Abstract

TOXICITY STUDY OF RASAKARPURA (A MERCURIAL MEDICINE OF AYURVED) ON FIVE TIMES OF TED LEVEL

*Mehta N. J, Ashok B. K, B.Ravishankar and Prajapati P. K.

ABSTRACT

Rasakarpura is a mercury based Ayurvedic formulation used in dysentery, skin diseases, syphilis, etc disorders. However, toxicity concerns due to mercury content are often raised. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effect of Rasakarpura on various organs in Charles Foster strain albino rats. It is a well identified that Rasakarpura, prepared by Rasa Tarangini method, is chemically mercuric chloride (97.98%) with some trace elements. Hence toxicity of Rasakarpura was carried out in albino rats and compared with mercuric chloride. As per general rule toxicity study was carried out on 5 times dose of TED i.e. 1.750 mg/kg (TED X 05). The animals of standard control group and control group received same dose of mercuric chloride and distilled water respectively. Result shows that all the animals died within 12 days. Histopathologically results show that TED X 05 Rasakarpura is relatively less toxic incomparison to mercuric chloride on various organs in rats. By this study it is concluded that at five fold therapeutic dose level both Rasakarpura and mercuric chloride have toxic potential on multiple organs, so it is better to avoid internal administration of Rasakarpura.

Keywords: Toxicity, Parada, Mercury, Rasakarpura, Mercuric chloride.