Search

Background: Though a number of studies has been carried out in terms of safety of Kushta but concerns have been raised about the presence of heavy metals in Unani formulations. Classical method of preparation of KKH and other Kushta preparation in Unani system of medicine has been found to eliminate all such issues from the end product. Hence; the present study was designed to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity study of KKH prepared by Classical and Muffle furnace methods. Objective: To ascertain the safety profile of Kushta Khabasul Hadeed (KKH) prepared by classical and muffle furnace methods. Materials and methods: Both of the samples of KKH i.e. Kushta Khabasul Hadeed (KKHCM) and Kushta Khabasul Hadeed (KKHMFM) prepared by Classical and Muffle Furnace Methods respectively were evaluated for acute and sub-acute toxicity by OECD guidelines 423 and 407 respectively. The starting dose in the acute test was 50 mg/kg and in sub-acute test, it was 134mg, 200 mg and 400 mg/kg b.w. Effect of both of the test samples were assessed for ponderal changes, food and water intake, relative organs weights, hematological, biochemical and histopathological features of various organs. Results: Both of the samples did not produce any sign of toxicity in acute toxicity study up to the dose level of 2000mg/kg b.w. In sub-acute toxicity study no mortality in any of the test groups was observed. KKHCM at different doses showed a slight decrease in food intake in all the test groups but significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the test group B as compared to plain control. Conclusion: KKHMFM was found to be relatively toxic than KKHCM at different dose levels. The study demonstrated that both the Classical and Muffle furnace methods of preparation of Kushta are useful for preparing KKH and also safe at the dose prescribed in Unani literature. However, the Kushta prepared by the classical method was found to be safer than the muffle furnace method.

Neela Thotha (Copper sulphate) is a mineral origin drug in Unani system of medicine (USM). Chemically, it is known as copper sulphate that formulated as CuSO4. It is used by various Unani scholars to manage different ailments in effective and safe manner as Mufrad (single) and Murakkab (compound) form viz. Amrad Jild (skin disease), Amrad Chashm (eyes diseases), Amrad Nizam Hadm (GIT diseases), Amrad Tansuliya (sexually transmit diseases), Amrad Dimag (brain diseases), Amrad Tanffus (respiratory disease) and Poisoning of certain substances. A review was done by bibliographic database from ScienceDirect, Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ebsco Publishing's Electronic Databases, and Scirus. Search was done by using key words viz. ‘Neela Thotha’, ‘Copper sulphate ’, ‘Tootiya’, and ‘CuSO4’, literature of  Neela Thotha was also collected from the renowned Unani text book viz. Khazain-ul-Advia, Mohit-e-Aazam, Makhzan-ul-Mufradat, and Mufradat-e-Azizi and also from standard conventional books viz. Indian Medicinal Plants, and Parikh’s Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. In conventional medicine Neela Thotha considered as poisonous substance characterized by colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe headache, albuminuria, dyspnoea, circulatory failure, coma and death and avoids its use in human being. While in USM after proper detoxification of Neela Thotha is used in various ailments. Neela Thotha and its formulations have been claimed by Unani scholars to be useful in the management of various ailments. In this article authors have an attempt to explore properties and used of Neela Thotha in several ailments. Keywords: Neela Thotha; Tootiya; CuSO4; Copper sulphate; Copper

Hulbah (methi) is a botanical drug used in traditional system of medicine and claimed to be effective in the management of gynecological disorders. In this study the aim is to review the role of Hulbah in the management of gynecological disorders (like Warm-e-Rahim, Warm-e-Unq-ur-Rahim, Cervicitis, galactogouge, dysmenorrhea uterine tonic, emmenagogue, labour pain, Mudirr-e-boul, Mudirr-e-Haiz, Mushile Wilaadat, Salabat Rehm, Warm-e-Rehm, Quruhal Rahim) as mentioned in Unani literature. A review of literature on Hulbah was undertaken using the bibliographic database viz. Pub Med, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus. The search was conducted using the terms ‘Hulbah’, ‘Methi’, ‘Trigonella foenum-gracum’, ‘Fenugreek ’and ‘Hu Lu Ba’. Further, books published in Urdu and English were used to compile the information as representative literature in Unani medicine. The result of review enumerated that Hulbah as such and as an ingredient in various formulations has been used for the management of gynecological disorders since ancient times mainly by the practitioners of traditional medicines. Literature of Unani medicine clearly indicated that Hulbah and its different formulations are safe in gynecological disorders. Sufficient information in respect of Antiarthritic effect, Antibacterial and Antifungal activity, Hypolipidemic effect, Anthelmintic activity, Estrogenic activities, Effect on polycystic ovarian syndrome, Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities etc., of Hulbah are available.  Hulbah and its formulations have been claimed by Unani medicine to be useful in the management of gynecological disorders. Modern scientific reports though scarce, also suggest the possibility of such an effect. Keywords: Methi: Hulbah: Trigonella foenum gracium: Fenugreek