STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF ABHRAK BHASM ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF WISTAR RATS

Abstract

The Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine which is been used by Indian's. The science of life is the basic meaning of the word Ayurveda. The method of practicing had been a trusted and tested method in treating the illness. Abhrak Bhasma, an amorphous powder drug, is prepared by treating biotite (mica) with the juices of a number of reconstituent plants that make it a powerful cellular regenerator. It is commonly used ayurvedic drug against many diseases including hepatitis (hepatoprotective). It is also used as nervine tonic and is widely used in respiratory tract infections and megaloblastic anemia. It contains iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and aluminium in trace amounts. It also contains silicates of iron, magnesium and aluminium.In this study a total of 30 adult albino Wistar rats of approximately 4 months age (approx. 150-200 gms) of either sex selected randomly to see the effect of Abhrak bhasm, an ayurvedic drug on hematological and biochemical prole of Wistar rats.The rats were weighed, marked and divided into 5 groups each consisting of six animals. In normal control group(Group E), no drug was administered and in rest of the four treated groups(Group-A,B,C,D), Abhrak bhasm @ 36 mg/kg B.wt. was administered orally once in each rat.All blood samples were collected from jugular veins by using 30 gauze needle in EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) vials and in plain vials for hematological and biochemical investigations respectively at 0.5 hour,2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours and at the end of study in Groups A, B, C, D and E respectively.A signicant increase in Neutrophils percentage and a signicant decrease in Lymphocytes percentage were observed in both group B and group C i.e. at 2 hours and 6 hours of drug administration respectively, as compared to control group. In two cases, in group B and group C i.e.at 2 hours and 6 hours of Abhrak bhasm drug administration, hypersegmented neutrophils were seen in blood smear. In three cases, two in group B and one in group D i.e. at 2 hours and 24 hours of drug administration, polychromasia were seen. The ndings in the present study indicate the erythropoeisis stimulant action and also a signicant phagocytic activity i.e. immunomodulatory activity of Sahastraputi Abhrak Bhasma drug. It consolidated the fact that Sahastraputi Abhrak Bhasma is highly regarded as Rasayan, thus leading to scope for exploring the mechanism of its activity through more animal and clinical studies.