- Visibility 497 Views
- Downloads 1k Downloads
- Permissions
- DOI 10.18231/j.ijcaap.2025.019
-
CrossMark
Exploration of Rasashastra’s process of mercury detoxification using Garlic
- Author Details:
-
Trupti Patil -Bhole *
Trupti Patil -Bhole *
Rasashastra is the ancient iatrochemistry which mainly elaborates mercury processing and its formulations for medicinal purpose. Minerals or metals can be toxic to human body in raw untreated forms. However; to achieve the medicinal benefits these can be converted into fine bhasma form which are therapeutic and safe. Rasashastra is ancient and it elaborates the mineral drugs in detail. Medicinal plants are used for conversion of minerals into medicines by use of complex processes. The processes include effects of heat, water, air, various plants and minerals, by use of complex methods. It us believed that Mercury [parada] acts as a catalyst in conversion of metals in bhasma form. However there is no much primary evidence regarding actual chemical changes occurring in the substances. Mercury is used after shuddhi process ie detoxification by specific method of rasashastra. The most commonly used process detoxification involves mixing and continuous pounding of mercury with paste of garlic [Allium sativum] and rock salt. Important sulfur-containing compounds in garlic includes allicin, which is produced from alliin when garlic is crushed; ajoene, various disulfides and trisulfides (like diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide), vinyldithiins, and S-allyl-L-cysteine. Reaction of garlic and mercury may alter the chemical configuration of mercury. After separation of mercury from this mixture, the mercury is said to be detoxified. Rasashastra medicines such as rasasindura are comprised of mercury sulfur bound together. This report gives insights into the facts related to garlic and mercury.
Keywords: Parad, Mercury, Shuddhi, Samskara, Rasashastra, Rason, Garlic.
References
- Erdemir S, Oguz M, Malkondu S. Fast tracking of Hg2+ ions in living cells, food, and environmental samples using a new mitochondria-targeted red emitting probe and its portable applications. Environ Pollut. 2025;367:125637.
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas Publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 11/17-20, pp. 207.
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/58; pp. 173.
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/56- 57; pp. 173.
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/6- 8; pp. 162
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/ 9; pp. 163.
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/10- 11; pp.164
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/61- 62; pp. 174
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 9/63- 65; pp. 174–5
- Kulkarni DA, editor. Hindi commentary of Rasaratnasammuchhaya. Meharchand Laxamandas publication; New Delhi: 1982. verse 11/29-52; pp. 209–13
- Mishra G, editor. Hindi commentary of Ayurved Prakash of Acharya Madhav. Varanasi: Choukhambha Bharati Academy; 1980.
- Ali HM. Mitigative role of garlic and vitamin E against cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of lead acetate and mercury chloride on WI-38 cells. Pharmacol Rep. 2018;70(4):804–11.
- Chelation and Metal Intoxication. [accessed on 21/04/2021] https://riordanclinic.org/2013/12/chelation-and-metal-intoxication/.
- Cha CW. A study on the effect of garlic to the heavy metal poisoning of rat. J Korean Med Sci. 1987;2(4):213–24.
- Nwokocha CR, Owu DU, Nwokocha MI, Ufearo CS, Iwuala MO. Comparative study on the efficacy of Allium sativum (garlic) in reducing some heavy metal accumulation in liver of wistar rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012;50(2):222–6.
- Chowdhury R, Chaudhuri K. Garlic: a promising antidote to heavy metal toxicity [chapter] Food and Beverage Consumption and Health [book]. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2010;215-230
- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal medicines: A guide for health-care professionals. Pharmaceutical Press; London: 1996.
- Sears ME. Chelation: harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification--a review. ScientificWorldJournal. 2013;2013:219840.
- Ambikadatta S, editor. Rasaratnasamucchaya of Vagbhat. 9th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Amarabharati Prakashan; 1995. Verse 11/127; p. 197.
- Patil-Bhole T, Wele A, Gudi R, Thakur K, Nadkarni S, Panmand R, et al. Nanostructured gold in ancient Ayurvedic calcined drug 'swarnabhasma'. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(4):640–8.
- Abiko Y, Katayama Y, Akiyama M, Kumagai Y. Lipophilic compounds in garlic decrease the toxicity of methylmercury by forming sulfur adducts. Food Chem Toxicol. 2021;150:112061.