Physicochemical Profiling of Linga Mathirai – A Cinnabar Based Pill

Abstract

Background
Purified Lingam a based medicine is anti-inflammatory and cures diseases that occurs in Naadi (Blood Vessel) and Uruthira Vayvu (Cardiac pain). The quality of Linga Mathirai (LM) was analyzed by Physico chemical characterization to provide an evidence for its safety. LM was prepared by triturating equal proportion of purified powdered Lingam and Vengaaram (Borax) in breast milk for 3 h. The test samples LM collected at different shelf period were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative estimation. Preliminary physical parameters such as total ash, moisture content and extractive values were analyzed. The functional groups were analyzed by FT-Raman Spectroscopic study. The content of lead and cadmium were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic study. The concentration of elements in oxide form as analyzed through Energy dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence. The concentration of trace and heavy metals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometer. Microbial loads were analyzed as per conventional procedure. LM has long stability period having better quality but concentrations of mercury and sulphur was beyond the WHO permissible limit. WHO framed the permissible limits of
heavy metals in herbal raw drugs only but not for traditional compound drugs particularly herbo-metallic formulations. Linga Mathirai is a purely mineral formulation processed under continuous triturating with breast milk which has the properties of detoxifying as well as antagonist against the mercurial compounds. Even though LM contains high concentrations of mercury and sulphur, to validate its safety, the toxicity studies in animal model have to be
warranted.