Application of Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Methods for Chemical Characterization of an Ayurvedic Herbo-Mineral Preparation: Maha Yograja Guggulu

Abstract

Rasa Shastra is an exclusive branch of ayurveda that uses processed metals and minerals in various combinations. Though the formulations are time tested, safety and quality concerns are being raised since the past two decades. In view of this, it becomes mandatory to generate quality control profiles of such formulations by following available parameters. Considering this, we attempted to develop standard manufacturing procedures of Maha Yogaraja Guggulu and generate preliminary physicochemical profiles using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography. The results from high-performance thin-layer chromatography revealed presence of organic constituents from plant material. X-ray diffraction indicated that the prepared drug contained cinnabar (mercury sulfide; Rasa sindhura), cassiterite (tin oxide; Vanga bhasma), litharge (lead oxide; Naga bhasma), and iron dioxide and magnetite (di-iron oxide; Loha and Mandura bhasma). The observations of the present study are preliminary and first of its kind that may be considered as baseline data for future studies.

Maha yogaraja guggulu (MYG) is a well-known ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation known for its Rasayana (rejuvenative), Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Vedanahara (analgesic) properties. It is in practice mainly for Vatavyadhi (specific disorders occurring due to Vata dosha), Kustha (skin diseases), Arshas (hemorrhoids), Prameha (diabetes), Vatarakta (gout), Nabhi shula (pain around umbilicus), Bhagandara (fistula-in-ano), Gulma (abdominal tumors), Swasa (dyspnea), Kasa (cough), Aruchi (anorexia), Retasdosha (seminal abnormalities), and Rajodosha (menstrual disorders).^1,2

Considering its importance in clinical use, the detailed standard operative procedures for the preparation, standardization, and chemical characterization of this formulation should be well documented with substantial evidences for worldwide acceptance. Hence, this study was conducted with the objectives to evolve standard operative procedures for the preparation as per classical ayurvedic texts and physicochemical profile of Maha Yogaraja Guggulu.

Materials and Methods

Pharmaceutical Processing

Maha yogaraja guggulu was prepared as per standard methods mentioned in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.³ The details about the ingredients used are presented in Table 1. The whole process of preparation was divided into following steps.

Table 1.

Formulation Composition of Maha Yogaraja Guggulu ^a.

Materials Used	Botanical/English Name	Part/Form Used	Proportion
Shunthi	Zingiber officinale Rose.	Dried rhizome	1 part
Pippali	Piper longum Linn.	Dried fruit	1 part
Chavya	Piper chaba Hunter.	Dried stem	1 part
Pippali mula	Piper longum Linn.	Dried root	1 part
Chitraka	Plumbago zeylanica Linn.	Dried root	1 part
Hingu	Ferula foetida Regel.	Exudates	1 part
Ajamoda	Apium graveolens Linn.	Dried fruit	1 part
Sarshapa	Brasica compestris Linn.	Dried seed	1 part
Shweta jiraka	Cuminum cyminum Linn.	Dried fruit	1 part
Krishna jiraka	Carum carvi Linn.	Dried fruit	1 part
Renuka	Vitex agnus-castus Linn.	Dried seed	1 part
Indrayava	Holarrhena antidysentrica Wall.	Dried seed	1 part
Patha	Cissampelos pareira Linn.	Dried root	1 part
Vidanga	Embelia ribes Burn. f.	Dried fruit	1 part
Gaja pippali	Sciendapsus officinalis Schott	Dried fruit	1 part
Katuki	Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.	Dried root/rhizome	1 part
Ativisha	Aconitum heterophyllum Wall ex Royle.	Dried root	1 part
Bharangi	Clerodendrum serratum Moon.	Dried root	1 part
Vacha	Acorus calamus Linn.	Dried rhizome	1 part
Murva	Marsdenia tenacissima Wight and Arn.	Dried root	1 part
Triphala			40 parts
Amalaki	Emblica officinalis Gaertn.	Dried pericarp
Haritaki	Terminalia chebula Retz.	Dried pericarp
Bibhitaka	Terminalia bellerica Roxb.	Dried pericarp
Guggulu	Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari	Oleo-gum resin	60 parts
Vanga	Tin	Bhasma (incinerated tin)	16 parts(320 g)
Rajata	Silver	Bhasma (incinerated silver)	16 parts
Naga	Lead	Bhasma (incinerated lead)	16 parts
Loha	Iron	Bhasma (incinerated iron)	16 parts
Abhraka	Biotite mica	Bhasma (incinerated mica)	16 parts
Mandura		Bhasma (incinerated sludge iron)	16 parts
Rasa sindoor	Sulfide of mercury (HgS)	A type of kupipakwa rasayana of mercury	16 parts

^aSource: The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Government of India, Part 1, 5:6.

Processing of Guggulu

One part (1700 g) of Guggulu was made into small pieces carefully by removing physical impurities like stone, glass, and so on, bundled into a Pottali, suspended in a vessel containing Triphala kashaya (3400 mL), and boiled on moderate flame maintaining the temperature at around 80°C. On complete dissolution of Guggulu in the liquid, the contents were filtered through mesh No. 60 (to remove possible insoluble impurities, if any) and the filtrate was again heated till the liquid converts into a semisolid mass. This semisolid mass was shifted into steel trays and dried in a tray drier at 50°C. The dried mass was taken out from the tray and used in the preparation of maha yogaraja guggulu.⁴

Preparation of Bhasmas (Vanga/Rajata/Naga/Lauha/Abhraka/Mandura/Rasa Sindhura)

Preparation of vanga bhasma

Vanga was melted and poured 3 times each in Tila taila, takra, kanjika, gomutra, and decoction of the seeds of kulattha (Dolichus biflorus L.).⁵ It was further processed for vishesha sodhana, where molten vanga was poured in the leaf juice of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo Linn.) and powder of haridra (Curcuma longa Linn.) consecutively 3 times.⁶

Vanga collected at this stage was again molten in an iron pan, added with powder of ashvattha (bark of Ficus religiosa Linn.) and chincha tvak (bark of Tamarindus indica Linn.) in small quantities, and stirred continuously with loha darvi (iron spatula). This process was continued till reduction of vanga to powder (jarita vanga).⁷ Furthermore, equal quantity of orpiment powder was added to this jarita vanga and levigated with lemon juice; small chakrikas (flat cakes) were prepared, dried, placed in sarava samputa, and subjected to gaja puta. From the second puta onwards, one fourth part of the orpiment powder was added to vanga. The process of puta was repeated 10 times to obtain vanga bhasma.

Preparation of rajata bhasma

Rajata patras were heated to red hot and immersed consecutively in tila taila, takra, kanjika, gomutra, and decoction of the seeds of kulattha. The whole process was repeated 3 times. Rajata patra thus obtained was further processed to vishesha sodhana by processing in agastya swarasa (leaf juice of Sesbania grandiflora) 3 times.⁸ In the next step, this was added with suddha hingula (processed cinnabar in lemon juice), ground well, and heated in urdhva patana yantra for 6 hours. On cooling, the apparatus was opened to collect rajata bhasma from the lower vessel.⁹

Preparation of naga bhasma

Molten naga was poured consecutively in tila taila, takra, kanji, gomutra, and decoction of the seeds of kulattha 3 times each in all the liquids. This was further collected in an iron pan and heated. On melting, powders of chincha tvak and asvattha tvak were sprinkled in small quantities and stirred with loha darvi (iron spatula). This process was continued till the molten naga is reduced to powder form (jarita naga). Furthermore, equal quantity of manahsila was added to jarita naga and levigated with kanji; small chakrikas were prepared, dried, and placed in sarava samputa and ardha gaja puta is given. This process was repeated 60 times to obtain naga bhasma of desired quality.¹⁰

Preparation of abhraka bhasma

Abhraka was heated to red hot and immersed in decoction of Triphala (3 myrobalans) 7 times.¹¹ The shodhita abhraka was bundled in a jute bag (into pottali form) with one fourth quantity of paddy and immersed in kanji ¹² for 3 days. Thereafter, the pottali was rubbed thoroughly and squeezed in the liquid itself so that only fine abhraka particles can escape through the holes of the bag. The bag was removed from the kanji and the contents were allowed to settle down. The supernatant liquid layers were separated carefully to collect fine particles of abhraka that had settled down in the container. These particles (dhanyabhraka) were dried and stored for further use.¹³

Dhanyabhraka was levigated with required quantity of arka ksheera (latex of Calotropis procera (Ait) R.Br.) for a day; chakrikas were prepared and dried in the sun. These chakrikas were placed in a sharava samputa, the junctions were sealed properly, and subjected to gaja puta. ¹⁴ The material thus obtained at the end of this puta was processed in similar way 6 more times. At the end of the seventh puta, the contents were levigated with nyagrodha mula kwatha (decoction of Ficus bengalensis roots), dried, and gaja puta was given. The process was repeated 3 times followed by levigation with Rambha rasa (juice of rhizome of Musa paradisiaca) and 7 gaja putas were given. Finally, this was grounded in nyagrodha mula kwatha and 3 gaja putas were given. After completion of these putas, the finished product abhraka bhasma was obtained.¹⁵

Preparation of mandura bhasma

Shuddha mandura ¹⁶ was levigated in triphala kvatha and chakrikas were prepared and dried that are placed in sharava samputa and subjected to heat in sadharan puta. The process was repeated 30 times to obtain red-colored mandura bhasma.¹⁷

Preparation of lauha bhasma

Lauha was heated to red hot and immersed 3 times each consecutively in tila taila, takra, kanji, gomutra, and decoction of the seeds of kulattha. This was further processed in equal quantities of triphala kashaya and gomutra.¹⁸ Lauha churna thus obtained was further processed through bhanupaka (processed in sun rays), followed by sthalipaka (heated with decoction of triphala in stainless steel vessel).^19,20 This was further levigated with triphala kwatha, Chakrikas were prepared, dried, and placed in sharava samputa, and subjected to gaja puta. The same procedure was repeated 60 times to get lauha bhasma of desired quality.²¹ The details of media used, nature, and number of putas and temperature used in the preparation of each bhasma are mentioned in Table 2.

Table 2.

Details of Media Used, Nature and Number of Puta, and Temperature Used for the Preparation of Each Bhasma.

Name of Bhasma	Reference	Media Used	Nature of Puta	Number of Putas
Vanga	Ayurved Sara Sangrah	Nimbu rasa	Ardha gaja puta	10
Rajata	Rasa Tarangini, Taranga 16	Nimbuk swarsa	Urdhav patan yantra	For 6 hours
Naga	Sarangdhar Samhita	Kanjika	Ardha gaja puta and gaja puta	60 (where last 10 putas are gaja puta)
Abhraka	Rasa Tarangini, Taranga 10	Arka ksheera	Gaja puta	Arka Ksheera—7 putas
		Nyagrodha mula kwatha		Nyagrodha mula kwatha—3 putas
		Kadali rasa		Kadali rasa—7 putas
Mandura	Rasa Tarangini, Taranga 20	Triphala kashaya	Sadharana puta	30
Lauha	Rasa Tarangini, Taranga 16	Triphala kashaya	Gaja puta	60

Preparation of rasa sindhura

Preparation of rasa sindhura involves preparation of kajjali, bhavana (levigation) with vatankura jala (decoction of leaf buds of Ficus bengalenesis Linn.), and processing in valuka yantra. ^22–24 Kajjali was prepared by triturating equal quantities of hingulottha parada (mercury obtained from cinnabar) and shuddha gandhaka (processed sulfur) in a khalva yantra (mortar pestle), till the formation of a black-colored, soft, lusterless fine powder like collyrium. This was further levigated with vatankura jala and then dried. This was filled in a strong amber-colored kachakupi (glass bottle) in valuka yantra (heating device) and subjected to heat by increasing the temperature gradually. Mild heat was applied for the first 6 hours, followed by moderate heat. The temperature pattern for the preparation of rasa sindhura is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

The temperature pattern for the preparation of rasa sindhura.

When the bottom of the bottle appears red, the mouth of the bottle was blocked with cork and sealed with mud mixed with lime and jaggery smeared cloth. This was followed by application of strong heat for the next 6 hours. Thereafter, the valuka yantra was allowed to cool down on its own (Figure 1). The bottle was then removed from the valuka yantra and the mud-smeared cloth was scrapped with a knife; the bottle was broken down carefully to collect crystallized rasa sindhura from the neck of the bottle.

Preparation of Finished Product

Shuddha guggulu (1.2 kg) was dissolved in 3 L of water to prepare a thick paste, to which fine powders of other components were added in end runner followed by levigation for 3 days. At the end of this process, the material was removed from the end runner, shifted to clean stainless steel trays, and dried at 50°C.

The dried material was converted into granules by passing through No. 40 sieve and shifted to the tablet section. Two percent of talcum powder was added as excipient to the granules and were compressed into tablets of 125 mg in a rotary tablet machine.

Physicochemical Analysis

Physicochemical analysis, that is, description, estimation of loss on drying, ash content, acid insoluble ash, water/alcohol soluble extractive, pH, and so on; qualitative/quantitative elemental testing; residual pesticide; microbiological examination; and tablet parameters, that is, hardness, friability, average weight, dissolution time, and so on, were carried out by following standard methods as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India^25–27 guidelines. The quantitative estimation of heavy metals, that is, Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Sn was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Analyst 400), and the other elements that is, Ca, Mg, Cu, B, Mn, Al, Cr, Fe, and Ag were analyzed on ICP-AES (THERMO EECTRON Corporation’s model IRIS INTREPRID II XDL). However, sulfur and silica were quantified by using conventional methods.²⁷

High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Method

Sample preparation

Two grams of powders each of the 3 batches of maha yogaraja guggulu were soaked overnight separately in 20 mL of methanol. The solutions were continuously stirred for 6 hours and kept for the next 18 hours and then the samples were filtered, dried, and made into 10% solution.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography was performed on thin-layer chromatography plates precoated with 0.25 μm thin layers of silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ (E. Merck). Ten microliters of methanolic solution of formulation (3 batches) were applied on the plates as bands 8.0 mm wide by use of a Linomat-V applicator (CAMAG, Switzerland) fitted with a 100 μL syringe (Hamilton, Switzerland). The application positions X and Y were both 10 mm, to avoid edge effects. Linear ascending development to a distance of 80 mm with toluene–ethyl acetate–formic acid 10:3:1 (v/v) as mobile phase was performed in a twin-trough glass chamber previously saturated with vapors of the mobile phase for 20 minutes. The plates were dried in air and visualized under 254 nm and 366 nm for ultraviolet detection and taken the fingerprints as evident. The same thin-layer chromatography plate was also derivatized with anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent and visualized in white light.

X-Ray Diffraction Study

Powder X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out using Rigaku Ultima-IV X-ray diffractometer with CuKα radiation (λ = 1.54 A) operating at 40 kV and 30 mA. The pattern was recorded for angle (2θ) ranging from 10° to 100° at a scanning rate of 1°/second and scan step of 0.1°. X-ray diffraction pattern of maha yogaraja guggulu (3 batches) is shown in the spectra. Sample identification was done by matching d-spacing with the standard database.

Results and Discussion

Organoleptic observations show that maha yogaraja guggulu is in the form of a brownish-colored tablet having characteristic pleasant odor and slightly acrid in taste. The qualitative analysis shows positivity for the presence of mercury, silver, sulfur, calcium, copper, iron, and lead. Chemical analysis revealed 2.39% of lead, 1.31% of mercury, 2.25% of sulfur, 4.36% of iron, 1.63% of silver, 2.73% of calcium, 1.08% of magnesium, and 1.18% of silica along with other trace elements like aluminum, manganese, arsenic, copper, tin, boron, chromium, and cadmium, which were found in <1.0% range. Moisture content 3.62% was found when determining loss on drying at 105°C. Total ash content (44.38%) is ash left after burning of organic and volatile matter (56.29%). As shown in the observations, water soluble (12.03%) and alcohol soluble (9.06%) matter were also present in this formulation. The drug also tested for residual pesticides and microbial contamination, which was found to be within permissible limits (Table 3). The results from high-performance thin-layer chromatography, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, revealed presences of organic constituents from plant material.

Table 3.

Preliminary Physicochemical Profile of Maha Yogaraja Guggulu.

Parameter Tested	Observations
Organoleptic characters
Color	Blackish
Taste	Acrid
Odor	Pleasant
Appearance	Tablet
Physicochemical
Identification	Yields the reaction characteristics of silver, mercury, lead, tin, and iron
Loss on drying, % w/w	2.0-5.0
Total ash, % w/w	43.0-46.0
Acid-insoluble ash, % w/w	12.0-14.50
Water-soluble extractive, % w/w	11.0-14.0
Alcohol (90%) soluble extractive, % w/w	8.0-10.0
Resin content, % w/w	12.50-14.0
pH of aqueous extract	5.0-6.0
Organic and volatile matter, % w/w	55.50-57.50
Specific gravity	0.9980-0.9990
Particle size distribution
10%	2.15-2.76 µm
50%	11.01-20.35 µm
90%	54.11-81.65 µm
Assay of elements
Silver (% w/w)	1.5-2.0
Iron (% w/w)	4.0-5.0
Sulfur (% w/w)	2.0-2.5
Silica (% w/w)	0.5-2.0
Calcium (% w/w)	2.5-3.0
Copper(% w/w)	0.1-0.5
Boron (% w/w)	0.01-0.30
Manganese (% w/w)	0.05-0.07
Magnesium (% w/w)	0.50 -1.50
Chromium (% w/w)	0.03-0.05
Aluminum (% w/w)	0.50 -1.0
Mercury (% w/w)	1.0 -1.5
Lead (% w/w)	2.0-2.5
Arsenic (% w/w)	0.3-0.4
Cadmium (% w/w)	0.1-0.2
Tin (ppm)	350-750
Residual pesticide (μg/kg)
Alpha and beta HCH	Not detected
Gamma HCH	Not detected
Delta HCH	Not detected
DDT and metabolites	Not detected
D.T.	18-20 minutes
Hardness	2.5 kg/cm2
Friability	0.30-0.60%
Average weight	125-127 mg/tablet
Microbial contamination
Total aerobic count	20 000-40 000
Coliform	Not detected
Escherichia coli	Not detected
Salmonella sp.	Not detected
Staphylococcus aureus	Not detected
Yeasts	Not detected
Molds	70-100
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	Absent
High-performance thin-layer chromatography	Incorporated

Figure 2.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography profiles of maha yogaraja guggulu.

Figure 3.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography fingerprints of maha yogaraja guggulu.

The X-ray diffraction patterns of the 3 batches, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and Table 4, are nearly identical, showing clear crystalline phases of the inorganic constituents. The X-ray diffraction results have indicated that all the samples contained cinnabar (mercury sulfide added as rasa sindhura), cassiterite (tin oxide, vanga bhasma), litharge (lead oxide; naga bhasma), and iron dioxide and magnetite (di-iron oxide; loha and mandura bhasma). Some clear but weak signature of elemental tin is also seen. No signature of rajat bhasma could be identified in these spectra, indicating that the method used for its preparation did not yield any crystalline products or the signature is buried under the strong lines of other constituents. The X-ray diffraction lines at 21.5° and 49.5° could show the presence of elemental tin. The crystalline form of abhrak bhasma does not appear to be present. It can be seen that 3 X-ray diffraction patterns on the samples are qualitatively same in the relative intensities of the peaks, and the X-ray diffraction results indicate that the inorganic contents have remained intact over time.

Figure 4.

X-ray diffraction pattern of maha yogaraja guggulu.

Figure 5.

Overlay of X-ray diffraction pattern of maha yogaraja guggulu.

Table 4.

d-Spacing and 2-Theta (°) Values of X-Ray Diffraction Analysis.

2 theta	d (A)	Size (A)	Chemical Formula	Phase Data Name	cps
21.5	4.1	214.2	Sn	Tin (1,1,0)	12.7
26.5	3.4	381.0	HgS, SnO2	Cinnabar (1,0,1), cassiterite, syn (1,1,0)	271.0
28.0	3.2	106.0	HgS	Cinnabar (0,0,3)	17.2
28.7	3.1	217.2	PbO	Litharge (1,0,1)	16.1
29.9	3.0	191.0	Fe3O4	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (2,2,0)	35.0
31.1	2.9	268.0	HgS	Cinnabar (1,0,2)	123.0
34.0	2.6	220.1	SnO2	Cassiterite, syn (1,0,1)	122.3
35.4	2.5	336.0	Fe3O4, PbO	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (3,1,1), litharge (0,0,2)	47.0
37.9	2.4	297.0	HgS, SnO2	Cinnabar (1,0,3), cassiterite, syn (2,0,0)	27.0
43.4	2.1	117.0	HgS, Fe3O4, Sn	Cinnabar (1,1,0), iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (4,0,0), tin (2,2,0)	17.8
45.7	2.0	228.0	HgS, PbO	Cinnabar (1,0,4), litharge (2,0,0)	21.5
49.5	1.8	231.7	Sn	Tin (3,1,0)	12.9
51.7	1.8	593.0	HgS, SnO2	Cinnabar (2,0,1), cassiterite, syn (2,1,1)	95.0
52.8	1.7	235.0	HgS	Cinnabar (1,1,3)	17.4
54.7	1.7	224.0	HgS, SnO2, PbO	Cinnabar (2,0,2), cassiterite, syn (2,2,0), litharge (2,1,1)	26.0
61.8	1.5	245.3	SnO2	Cassiterite, syn (3,1,0)	14.3
62.5	1.5	246.2	Fe3O4, SnO2, Sn	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (4,4,0), cassiterite, syn (2,2,1), tin (1,1,2)	6.8
64.8	1.4	249.2	HgS, SnO2	Cinnabar (2,0,4), cassiterite, syn (1,1,2)	22.8
66.0	1.4	914.0	Fe3O4, SnO2	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (5,3,1), cassiterite, syn (3,0,1)	32.0
69.7	1.3	29.0	HgS, SnO2, Sn	Cinnabar (2,1,0), cassiterite, syn (3,1,1), tin (2,0,2)	3.0
71.2	1.3	258.9	Fe3O4, SnO2	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (6,2,0), cassiterite, syn (2,0,2)	4.9
78.7	1.2	272.2	SnO2	Cassiterite, syn (3,2,1)	12.7
83.7	1.2	282.6	SnO2, PbO	Cassiterite, syn (2,2,2), litharge (1,1,4)	7.7
89.8	1.1	297.0	Fe3O4, SnO2	Iron di-iron (III) oxide, magnetite HP, syn (7,3,1), cassiterite, syn (3,1,2)	5.9
90.9	1.1	212.0	HgS, SnO2, PbO	Cinnabar (2,0,7), cassiterite, syn (4,1,1), litharge (3,2,1)	6.0

Conclusion

This study reveals that yogaraja guggulu prepared following the classical guidelines seems to be very effective in converting the macro elements into therapeutically effective medicines in micro form. Well-prepared herbo-mineral drugs offer many advantages over plant medicines due to their longer shelf-life, lesser doses, easy storing facilities, better palatability, and so on. The inferences and the standards laid down in this study certainly can be utilized as baseline data of standardization and quality assurance of this herbo-mineral formulation. It will be helpful in laying down further pharmacopoeia standards of maha yogaraja guggulu.