Pharmaceutical and physicochemical study of Vasa and Palasha Kshara

Abstract

Background: In Upanishad (Vedanta), the use of word “Kshara†is found but nothing has been described in detail. Vasa Adhatoda Vasica (leen) and Palash Kshara (Butea monosperma Lam.) is a prestigious and potential herbal formulation of Ayurveda. In Sushruta Samhita Vasa and Palash Kshara are mentioned for various aliments of disease such as Palash Kshara: Useful in Agnimandhya, Gulma, Plihayakritvriddhi, Mutrakruccha, Anah, Grahni, Visuchika, Sarkara and Vasa Kshara: Useful in Gulma, Kasa, Svasa, Grahni, Arsa, Ajirna, Aruchi, Asmari, Sarkara. However, there is a lack of scientific work on related to Pharmaceutical and physicochemical Study of Vasa and Palash Kshara. Objective: To prepare and physicochemically evaluate Vasa and Palasha Kshara. Materials and Methods: Vasa and Palasha Kshara was prepared as per Ayurvedic text and characterized by organoleptic characters, physico-chemical parameters, qualitative chemical tests, and various modern analytical techniques, viz., Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis. Results: This study clearly revealed that percentage yield of Palasha Kshara and Vasa Kshara obtained from completely dried stems of Palsash and Panchanga of Vasa are 2.28 and 9.39, respectively. Palasha and Vasa Kshara showed the presence of sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbonate ions. Sulfate ions were not detected in Palash Kshara while phosphate ions in Vasa Kshara. Conclusion: The FTIR study of Palash Kshara indicates the presence of alkyl, corbonyl or ester and halide group. FTIR report of Vasa Kshara showed the presence of alkyl, carboxylic or nitro-aliphatic compound, trisubstituted alkenes, and cis-disubstituted alkenes. The detection of heavy metal - Hg and Cd was not detected by the results obtained from ICP-AES.