PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF KUSHTA KHARMOHRA (CYPREA MONETA CALX): AN ADVANCE TOWARDS STANDARDIZATION
Mohd Tariq*1, Khaleequr Rahman2, Roohi Zaman3, Shahid Shah Chaudhary1, Shaikh Imtiyaz4
1Dept of Ilmul Saidla (Pharmacy), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore, India.
2Lecturer, Dept of Ilmul Saidla (Pharmacy), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore 560091, India.
3Reader and HOD, Dept of Ilmul Saidla (Pharmacy), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore 560091, India.
4Research Scholar, Dept of Moalajat (Medicine), National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore 560091, India.
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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