Scientific Insights in the Preparation and Characterisation of a Lead-based Naga Bhasma
Authors
S Nagarajan
Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
S Krishnaswamy
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Brindha Pemiah
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
K Rajan
Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Umamaheswari Krishnan
Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
S Sethuraman
Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Keywords:
Sodhana (purification), naga bhasma, lead, lead oxide, lead sulphide, calcination
Abstract
Naga bhasma is one of the herbo-metallic preparations used in Ayurveda, a traditional Indian System of Medicine. The preparation of Naga bhasma involves thermal treatment of ‘Naga’ (metallic lead) in a series of quenching liquids, followed by reaction with realgar and herbal constituents, before calcination to prepare a fine product. We have analysed the intermediates obtained during different stages of preparation to understand the relevance and importance of different steps involved in the preparation. Our results show that ‘Sodhana’ (purification process) removes heavy metals other than lead, apart from making it soft and amenable for trituration. The use of powders of tamarind bark and peepal bark maintains the oxidation state of lead in Jarita Naga (lead oxide) as Pb2+. The repeated calcination steps result in the formation of nano-crystalline lead sulphide, the main chemical species present in Naga bhasma.
Keywords: Sodhana (purification), naga bhasma, lead, lead oxide, lead sulphide, calcination
Author Biographies
S Nagarajan, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Brindha Pemiah, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine, Sastra University, Thanjavur-613 401, India
K Rajan, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
Umamaheswari Krishnan, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
S Sethuraman, Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Thanjavur-613 401, India
School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Thanjavur-613 401, India
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