

Unani is a matchless system of medicine which uses drugs of animal and mineral origin in the form of kushta (very fine powder obtained through calcination). During calcination (taklees) raw drugs are made biocompatible through specific processes. Kharmohra (Cyprea moneta Linn) is one such drug which has been used in the form of kushta since antiquity. It has a wide range of therapeutic applications in diseases including asthma (Zeeq-un-Nafas), gout (Niqras) etc. Presently there is no scientific data available about standard kushta kharmohra. Therefore present study was aimed to prepare kushta kharmohra by subjecting it to tasfiya (purification) and taklees, and commence on physiochemical analysis of the prepared kushta with an eye toward the standardization of kushta kharmohra. To assure the quality of the prepared kushta, various classical tests like floating test, fineness test, and finger test were done. The results of the classical test showed that the quality of kushta prepared was good and in confirmation to the properties mentioned in classical text. Further modern quality control parameters like bulk density, tapped density, Hausner’s ratio, Carr’s compressibility index, pH, loss of weight on drying at 1050C, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, water insoluble ash, water soluble extractive value and loss of weight on ignition were also carried out. Results showed that the finished product has poor flow properties, minimum moisture content and negligible amount of extractive values. The result obtained might be specified as the quality control parameters of standard kushta kharmohra.

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