In Vitro Bioaccessibility Assessment of Shankha Bhasma Prepared Using Two Different Herbal Media

Shankha bhasma, a classical Ayurvedic formulation prepared from conch shell, is traditionally used for gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. The therapeutic efficacy of such mineral preparations depends not only on elemental content but also on the fraction that becomes bioaccessible during digestion(1). This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro bioaccessibility of calcium, magnesium, and potassium in four samples of Shankha bhasma prepared using two different herbal media. The samples were subjected to a standardized two-step simulated gastrointestinal digestion, followed by FTIR and ICPOES analyses. Results indicated that ShB4 (prepared with Nimbukamla for shodhana and Kumari swarasa for marana) exhibited the highest bioaccessible calcium (11.23% gastric, 12.44% gastrointestinal), with magnesium and potassium also showing significant release. The findings suggest that the choice of herbal media critically influences elemental release, providing scientific validation for traditional preparation methods and supporting the use of Shankha bhasma in gastrointestinal disorders.