IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF TAL SINDOOR

Abstract

Science is the intellectual process for using complete mental and physical resources available in order to understand, explain, quantitate and predict normal as well as unusual natural phenomena. Rasoushadhis (metallic and mineral preparations) are unique preparations in Ayurveda along with herbal preparations that includes Bhasmas, herbo-mineral preparations, and Kupipakwa Rasayanas. Tal Sindoor, a Kupipakwa Rasayana, is Sagandha (presence of Sulphur), Sagni (processing with heat), Kantastha (near the neck of the bottle) Murchita Parada Yoga. Tal Sindoor has mercury (Parad), sulphur (Gandhak) and arsenic tri sulphide (Haratal) as ingredients. It is indicated in all types of skin disorders (Sarva Kushtahara), skin problems associated with itching (Kandu), vitiated Rakta Dhatu (Rakta dosha hara) and other diseases of infectious origin like Abscess (Vidradhi), Gonorrhoea (Upadamsha), fever (Jwara, Sannipataja Jwara) at 125-250 mg (1-2 Ratti) dose. Anti–microbial activity of Tal Sindoor was conducted to evaluate drug efficacy against bacilli of gram positive, gram negative and fungus as broad spectrum antibiotic. Drug Tal Sindoor was tested in 2 methods i.e. Gradient plate technique and Kirby-bauer method for its anti-microbial activity against 7 micro-organisms. Tal Sindoor is an effective anti-microbial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. But K. pneumoniae and A. Baumannii were resistant to Tal Sindoor like they are with other anti-biotics.