Chemical and Structural Changes of Biotite during Preparation of Ayurvedic Medicine

Abstract

Biotite mica is used in the preparation of some kinds of Ayurvedic medicine. An investigation was undertaken to study the elemental exchange between biotite and other ingredients such as vinegar, cow-urine, paddy and jaggery which are used in the purification of biotite and the preparation of mica-basma. Further, the structural changes in biotite during the processes of preparation of medicine were also studied. Present study revealed that the pH of the cow urine decreased with time, when the heated biotite mica was immersed in the solution. In contrast, the pH of the vinegar-mica mixture increased with contact time. It was also observed that cow urine can absorb some major elements (Mg, K, Na, and Fe) and trace elements (Mn and Zn) of mica better than vinegar. When mica was subjected to traditional cooking treatment repeatedly, a gradual breakdown of the biotite structure was noted. The results of the study indicate that paddy, jaggery and cow-urine act as agents to remove toxic elements of mica thereby providing some nutrients to the mixture. The accumulation of mineral nutrients into the mixture has taken place gradually with the destruction of biotite structure. The final mica mixture can be considered as a product of elements derived from biotite and other ingredients.