PHARMACEUTICAL EVALUATION OF MA’UL-QALAI (TIN WATER)

Mohd Adnan* and Mohammad Idris

ABSTRACT

In Unani system of medicine, several metals and minerals have been in use for various clinical conditions. The metals and minerals are processed in the dosage form of ma-ul-ajsad. The pharmaceutical procedure is known as Itfa. It was developed way back in medieval times, especially in the 10th century CE. The Arab al-Chemists explored the medicinal properties of metals and minerals. Later on the Arab physicians employed as medicines. They were aware of the inherent medicinal properties of these inorganic substances. According to the process of Itfa, the transferred or obtained particles in the solvent are in nano form. However, the physical description of these nano sized particle is not mentioned in the Unani texts due to non-availability of measurement facility during thousand years ago. In the present study, an attempt was made to evaluate the the Ma’ul-Qalai (Tin water) in techno-scietific terms,and hence, generate scientific evidence. Ma’ul-Qalai (Tin water) is found a mention in a number of Qarabadeen (Unani Pharmacopoeia). It was prepared pharmaceutically in the form of 3 (three) versions with 1st, 5th and 15th put to each version. Each version was subjected to a batery of tests, viz., particles shape and size by the means of AAS, Zetasizer and TEM.

Keywords: Itfa, Ma’ul-Qalai, Tin water, AAS, Zetasizer and TEM.