CHARACTERIZATION OF MAKARADHWAJA BY INSTRUMENTAL, PHYSICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS

Ancient Ayurvedic formulation Makaradhwaja (a compound of Gold, Mercury and Sulphur) has been characterized in the present study adopting latest instrumental methods such as XRay Diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR analysis) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD data gives the size of the drug particle ranging from 28.62 to 29.08 nm. In FTIR graph broad peaks were arise at 3474 cm-1and 1637 cm-1 due to presence of the Makaradhwaja in the sample. The molecule seems to be spherical shaped in SEM micrograph (images obtain from 500 ?m ? 1 ?m range). Evaluation of Physical properties has been performed side by side for quality control of the drug. Two weeks study for acute oral toxicity resulted in no mortalities or evidence of adverse effects, implying that the formulation is nontoxic. Throughout 14 days of the treatment no changes in behavioural pattern, clinical sign and body weight of rat in both control and treatment groups. Also there were no any significant elevations observed in the biochemical analysis of the blood serum. The overall results suggest that Makaradhwaja is safe and it can be administered as pharmaceutical formulation.