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J. Res. Educ. Indian Med., Vol. XVI (1-2) : 41-44 (2010) ISSN 0970-7700

PETROLOGICAL STUDY ONGODANTI(CASO4.2H

2O)

SHODHANA (PURIFICATION) : AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

SAVITA B. BHOSALE,1 R. S. HIREMATH2 AND P. T. HANAMGOND3

Department of Rasashastra,1,2 K.L.E Us Shri B.M. Kankanwadi Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya,

Shahapur, Belgaum - 590003 Karnataka (India)

Department of Geology,3 G.S. Science College, Tilakwadi, Belgaum 590006 Karnataka (India)

Abstract: The mineral gypsum (Godanti) is used as a medicine in Ayurveda for various

purposes. This paper reports petrological study on Godanti. Petrography is a branch of Geology

concerned with the study of minerals and rocks as thin sections, under petrological microscope.

This geological principle of mineralogy is applied in the present study for gypsum (Godanti), which

provided encouraging results and can be applied for other minerals also. This is also our first step

to integrate Geology and Ayurveda for better understanding of the mineral drugs. The fragments

of gypsum were used for making thin sections, then the fragments of the same sample of gypsum

have been used to purify by keeping in citrus lemon juice for one and half hour. These purified

gypsum fragments were used to make thin sections to understand the changes after the shodhana

(purification). The shodhana (purification) was carried out as per standard Ayurvedic procedures.

It is observed that the effect of lemon juice (citric acid) on gypum (CaSO4) revealed textural

changes. This supports the aim of shodhana mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts.

Keywords:Petrography, Mineralogical study, Godanti, Purification, CaSO4.2H2O, Gypsum.

IntroductionQuality the denominator of any object for

its acceptance is the prime issue in the presentscenario. However it is most relevant for thedrugs of different origin enumerated in Ayurvedicliteratures. Ayurveda has its own quality controlstandards. It is observed that the properlyprocessed Ayurvedic medicine taken under thesupervision of experts proved miracles in manychronic disorders. Naturally collected mineralsand metals, animal origin products and poisonousplant products are undertaken various samskaraslike shodhana (purification) and marana(incineration) etc. After such purificatoryprocesses the crude, heterogenous, complexinorganic form of materials are converted intosuitable homogenous, simple and organicAyurvedic medicines, such purified drugs can beeasily administered internally without fear of anytoxic effects.

Geology is a branch of science whichdeals with the study of minerals and metals.Geological principles are providing an opportunityfor interdisciplinary approach. In this study the

Godanti (Gypsum, Calcium Sulphate) a mineraldrug was collected from natural sources. Itsshodhana (purification) was carried in Citruslimon Linn. fruit juice.1 The Mineralogical studyhas been carried out to explore the texturalchanges of the drug (Godanti) before and aftershodhana. The effects are studied by makingthin section of the mineral using petrographicstudy (thin section study using petrologicalmicroscope).

Materials and Methods

1. The fragments of Godanti (gypsum) wereused for making thin sections before and aftershodhana is done at Geology Department,Karnataka University, Dharwad, India.2. The photomicrographs of some of theselected sections, were taken at SDM EngineeringCollege, Dharwad (India) are presented asFigures 1 to 8.

Methodology

1. The fragments of gypsum are taken andfixed to the glass slide with the help of the Canada

1. P.G. Scholar 2. Assistant Professor 3. Associate Professor

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Bhosale, Hiremath and Hanamgond42

Figure 3. The mineral section here exhibits inclusions

(secondary mineral may be silica as quartz). Two sets ofperfect cleavages showing rhombohedral structure.

Figure 4. Zoomed section of the same mineral section.

The section clearly shows stress effect by way of displacementin the cleavages. This has provided an opportunity for silica

to occupy the cleavage gaps.

balsam (a resin of known refractive index). Fixingof mineral fragment to the glass slide involves -cooking of Canada balsam, where few drops ofCanada balsam on glass slide is heated until itgives out a thread when the sharp pin is put intoit and pulled. The mineral fragment is then placedon it and again the fragment is subjected togrinding on a section cutting wheel using emerypowder. Once the mineral section is thin

(0.03 mm, where in at this thickness all rocks/minerals become transparent) enough, few dropsof Canada balsam is placed on it and heated tothe required temperature and a glass cover slip isplaced on top of it. It is uniformly pressed toremove trapped air bubbles. Once it is done asection is clean and it is ready for the study. Ifthe sections are too thick, the polarisation coloursare affected.2

Before Shodhana

Figure 2. Zoomed section of the same mineral section.Figure 1. The mineral section here exhibits two sets ofperfect cleavages showing rhombohedral structure.

1 2

3 4

Properties Before Shodhana After Shodhana

Cleavages Exhibits two sets of perfect cleavages

showing rhombohedral structure.

Clearly shows the cleavages, but they are not perfect.

The spacing between cleavages has been altered.

Impurities Stress effect by way of displacement in the

cleavages. This has provided an opportunity

for silica to occupy the cleavage gaps.

The section appears fresh and clean. This indicates the

leaching of impurities present in the sample.

Leaching

effectLeaching not found. The mineral section here exhibits corroded nature of

the grain surfaces indicating chemical leaching effect

on the calcite.

Table 1. Showing properties of Gadanti before and after shodhana.

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Bhosale, Hiremath and Hanamgond44

The same result has been observed in themineral after purification (Figure 5 and 6). Themineral section exhibits, inclusions of silicaunaltered. Whereas the rest of the mineral showschemical leaching effect by way of pittedstructure. This is mainly due to citrus lemonjuice (citric acid). This chemical leaching effectis clearly seen also in the Figure 7 and 8, wherein the mineral shows corroded nature of thegrain surfaces. The section here appears freshand clean. This is probably due to the leachingof impurities present in the sample. The chemical

analysis by volumetric estimation of calciumpercent also confirms the enrichment of calciumafter purification. These results definitely supportthe main aim of purification in Ayurveda. Similarly,this integrated study can also be applied to manydrugs using minerals to increase the efficiencyof the drugs and also to study the genuinenessof the selected mineral.

Conclusion

The present study is a preliminary workhighlighting the usefulness of integrating

the geological principles with Ayurveda drugpreparations.

The results of the mineral texture changesbefore and after purification can be clearlydistinguishable.

Similar approach can be practiced forother drug making minerals.

Acknowledgments

The authors are very thankful to Dr. V. S.Hegde, Department of Civil Engineering, S.D.M.Engineering College, Dharwad (India) for his help

in microphotography and also to Peersab Nadaf,Technician, Department of Geology, KarnatakaUniversity, Dharwad (India) for preparing thinsections of gypsum.

References

1. Sharma Sadananda:Rasa Tarangini. Motilal

Banarasidas Publication. 11th edition. pp.238 (1979).

2. Gribble C.D:Rutleys Elements of Mineralogy.

CBS Publishers and Distributors. 27th edition.

pp.109-110 (1991).

3. Kerr P. F:Optical Mineralogy. McGraw Hill Book

Company, New York. 4th edition. pp.492 (1977).

Address for correspondence: Dr. P. T. Hanamgond, Associate Professor, Department of Geology, GS Science

College, Belgaum - 590006 Karnataka (India). E-mail: hanamgondpt@gmail.com

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