journel

1. Journel presentation
Phaemaceutical standardization
of Apamarga Kshara
Hasmukh R Jadav, R Galib, Pradeep Kumar Prajapati
I.P.G.T & R.A Jamnagar

2. Introduction
•Ksharas are the water soluble substances obtained from the water
soluble ashes of herbal drugs.
•Different opinion exist regarding specifications for the nature of
vesels, the proportion of water, time for settling , cloth folding , etc
exist .
•The method of preparation is elaborated in Susruta samhita,
Sharangadhara samhita, Ashtanga hrudaya, rasatarangini etc.
•It is an attempt to subject the ashes to repeated washing and
prepare kshara and develop preliminary physicochemical profile
of apamarga kshara.

3. Collection of Apamarga
panchanga
Fresh apamarga panchanga was collected during October to
November 2012. Authentication of Apamarga was done on the
basis of pharmacognostical characters.

4. Vessel for kshara nirmana
•Generally ksharajala is prepared by using earthern, steel or
plastic vessel, Collecting supernatant layer of ksharajala from
these vessels is inconvenient and difficult, hence a new vessel has
been designed for this purpose.
•Cylindrical steel vessel of 10l capacity with 23.9 cm of depth and
22.2 cm diameter was taken . After a few trials an outlet was made
in the wall of the vessel about 3.2 cm above from the bottom that
allows draining of clear liquids leaving the sediments in the
container.

5. Preparation of apamarga
kshara
Apamarga kshara was prepared as per the reference of
Rasatarangini. The whole process was divided to 3 phases.
1. Preparation of ash
Mature apamarga panchanga was collected and dried completely
in sunlight for 8 days. After removing the physical impurities;
dried panchanga was burnt completely by placing it in a big iron
pan. After self cooling. White ashes were collected.

6. 2. Preparation of kshara jala
•One part of the ash was collected in a specially designed steel
vessel and 4 times of water was added to it. The contents were
mashed thoroughly with hands and left undisturbed for 3 hours.
•After that the clear supernatant liquid layer was collected through
the outlet and filtered through three layered cloth.
•The residue ash was again mashes with 6 L of potable water and
kept undisturbed for the next 3 h followed by a collection of the
second filtrate. A similar method was followed for the 3rd time to
collect third filtrate.

7. Preparation of kashara
All the three filtrates of ksharodaka were individually subjected to
heat to evaporate the water content and to obtain kshara, and by
following this method kshara was prepared in 5 batches.

8. Physico chemical parametres
•LOD at 110 degree Celsius
•Ash value
•Acid insoluble ash
•pH
•Water soluble extractives
carried out at pharmaceutical chemistry laboratory IPGT & RA
Atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma
(ICP-AES): one of the most common method for elemental
analysis and useful for standardization as well as to develop an
analytical profile. All samples of trial drugs were analyzed for 10
elements.

9. Estimation of sodium and
potassium ion by flame
photometer
Estimation of sodium and potassium ions by flame
photometer was carried out at the analytical laboratory.

10. Observation and results
•Apamarga burnt quickly and easily as it was completely dry.
•Comparatively seeds took more time to burn.
•The Ash obtained was whitish with a characteristic taste.
•59.81% weight loss was observed after drying.
•11.90% Ash was obtained from dried panchanga.
•After addition of water the contents tasted salty and had a
characteristic odor and was yellowish in colour.
•Total time taken to prepare ksharajala was 4 hours(single wash).
•76% ksharajala was obtained after wash.

11. -On heating ksharajala the yellowish liquid turned to brownish
semi solid aggregated mass with a creaking sound.
-The first wash yielded 21.23% kshara.
-The second wash = 9.38% kshara.
-Third wash = 4.76% kshara.
Proving that the sediments at the end of the first wash need not be
discarded and should be washed repeatedly.
While attempts for further washing failed to yield significant
kshara, hence after the third wash the sediments were discarded.

12. Observations and results
obtained during the preparation
of Apamarga kshara.
Weight of fresh apamarga panchanga = 53.49 kg
Weight of dried apamarga panchanga = 21.50 kg
Loss of weigh after drying = 31.99 kg
Percentage loss after drying = 59.81 %
Weight of ash obtained = 2.559 kg
Percentage off ash obtained from dried panchanga = 11.90 w/w

13. Results of apamarga kshara
obtained in different washes.
Stages First wash Second
wash
Third
wash
Total of three
washes
Ksharajala(L) 6.01 6.1 6.12 18.23
Percentage of
ksharajala
75.13 76.45 76.50 76.03
Kshara(%w/w) 21.23 9.38 4.76 35.38
Kshara(% v/v) 9.13 4.1 1.97 15.2

14. -Dried panchanga should be made into small pieces for better
drying.
-The plant should be burnt in a vessel to prevent contamination
during burning.
-For proper burning the panchanga should be added little by
little to the fire.
-Ash and water were taken volumetrically .
-De-mineralized water was used to avoid to avoid any
interference from the organic salts present in tap water.
-Stainless steel or a suitable non reactive vessel should be used to
prevent possible chemical reactions.

15. •Ash should be rubbed well in water for proper mixing and
allowed to settle down for atleast 3 hrs.
•Ksharajala is to be attained cautiously through the outlet
without disturbing the vessel.
•A clean multifolded cotton cloth should be used to filter
ksharajala in order to avoid sediments in the filtrate.
•Initially ksharaja was yellowish coloured clear liquid.
•The colour changed from yellow to brownish gradually as the
temperature raised.
•Kshara started sticking to the vessel at the final stages.
•It was stirred continuously.
•White coloured kshara was obtained finally.

16. Discussion
•Kshara is considered as a water soluble ash but all water soluble
content cannot be obtained within a single wash.
•3 washes were done to yield maximim yield.
•Organoleptic characters of apamarga kshara after all the 3 washes
were like slimy touch, white colour, salty taste, characteristic
odour and fine powder appearance.
•Material absorbs moisture during storage thus proliferation of
micro-organisms.
•There was considerable difference observed in loss on drying for
kshara obtained from 3 different washes.
•Total ash depends on the care taken in the preparation of drug .

17. •In the determination of total ash value the carbon must be
removed at as low temperature (450 degree C) as possible
because the alkali chlorides are more volatile at high
temperature and will be lost.
•pH of the 3 samples are 10.61, 11.12, 10,72 respectively
indicating their site of absorption and action of drug .
•Analysis of ayurvedic drugs reveals a great about their
elemental composition.
•ICP- AES revealed that sodium , potassium, calcium and
magnesium are the main constituents of all samples.
•Heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury were not
detected.

19. •Silica and iron showed around same results in all sample of trial
drugs.
•Na, K, Ca, Mg constantly increased in the kshara obtained from
first, second and third wash respectively.
Conclusion
•the residue after the first wash should not be discarded and
should be processed further twice to obtain more kshara.
•After three washes 35.8% yield was obtained.