Nanotechnology in medicine: Leads from Ayurveda

Rohit Sharma and P. K. Prajapati

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2016 Jan-Mar; 8(1): 80–81
With growing importance of nanotechnology in medicine and healthcare,[1] the advent of
engineered nanoparticles in therapeutics is alarming for their possible harmful effects.[2] The
ancient application of nanomedicine in the form of Ayurvedic Bhasma throws a light on the
safer usage of present nanomedicine for a living being and the environment.[3,4,5] The use of
nanoparticulate metals in therapeutics has been a common practice in Ayurveda. The present
attempt is to revisit the Ayurvedic Bhasma concept as organometallic ethno-nanomedicine in
the surging area of nanomedicine.[6]
Bhasma, literally meaning ash, is unique Ayurvedic herbo-mineral-metallic compounds in the
size of nanodimensions (usually 5–50 nm, as established by modern microscopic and
spectroscopic techniques). These are the products of classical Indian alchemy, the “Ayurveda
Rasa Shastra,” used for treating diverse chronic ailments.[7] The essence of metal/mineral
based drugs is that they function best when converted from their original metal/mineral state
to oxide state. The manufacturing process is very systematic and elaborate, called
“Bhasmikarana” which converts the metal from its zerovalent state to a form with higher
oxidation state, and eliminates the toxic nature of metal and its oxide while rendering the metal
oxide with high medicinal value.[8] During Bhasmikarana, metals/minerals are subjected to
various processes of purification and incineration before internal administration, aimed to
reduce the particle size (for instance, the particle size of Swarna Bhasma [gold calx] was found
between 1 and 2 µ) [9] and thus, converting them into biocompatible, bio-assimilable,
absorbable, and suitable form for the human body. Bhasmananoparticles are organo-
metallic/organo-mineral complexes as they are integrated with biological molecules (of organic
liquid media), having improved stability, functionality, absorption, assimilation,
bioavailability, biocompatibility, targeted delivery of ingredient, and
effectiveness.[2,6,10,11,12,13,14] It is also noteworthy that Ayurvedic Bhasma is considered
very safe and economical in comparison to contemporary metal based nanomedicines.[2,15]
All Bhasmas have some common properties such as Rasayana (immunomodulation and anti-
aging quality), Yogavahi (target drug delivery), Alpamatra (prescribed in minute doses i.e.,
15–250 mg/day), Rasibhava (readily absorbable, adaptable, assimilable, and
nontoxic), Shigravyapi (spreads quickly and fast acting), and Agnideepana (increases
metabolism at cellular level and acts as catalyst). Bhasma can be employed for
selective/targeted/controlled drug delivery as they are biocompatible, nontoxic, and
nonantigenic in nature.[4,6] Bhasma is biologically produced nanoparticles with quick and
targeted action e.g., gold nanoparticles in Swarna Bhasma at 27 ± 3 nm size have been found
effective in ameliorating symptoms of arthritis and at 4 nm size helped in increased apoptosis
in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.[6] Few more examples of frequently
used Bhasma include: Mukta Shukti Bhasma (pearl-oyster calx) at 22.52 ± 0.45 µm size in
acidity, pyrexia, tuberculosis, cough, asthma, etc., and also to increase the bone mineral
density; Mandura Bhasma (iron calx) in microcytic anemia and hemolytic jaundice, Tamra
Bhasma (copper calx) as hepatoprotective and antioxidant, Yashad Bhasma (Zinc calx) in
myopia, diabetes, leucorrhea, etc.[16]
The benefits of nanomedicines are indubitable and unstoppable, nevertheless, and safety-
related studies should also be carried out rigorously and planned in order to provide guidelines
for safer manufacturing practices, keeping care of ecology, and environment. Hence,
Ayurvedic Bhasma may hold strong relevance in the emerging era of nanomedicine and can
serve as an excellent template for the development of nanomedicine for an efficient therapeutic
cure.
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