Short Communication
Year: 2020 | Month: August | Volume: 10 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 90-95
Evaluation and Comparison of Buffering Capacity of Apamarga and Phalasha Ksharas
Premalatha Shetty1, Seema Mandi B2, Pampanna Gouda H3
1Scientist, Department of Biotechnology & Microbiology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Centre for Research in Ayurveda and Allied Sciences, Udupi-574118, Karnataka, India
2Professor, Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Udupi-574118 Karnataka, India;
3Professor, Department of Samhita, SDM Institute of Ayurveda, Bangalore, Karnataka, India;
Corresponding Author: Premalatha Shetty
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera) and Phalasha (Butea monosperma) ksharas are two of the extensively employed Ayurvedic medications in treatment skin diseases. Alkaline nature of Kshara is believed destroy the vitiated tissues. Ability of these preparations to resist pH may give insight to the characteristics of Ksharas.
Methodology: Mrudu ksharas of Apamarga and Phalasha were prepared through series of stages as recommended by Acharya Sushruta. The ability of the ash and Kshara suspensions, and Kshara jalas to resist changes in pH was assessed by acidification with 5N HCl and compared with the buffers used in bioscience laboratories.
Results: All the preparations were found to be highly alkaline in nature exhibiting pH values in the range of 10-12. Apamarga preparations obtained at all the three stages namely the ash, Kshara jala and the final product Kshara were characterized by high buffering capacity. Phalasha ash exhibited strong buffering ability. The proton neutralizing ability of Phalash kshara jala and kshara preparations however, were significantly lower than the respective Apamarga preparations. It appears that significant fraction of components responsible for the buffering ability in Phalasha ash are not carried over into its soluble fraction (Jala). Although the pH of the preparations remained high, the buffering ability of the Phalasha jala and Kshara preparations were significantly lower than the respective Apamarga preparations, indicating that buffering ability of a Kshara can be an interesting characteristic to be considered in the study of Ksharas.
Key words: Phalasha Kshara, Apamarga Kshara, pH, Buffering capacity