Siddha Medicines for Eraippu erumal (Bronchial asthma) Preliminary Phytochemical and Anti-Microbial studies.

Devarajan,C * Thomas M.Walter ** Pauline Vincent ,C? ? ?

Abstract:

Siddha system of medicine is one among the great heritages of India. As the popularity for the harmless, time-tested Traditional medicine increases, it is time to standardize and prove the efficacy of these medicines through universally accepted scientific parameters. Six frequently prescribed Siddha medicines for Eraippu erumal (Bronchial Asthma) namely Pavala Parpam (P.P), Muthuchippi Parpam (M.C.P), Kasthuri Karuppu, (K.K), Thalaga Karuppu, (T.K.) Vasanthakusumakara Mathirai, (V.K. Pills) and Swasakudori Mathirai (S.K. Pills) were selected and subjected to preliminary phytochemical (Brinda et al. 1981) and anti- microbial (Kirby Baur Disc Diffusion method) screening. Since the study was conducted in a controlled and authenticated manner, the phytochemical and anti- microbial results can be used for the standardization of the above said medicines. Keywords: Siddha, Eraippu erumal, Bronchial asthma, Pavala parpam, Muthuchippi parpam, Kasthuri karuppu, Thalaga karuppu, V.K. pills, S.K. pills, Phyto chemistry, Anti- microbial studies.
*

Vice Principal, Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India.

**

Asst. Lecturer, P.G. Department of Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Govt. Siddha Medical College Hospital, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India. dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com
???

Ph.D scholar, Center of Bio Diversity and Bio Technology, St. Xaviers College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India. dr.paulinevincent@yahoo.co.in

Introduction: Siddha system of medicine is one amo ng the great heritages of India. As the popularity for the harmless, time-tested Traditional medicines are on the increase, it is time to standardize and prove the efficacy of these medicines through universally accepted scientific parameters.

Siddha Materia Medica is classified into three major kingdoms namely Vegetable (Herbal), Metals & Minerals and Animal. According to Siddha literatures, there are 64 dosage forms of which 32 are meant for Oral (enteral) route and 32 for parentral and external (including topical) applications. Materials and Methods: Siddha Maruthuvam by Dr. Kuppusamy Muthaliar serves as the Text book for both U.G. and P.G. students of Siddha Medicine. Eraippu erumal is being mentioned as Swasakaasam (Eraippu) in this book and some 12 prepared medicines are prescribed for the treatment. Out of these, one Herbal (Swasa Kudori pills), three Herbo-Mineral

(Vasantha Kusumakara pills, Kasthuri Karuppu and Thaalaga Karuppu) and two Animal origin (Pavala parpam & Muthuchippi parpam) medicines are subjected to preliminary Phytochemical and Antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Preliminary Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extracts of the above said medicines have been performed by Brindha et al (1981) method and Anti- microbial sensitivity testing was done by Kirby Baur Disc Diffusion method and the findings are discussed.

Steroids, reducing sugars, sugars, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthroquinones and amino acids were tested qualitatively in the selected medicines. Sensitivity was also tested against the organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeriginosa and Candida.

Phyto-chemical analysis:

1. Pavala Parpam (P.P) 2. Muthuchippi Parpam (M.C.P) 3. Kasthuri Karuppu, (K.K) 4. Thalaga Karuppu, (T.K.) 5. Vasanthakusumakara Mathirai, (V.K. Pills) 6. Swasakudori Mathirai (S.K. Pills)

These medicines have literary evidence and are in regular therapeutic use in Siddha practice for Eraippu erumal. The major ingredients, dosage, vehicle, therapeutic properties and literary evidence of the selected drugs are mentioned in Table no: 1. In order to conduct authenticated screening, market samples of all the five medicines were avoided and they were prepared in the Gunapadam (Materia Medica) lab of Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, T.N., India.

The phytochemical screening was done at the Center of Bio-diversity and Biotechnology, St. Xaviers College (XCH), Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu. Since the common vehicle for the test medicines are water, the same was used as solvent for all the six medicines. These extracts were concentrated and used for preliminary phytochemical screening following the procedure given by Brindha et al. (1981). Anti-microbial sensitivity testing:

Table: 1. Information regarding the screened Siddha Medicines for Eraippu. Serial No 1 Name of the Medicine Pavala Parpam 2 Major Ingredients Kodipavalam, Juice of Adathoda. Muthu Chippi Muthuchippi, Parpam juices of adathoda, nochi, nilapanai. 3 Kasthuri Karuppu Kasthuri, purified Rasam, sulphur, Lingam, Pooram etc. 4 Thalaga Karuppu Thalagam, Snails flesh. 65-130 mg, B.D. with honey Kaasam, Swasam. Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu, Page no: 160 5 Vasanthakusu Lingam, Magara Mathirai (V.K. Pills) Venkaram, Elavangam, Thippili, Koshtum etc. 6 Swasakudori Mathirai (S.K. Pills) Velerukkam poo, milagu. 130 mg, 1 tab tds with Thaleesapathiri kudineer. Erumal, Kaasam. Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu, Page no: 61. 100 mg, 1 tab, tds with honey Kabha kaasam, suram. Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu, Page no: 40. 65-130 mg, B.D. with honey Erumal, Eraippu, Kabham. Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu, Page no: 160 200-400 mg, B.D. with ghee Dosage & Vehicle 100-200 mg B.D. with milk Kaasam, Swasm, Erumal Kaasam, Kshyam, Moolam. Indications Literary evidence Impcops pharmacopoeia Page no: 108 Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu, Page no: 124

Table: 2. Phytochemical Screening of Selected Traditional Indian Herbal Medicines Serial No: 1 2 PhytoChemical Steroids Reducing Sugars 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sugars Alkaloids Saponins Tannins Anthroquinones Amino acids. Pavala Parpam Muthuchippi Parpam Kasthuri Karuppu Thalaga Karuppu V.K. Pills S.K. Pills

+ -

+ -

+ + Absent

+ + -

+ + -

+ + -

Abbreviations:

Present

1. Pavala Parpam (P.P) 2. Muthuchippi Parpam (M.C.P) 3. Kasthuri Karuppu, (K.K) 4. Thalaga Karuppu, (T.K.) 5. Vasanthakusumakara Mathirai, (V.K. Pills) 6. Swasakudori Mathirai (S.K. Pills)

Table 3. Anti-Microbial sensitivity testing. Drug Pavala parpam (P.P) Organism Staphylococcus aureus R R R R R R Muthu chippi Parpam (MCP) Kasthuri Karuppu (K.K) Thalaga Karuppu (T.K) Vasantha kusumakara mathirai (V.K. pills) Swasa kudori Mathirai (S.K.pills)

Proteus vulgaris

15 mm

15 mm

Klebsiella Pseudomonas aeriginosa

13 mm

10 mm

18 mm

Candida.

10 mm

10 mm

R Resistant Zone inhibition: in millimeters.

Results and Discussion:

Six selected Siddha medicines for treating Eraippu erumal (Bronchial asthma) from the text, Siddha Maruthuvam by Dr. Kuppusamy Muthaliar was subjected to preliminary Phyto-chemical and Anti- microbial sensitivity testing. The phyto-chemical results show that reducing sugars, sugars, anthroquinones and amino acids are absent in all the medicines. The presence of steroids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins were noted. Kasthuri karuppu and Thalaga karuppu exhibited higher number of phyto chemicals.

In the Microbial analysis, the selected drugs were resistant for two organisms namely Staphyloccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeriginosa. Swasa kudori pills (S.K. pills) and Thalaga karuppu were sensitive against Proteus vulgaris. S.K. pills, V.K. pills and Kasthuri karuppu were sensitive against Klebsiella. S.K. pills and Thalaga karuppu were sensitive against Candida. Swasa kudori pills (S.K. pills a pure herbal drug) was sensitive for 3 of the 5 organisms tested followed by Thalaga karuppu (a herbo mineral drug) being sensitive for 2 out of the 5 organisms.

The overall results indicate that Swasa kudori pills, a 100% herbal Siddha drug used exclusively in the treatment of Eraippu erumal is highly sensitive against three micro-organisms and Thalaga karuppu and Kasthuri karuppu exhibits more phytochemical properties. These results will be useful for the standardization of the drugs and for further continuation of research on these drugs.

Reference:

1. Dr. Kuppusamy Muthaliar (First edition: 1954), Siddha Maruthuvam, Tamilnadu Siddha medical council, Chennai, second edition 1987. 2. Formulary (1992) - The Siddha Formulary of India, Part I, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. 3. Formulary (1972) - Formulary of Siddha medicines, published by the Indian Medical Practitioners' Cooperative Pharmacy and Stores Ltd., Adyar, Madras; ed. 1989. 4. T.V. Sambasivam Pillai, Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, publisher: The Research Institute of Siddhars Science, Mount Road, Madras, India. 1931. 5. Dr. Murugesa Muthaliar, Siddha Materia Medica (Vegetable section), Volume I, Fourth edition 1988, Publisher; Tamilnadu Siddha Medical Council, Chennai. 6. Kuppusamy Muthaliar, Uthamarayan, Siddha vaithiya thirattu, 1998, Publisher: Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Chennai, India. 7. Dr. K.M. Nadkarani, Indian Materia Medica Vol: 1 Publisher: Popular Prakash, Mumbai, India. 8. The Wealth of India Vol 1- 12, Publisher Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (C.S.I.R), New Delhi, India. 9. Thomas M, Walter and Pauline Vincent (2008) Preliminary phytochemical screening of selected Siddha herbal medicines. Siddha Papers. ISSN 0974-2522 http://openmed.nic.in/2763