Abstract

COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO PERMEABILITY ASSESSMENT OF MANDURA BHASMA WITH GOMUTRA ARKA (COW'S URINE DISTILLATE) AND GOMUTRA (COW'S URINE) IN CACO-2 CELL LINES

Vijayalakshmi Veerabadhran*, Saravanan B., Vijay Shankar

ABSTRACT

Cow's urine, referred to as Gomutra in Ayurvedic literature, has a long history of therapeutic applications, particularly within the domain of Rasashastra (science of metals and minerals in Ayurveda). In Rasashastra, Gomutra is utilized in various pharmaceutical procedures, including Shodhana (purification) and Marana (incineration). It plays a significant role in the preparation of Mandura Kalpas (complex formulations containing Iron oxide). With the advent of modern times, Gomutra arka (Cow's urine distillate), has gained prominence as a substitute for Gomutra due to its improved taste, extended shelf life, and greater availability in urban areas. In this study, we explore the bioavailability of Mandura Bhasma in conjunction with both Gomutra and Gomutra arka. To gauge bioavailability, we employ Caco-2 cells, which originate from human colon epithelial cancer and provide a model for replicating drug absorption within the human intestinal tract. The assessment of drug permeability encompasses the utilization of the Caco-2 permeability assay, which includes both the MTT Assay and the Caco-2 cell culture stages. The study's outcomes reveal a significant increase in cell permeability when Mandura Bhasma is paired with Gomutra arka. Specifically, Mandura Bhasma combined with Gomutra arka exhibits a 4.63-fold and 2.45-fold increase in cell permeability compared to Mandura Bhasma alone and Mandura Bhasma combined with Gomutra, respectively. This notable enhancement in permeability can be attributed to the heightened uptake of Mandura Bhasma through endocytosis within the Caco-2 cells. This study highlights a substantial improvement in the permeability of Mandura Bhasma when combined with Gomutra arka within the Caco-2 cell model, surpassing the permeability observed with Gomutra. These findings suggest the potential utility of Gomutra arka as an enhancer of Mandura Bhasma's bioavailability, paving the way for further research and clinical exploration in the realm of Ayurvedic medicine.

Keywords: Bioavailability, Caco-2 cells, Gomutra, Gomutra arka, Mandura Bhasma.