N ANALOGOUS STUDY OF PHARMACEUTICO-ANALYTICAL ASPECTS OF TAL SINDOOR AND SHILA SINDUR
Parada (mercury) and Gandhaka (sulphur) are the chief materials used in Rasa Shastra. Kupipakwa yogas (sublime product formed from mercury and sulphur) are one of four Murchita parada yogas. Tal Sindoor (TS) and Shila Sindur (SS) are prepared with Suddha parada (purified mercury), Suddha gandhaka (purified sulphur), Suddha haratala (purified orpiment)/Suddha manahshila (purified realgar) respectively. TS and SS are prepared with Hg+S+As 2 S 3 and Hg+S+As 2 S 2 respectively as ingredients. Though these compounds contain same ingredients, mode of preparation and similar indications, but they vary with a difference of one sulphur molecule in chemical form for which they greatly vary in their clinical applicability, efficacy and dosage. The present study was conducted to e valuate the comparative pharmaceutical and analytical aspects between TS and SS. TS and SS were prepared by adopting similar temperature pattern. Four samples each of TS and SS were prepared. The comparative observations, precautions and physical properties of the prepared samples were recorded. Evaluation of observations of pharmaceutical procedure revealed that during preparation of SS excessive accumulation of sulphur near the neck of Kachakupi (glass bottle) was observed, prolonged stage of fumes and st rong typical odor of arsenic, fuel consumption, manual labor and total duration of all samples of SS were relatively more than respective samples of TS. Intermediate product Kajjali (collyrium like product resultant of triturating Hg and S) and final produ cts TS and SS were subjected to organoleptic test as per Ayurvedic science, qualitative and qualitative analysis with modern parameters. Both products were prepared according to classics, the hygienic conditions maintained during preparation was monitored by evaluating microbial contamination. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of TS and SS were similar. Microbial load of infectious species were absent. Hence both TS and SS were prepared under hygienic conditions, and preparation of TS was easy and safe compared to SS