Analytical profile of Kukkutanda Tvak Bhasma (incinerated hen egg shells) prepared by two different methods

BACKGROUND: Kukkutanda Tvak Bhasma (KTB) (incinerated hen egg shells) is one of the important calcium-rich medicines used to treat leukorrhea, urinary tract infections, etc. Ancient scholars suggested that KTB prepared with processed Hingula (cinnabar) is more potent than Bhasma prepared without Hingula. Hence, in the present study, an attempt has been made to prepare incinerated hen egg shells using two different methods with and without cinnabar and their analytical profiles have been developed. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To develop analytical profile of KTB prepared by two different methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two samples of KTB were prepared. Sample KTB-A was prepared by Kumari Swarasa (juice of Aloe vera Tourn. Linn.) and sample KTB-B was prepared in the presence of Hingula as a medium for Marana using electric muffle furnace. The final product of both the samples of Bhasma were analyzed by organoleptic characteristics, physicochemical parameters and advanced sophisticated instrumental technologies such as particle size detection, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: 22.75% and 41.16% of Calcium was detected in samples KTB-A and KTB-B, respectively. 0.29% and 0.15% of magnesium was found in samples KTB-A and KTB-B respectively. Both the samples of Bhasma were found to contain calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)(2). CONCLUSIONS: Minimum four Puta (incineration cycles) with average 800°C temperature is required to prepare KTB through electric muffle furnace using Kumari Swarasa and processed Hingula as a medium. An average particle size was found as 9.35 μm and 9.97 μm in samples KTB-A and KTB-B, respectively. XRD study reveals that raw Kukkutanda Tvak is CaCO(3) (calcite) and CaCO(3) (calcium carbonate) whereas both the Bhasma contain CaH(2)O(2) (portlandite syn) and Ca(OH)(2).