Authentication of Suvarna makshik and an Approach towards Standardization of Suvarna makshik bhasma by Sophisticated Techniques

Suvarna makshik (SM) is extensively described in Rasa shastra materia medica and is traditionally utilized for various conditions. It is deemed an updhatu of Suvarna and can be used as a substitute for Suvarna, offering additional benefits due to its content of important metals such as iron, copper, and sulphur. However, due to its rare availability, SM is frequently substituted by iron pyrite, which significantly reduces its efficacy. This study was undertaken to establish the authenticity of genuine raw material SM by employing ancient tests of grahyagrahyatva and modern techniques like Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry with AES (ICP-AES), Charcoal test, HNO3 test, HCl test, and Namburi Phased Spot Test (NPST). The sample procured from Copper mines in Khetri, Rajasthan (SM Kh), proved to be the most authentic raw material. Subsequently, bhasma preparation was carried out following the concept of “Lohanam maranam shreshtham…”. Four different methods were used: Rasa marit (SMH), Gandhak marit (SMS1/4), Arilauha marit (SMSE), and Vanaspati marit (SMV). Quality control tests, including ancient parameters like nischandratva and varitar, were utilized, followed by sophisticated analysis using ICP-AES and NPST. The ICP-AES analysis of the finished drugs indicated that the percentage of Copper, the active principle in SM bhasma, was highest in the Rasa marit sample (9.95%), thus validating ancient texts suggesting that Rasa marit bhasma is the best among all.