Abstract

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES: A TOOL TO PREDICT CLINICAL EFFICACY OF MUDS

Shah B. A.* and Sawant K. K.

ABSTRACT

Muds differ in their constituents depending on their geographical and topographical origin. As mud is a mixture of many different types of organic and inorganic complex substances and isolating any one out of them is very difficult, the present study was aimed towards efforts to correlate some of the physicochemical properties like colour, pH, electrical conductivity, elemental composition and humic acid content of different types of muds with their therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorder like psoriasis. Muds from four different regions of India were collected and it was observed that mud which was collected from Dwarka (Gujarat, India) was light yellow in colour, neutral in pH, contained more of carbonates and was less effective in psoriasis. Amongst the two collected from Kerala (India) one was black in colour and the other was brown in colour. Black mud was slightly acidic, rich in elements (Ca, Mg) and humic acid and had highest electrical conductivity while brown was neutral, had optimum concentration of calcium and magnesium for skin penetration and was more effective on psoriasis. The one collected from Vadodara (India) was reddish brown in colour, neutral in pH, and was found effective secondary to Kerala Brown, in psoriasis. Correlating the data of clinical studies with soil‟s physicochemical properties like colour, pH, electrical conductivity, humic acid content, and concentration of elements of soil we could conclude that the soil which was, brown or reddish brown in colour, neutral in pH, and which had calcium and magnesium and humic acid concentration in the range as to effect therapeutic skin penetration, would be used effectively against inflammatory proliferative disease like psoriasis.

Keywords: muds; elements; skin penetration; humic acid; physicochemical properties; psoriasis.