Comparative Evaluation of Arka Lavana – An Ayurvedic

Abstract

Arka lavana is one of the Herbo - mineral preparations which is explained under Lavana Kalpana (Preparation of Salt) of Ayurveda. Since many years, it is traditionally used in the effective management of liver and spleen diseases, ascites etc. To do a comparative study of Arka lavana prepared employing traditional and modern methods. Arka lavana was prepared in two different methods viz., Traditional puta method and the Modern muffle furnace method and named as Arka lavana – A and Arka lavana – B respectively. The formulations thus prepared were analyzed with standard parameters like physicochemical characterization. Arka lavana was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, Particle size analyzer, Zeta sizer, TG-DTA and X- ray Fluorescence spectroscopy. Sodium and Chloride content was 52.09%, 22.40% and 49.37%, 22.91% in Arka lavana – A and B respectively. Though Arka lavana - A prepared by employing traditional puta method, was matching with Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India, based on the parameters of analysis, it is difficult to conclude that Traditional puta method is best method than the Modern muffle furnace method.