Abstract
The use of metals in medicine is not new to this world. It has been used by both modern and traditional systems of medicines. Perhaps, the Ayurveda stood first for using metals in medicine. The Ayurvedic pharmaceutical processes are used to convert metallic properties of metals into medicinal properties defined as Bhasma in Ayurveda. If these metals in their ionic/metallic forms accumulate in body tissues, then severe damage and toxicity may occur. But Ayurveda acharyas proposed some therapy and agents like cilantro, boron, and garlic which were used to remove toxins, produced from intake of improperly prepared Bhasma. These so-called agents may be termed as chelating agents of Ayurveda because certain researches showed that these agents help to chelate metal ions from the body. These herbs have antioxidant property which helps to chelate these metallic ions as well as helps to restore the normal functioning of tissues.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Angle CR (1996) Chelation therapies for metal intoxication: toxicology of metals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 487–504
Aseth J, Crisponi G, Anderson O (2016) Chelation therapy in the treatment of metal intoxication. Academic press, London
Chaudhary AK, Singh N (2010) Herbo mineral formulation (Rasaoushadhies) of Ayurveda an amazing inheritance of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. Ancient Sci Life 30(1):18–26
Choube D (2000) Brihat Rasaraja Sundar. Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, India
Dinis T, Madeira VMC, Almeida LM (1994) Action of phenolic derivatives (acetoaminophen, salycilate and 5-aminosalycilate) as inhibitors of membrane lipid peroxidation and as peroxyl radical scavengers. Arch Pharmacal Res 315:161–169
Ehimigbai ROA, Grillo DB, Eze GI, Ezeuko VC (2015) Protective effects of ethanolic extract of Mormodica charantia leaf on lead nitrate-induced bone marrow toxicity. J Exp Clin Anat 14:13–17
Ferrari E, Benassi R, Sacchi S, Pignedoli F, Asti M, Saladini M (2014) Curcumin derivatives as metal—chelating agents with potential multifunctional activity for pharmaceutical applications. J Inorg Biochem 139:38–48
Flora SJ, Pachuari V (2010) Chelation in metal intoxication. Int J Environ Res Public Health 7:2745–2788
Galib Barve M, Meshru M, Jagtap C, Patgiri BJ, Prajapati PK (2011) Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India: a review through Charak Samhita. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2(2):55–63
Heba AY (2017) Food as method of heavy metal detoxification. Adv Clin Toxicol 2(1):000115
Jayaraman P, Sivaprakasam E, Rajesh V, Mathivanan K, Arumugam P (2014) Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity and phytochemical potential of Cassia absus Linn., Cassia auriculata Linn., Cassia fistula Linn. Indian J Drugs Dis 3(1):298–304
Jha CB (2000) Ayurvediya Rasashastra, Choukhamba Saurabharati Prakashan, Varanasi, India
Karamac M (2009) Chelation of Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(II) by tannins constituents of selected edible nuts. Int J Mol Sci 10(12):5485–5497
Kleszczewska E (2001) Biological role of reactions of L-ascorbic acid with Metals. Postȩpy Higieny: Medycyny Doświadczalnej 55(1):81–94
Lemire JA, Harrison JJ, Turner RJ (2013) Antimicrobial activity of metals: mechanisms, molecular targets and applications. Nature 11:371–384
Mishra D, Gupta R, Pant SC, Kushwah P, Satish HT, Flora SJS (2009) Co-dminitration of monoisoamyl dimercaptosuccinic acid and Moring oleifera seed powder protects arsenic induced oxidative stress and metal distribution in mice. J Toxicol Mech Methods 19(2):169–182
Pandey S, Chaudhary AK (2016) Chelation therapy and chelating agents of Ayurveda. Int J Green Pharm 10(3):143–150
Pathad YV, Lokhande JN (2014) Handbook of metallonutraceuticals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
Paul S, Hossen S, Tanvir EM, Afroz R, Hossen D, Das S, Bhoumik NC, Karim N, Juliana FM, Gan SH, Khalil I (2017) Minerals, toxic heavy metals, and antioxidant properties of honeys from Bangladesh. J Chem 2017: Article ID 6101793. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6101793
Sarkar R, Hazra B, Mandal N (2012) Reducing power and iron chelating property of Termenalia chebula (Retz.) alleviates iron induced liver toxicity in mice. BMC Complementory Alternetive Med 212:144–167
Saxena G, Flora SJ (2006) Changes in brain biogenic amines and haem biosynthesis and their response to combined administration of succimers and Centella asiatica in lead poisoned rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 58:547–559
Sears ME (2013) Chelation harnessing and enhancing heavy metal detoxification: a review. Sci World J 2013. Article ID 219840, p 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/219840
Sharma S (1998) Rasa Tarangini, Motilal Banarasidas, New Delhi, India
Singla S, Kaur S (2016) Biological activities of cow urine: an Ayurvedic elixir. Eur J Pharm Med Res 3(4):118–124
Tamafo ADF, Ghogomu JN, Nkungli NK, Mama DB, Younang E (2017) Quantum chemical investigation on the antioxidant activity of neutral and anionic forms of Juglone: metal chelation and its effect on radical scavenging activity. J Chem 2017
Turkez H, Geyikoglu F, Tatar A, Keles MS, Kaplan I (2012) The effects of some boron compounds against heavy metal toxicity in human blood. Exp Toxicol Pathol 64:93–101
Upadhyay M (1994) Ayurved Prakash, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, New Delhi, India
Weirzbicka GT, Hagen T, Tones DP (1989) Glutathione in food. J Food Compos Anal 2(4):327–337
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pandey, S., Chaudhary, A. (2018). Toxicity of Bhasmas and Chelating Agents Used in Ayurveda . In: Rai, M., Ingle, A., Medici, S. (eds) Biomedical Applications of Metals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74814-6_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74814-6_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74813-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74814-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)