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Int J Ayu Pharm Chem

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e-ISSN 2350-0204

Pharmaceutical Study of Gandhak Druti and Gandhak Taila by

different Classical Techniques
Suparna Saha1, Omprakash Panwar2, Gajendra Dubey3, Promod Debbarma4, Sanjay
Kumar5, and K. Shankar Rao6
1,2,5,6
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, National institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan,
India
3
Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga ,National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
4
Department of Dravyaguna ,National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT
Druti kalpana is one of the important formulations in Rasashastra. Druti of ratna and dhatus
are mentinoed in various Rasa texts but the preparation procedure is so difficult. Among the
druti kalpana, gandhak druti is very easy to prepare and its efficacy in skin disorder is well-
known to Ayurvedic practitioners. In the present study gandhak druti was prepared by several
classical methods. Four types of gandhak druti were prepared and analyzed by the
organoleptic parameters. Various methods of preparation of gandhak druti are available in
classics. The method which was described by the Rasendra Chudamani was easy to prepare.
The maximum yield was also observed in the procedure mentioned in Rasendra Chudamani.

KEYWORDS
Gandhak, Druti, Taila, Kalpana, Rasendra Chudamani

Greentree Group Publishers

Received 11/06/18 Accepted 29/06/18 Published 10/07/18
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INTRODUCTION prepared by changing its ingredients3.This

The nature posses an immense valuable formula was gradually adopted by

and powerful medicine in the form of successive authors. Rasaratna samucchaya

metals, minerals and plants. But, most of mentioned the preparation of gandhak

the drugs as such are not absorbable into druti in two places, in the previous one4

the biological system, until and unless they was same as the formula of Rasendra

have certain modifications. The chudamani. The other variety was different

pharmaceutical techniques to make these in formula5. Rasakamdhenu also described

drugs absorbable therapeutically are called two types of gandhak druti. The

as kalpana or pharmaceutical process. By ingredients of the second method of

applying these pharmaceutical techniques preparation of gandhak druti are different6.

number of kalpanas developed, one of In the present scenario Kaviraaj Prataap

them is druti kalpana. The strategic Singh invented a new formula which can

technology for prepareing drutatva of be used as gandhak druti7. In the present

prescribed drugs (liquified state) in study Gandhak druti was prepared by four

rasashastra is desigened as druti kalpana. different classical methods.

1
Gandhak druti is one among the druti
kalpana where the sulphur is converted MATERIALS AND METHOD
into stable liquified state. Gandhak druti and gandhak taila were
Acharya Vangasena was first scholar who prepared by the reference of Vangasena
mentioned the formula of Gandhak Druti ,Rasendra chudamani,Rasa ratna
2
in rasayan for the purpose of treatment . A samucchaya and Ayurvediya Khanija
similar preparation but with a different Vigyaan.(as shown in Table no 1)
name in Rasendra Chudamani was
Table l The formula of gandhak druti and gandhak taila was named as F1,F2.F3,F4.
F1 F2 F3 F4
Varti method Varti method Varti method Soxhlet extraction method
1.Purified 48g 1.Purified 1.Arka 378 ml 1.Gandhakamla(H 3 Ounce
Gandhak Gandhak 100g ksheer 2SO4)
2.Rajika 12g 2.Trikatu 6.25g 2.Snuhi 532ml 2.Alcohol 90% 29.5
Ksheer Ounce
3.Trikatu 12g 3.Tila taila 1 L 3.Purified 100g 3.Tincture of dry 10
Gandhak ginger Ounce
4.Ghrita 192g 4.Navaneeta 300 g 4.Tincture ½
Cinnamon Ounce
For preparation of gandhak druti and was purified in go dugdha and go ghrita.8.
gandhak taila 600 g amlasar gandhaka Milk, 2.4 L was taken into a vessel; it was

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then covered with a clean cotton piece of F3, Ghrita and butter were used instead of
cloth and tied. The asuddha gandhak was tila taila respectively. Snuhi and arka
taken in a iron pan, Some amount of ksheer smeared cotton cloth was used
ghrita was heated and melted along with here) for a period of three hours. The varti
the gandhak. It was then immediately removed from beaker and was holded with
poured through a cloth into the milk. The a forceps at one end and the other end is
gandhak was collected from the bottom of ignited by fire. The oil was collected in a
the vessel containing milk. The process glass bottle.
was repeated for 3 times using fresh ghee 2. Soxhlet extraction method (F4):
and milk. After completion of the process, In this process the prescribed drugs were
purified gandhak was taken out, washed subjected for extraction separately and
with hot water and dried. (Table no 2.) then mixed together in prescribed ratio.
Table 2 Observations during Gandhak Shodhana Accurately weighed 200 g dried coarse
S. Parameters Observations
No. powder of Shunthi (Zingiber officinale)
1. Initial wt.of Gandhak 600g
2. Initial wt of milk 2.4 L taken into a soxhlet apparatus and unit
3 Initial wt.of ghrita 150g sample was continuously extracted with
4 Temparature of gandhak ±116º
at melted stage 500ml of alcohol (90%) for 24 hours.
5 Colour of gandhak Yellow granules
6. Loss of gandhak 25g This process was repeated twice and the
7. Duration 3 hour
samples were collected and stored in a
Gandhak druti and gandhak taila
clean narrow neck airtight bottle. The
preparation:
same procedure was applied for the
Gandhak druti and gandhak taila was
preparation of tincture cinnamon
prepared by two different methods. 1.
(Cinnamomum zeylanicum).
Varti method (F1, F2, F3) 2. Soxhlet
After preparation of tincture ,accurately
extraction method (F4)
measured 29.5 ounce (885ml) alcohol was
1. Varti method(F1,F2,F3):
taken into a clean dried round bottom
In this process,the churna dravya of
flask and gradually 3 ounce conc.
trikatu were sprinkled /pasted over the
sulphuric acid was poured slowly and the
cotton cloth(1 aratnee praman) and was
tincture was poured carefully from the side
rolled gradually from one end to another
of the flask then added tincture of Dry
end till forms varti(candle).This varti was
Ginger 10 ounce(300ml) and tincture
then tied with a thread and immersed in a
cinnamon ½ ounce(15ml) and stirred
beaker containing tila oil.(except F1 and
continuously and slowly. Lastly, the drug
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was transferred into a clean and dried Sulphuric acid should be added slowly and
airtight bottle. gradually. The final yield was 1290ml.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

OBSERVATIONS- In the present study 4 types of gandhak

In F1 method, the colour of the gandhak druti were prepared. Though the formula

was shining yellow and the ghrita was no F3 is named as gandhak taila by the

whitish in colour .The colour of the Rasaratnasamucchaykar but somehow it is

prepared druti was brownish in colour. same as the gandhak druti preparation.

Total druti was obtained 150ml. In F2 The yeild was more in the F2 method as in

method, on observation the colour of the this method the varti was soaked in til

gandhak druti was brownish dark, burnt taila for long duration. The method of

smell of sulphur present in the final preparation was also very suitable.

product. Total gandhak druti was obtained The soxhlet extraction method was newest

182 ml. In the F3 method, the final colour method, but in this process the extraction

of the gandhak druti was light brown. process was much complicated. The colour

Initially the plain cloth was 30g in weight, of gandhak druti prepared by F1 is slightly

after bhavana of arka and snuhi ksheer,it light in color due to the whitish colour of

became 67g.The final druti was obtained ghrita. In the F2 process gandhak druti

98ml. was blackish or dark brown might be due

In the formation of gandhak druti by to the presence of trikatu, which is dark in

tincture method it was observed that colour color. The trikatu may be burnt during

of the alcohol turned to brownish due to preparation of druti and the carbonated

tincture Ginger and tincture cinnamon. part was mixed in the taila. In F3 process

There was a distinct smell change in the collection of the snuhi and arka ksheer

alcohol, which may be due to transfer of was difficult one. By the overall work it

active constituents present in the drugs can be concluded that the F2 Procedure of

used. Profuse smoke was also seen in the gandhak druti is the best method of

flask when conc. Sulphuric acid was added preparation of gandhak druti.

to alcohol during process. An exothermic

reaction was also took place. Hence, Conc.

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REFERENCES 8. Rasa Ratna Samucchaya with

1. Rasa Ratna Samucchaya with Vigyanbodhini Hindi commentary by Prof.

Vigyanbodhini Hindi Commentary by D.A. Kulkarni, Reprint 1998. Published by

Prof. D.A. Kulkarni, Reprint 1998. Meherchand Laxman Das Publications,

Published by Meherchand Laxman Das New Dehli, ch.3/20-22.

Publications, New Dehli ch.8/84

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61,1/2
7. Ayurvediya Khanija Vigyaan pg 349.

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