Standardization and quality control parameters evaluation on the Siddha mineral preparation: Linga chenduram

Abstract

Standardization of herbal or herbo-mineral formulations is an important factor to assess the quality, purity, safety and efficacy of drugs. WHO has emphasized the need to ensure quality control of Indian Medicines including Siddha formulations by using modern techniques and by applying suitable parameters for Standardization of Linga Chenduram where Lingam (Cinnabar) is the primary constituent was selected for evaluation of Standardization and quality control parameters. Analysis of the drug showed that LC was dark brown in colour, odourless, tasteless, fine powder in appearance and fine to touch which indicates the completion of calcination process. In physicochemical analysis values of the drug such as loss on drying, total ash, water-soluble ash and acid insoluble ash were found to be 1.19%. 3.73%, 0.19% and 1.49% respectively. The total ash value indicated the absence of impure substances in LC. The XRD Analysis of Linga Chenduram showed that it was a highly crystalline drug. SEM analysis of Linga Chenduram showed that most of the particles present in the sample were Nano size and the results showed that the values of Mercury (51.21) and Carbon (43.63) were present in larger amount compared to Oxygen and Magnesium. The ICP-OES result showed that the toxic heavy metals such as Lead, Cadmium, Cupper, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Nickel and Sodium were below the detection limit (BDL). Thus it is evident that the safety of siddha medicine had been proved in the modern scientific way. The end of the study concluded that the end product Linga Chenduram yields standard and safety.