CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HERBO - MINERAL SIDDHA FORMULATION KARA SOODA SATHU PARPAM BY USING MODERN TECHNIQUES

Kara Sooda Sathu Parpam (KSSP) is a traditional Siddha Herbo- mineral drug. The aim of the present study was to standardize the physico-chemical traits of the Siddha herbo mineral formulation KSSP. Efforts have been made to lay down the analytical standards for Kara Sooda Sathu Parpam which were not found reported to till date. This paper appraises a detail study of physico-chemical properties, phytochemical constituents and heavy metal contents of the selected drug (KSSP) were analyzed. The total ash value was found to be 9.3 %w/w, acid insoluble ash value is 0.94%w/w, water soluble ash value is 5.5 %w/w, and loss of drying at 105 º c is  7.3 % w/w. The water soluble extractives and alcohol soluble extractives were found to be 8.67 % w/w and 5.0 % w/w. The ICP-OES reveals that the heavy metals such as Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, cadmium are present in the drug are below detected limit. HR-SEM analysis has been used to study particle size shape and distribution. The study highlights the appropriate application of modern scientific methods for developing the new insights into metal based Siddha drugs

Antiviral activity of ethanolic extract of Nilavembu Kudineer against dengue and chikungunya virus through in vitro evaluation

Abstract Background Currently, no vaccines or modern drugs are available for dengue and chikungunya and only symptomatic relief is provided to the patients. Siddha medicine, a traditional form of indigenous medical system uses specific polyherbal formulations for the treatment of such infections with considerable success. One such polyherbal formulation for the treatment of chikungunya and dengue is Nilavembu kudineer (NVK). The mechanistic details of this drug as an antiviral for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) is poorly understood. Objectives The current study was undertaken to study the efficacy of NVK as an antiviral formulation against CHIKV and DENV. Materials and methods Cytotoxicity assays (MTT) were performed to determine the role of NVK as an antiviral during chikungunya and dengue infections in the following conditions-i). post infection, ii). during active infections and iii) protective, not allowing virus infection. Results It was observed that NVK provides protection against CHIKV and DENV-2 during active infection as well can help to prevent virus infection in the cells and it mainly depends on the cellular availability of drugs for maximum protection against both the infections. Conclusion Our study establishes that extraction protocols are important to ensure maximum efficacy of NVK along with the time of addition of the drug during CHIKV and DENV infections in the cells. This study provides insights to the possible mode of action of NVK in in vitro condition during CHIKV and DENV infection