1. BHASMA – AN ANCIENT
INDIAN NANO MEDICINE
By,
Dr. Bhagyalakshmi. B. R
Final year PG Scholar
Under the guidance of,
Dr. Shobha. G. Hiremath,
Professor & HOD
Dept Of PG Studies in Rasa Shastra
Govt. Ayurvedic Medical College,
Bangalore-09

2. INTRODUCTION
 Concept of reduction in particle size  Charaka
Samhita(1500 B.C)  Louhadi rasayana.
 Concept of Bhasma preparation  7th century.
 Bhasmas  the unique Ayurvedic metallic/mineral
preparations  metals or minerals are treated with
herbal juices or decoctions make them into pellets 
exposed to certain quantum of heat as per Puta.
 Bhasmas  the most ancient application of Nano
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medicine.

3. BHASMA
 Shodhana
 Bhavana
 Marana
Influence of Shodhana on Bhasma preparation:
 Shodhana procedures: help either in the
disintegration of molecules or particles to divide into
finest divisions
 To expose their maximum surface area for further
chemical or physical reaction
 To help these in making organo metallic compounds
 make them more acceptable by the body tissues 3
and organs.

4. Nirvapa
Heating
Linear expansion
Immediate cooling
Decrease in tension & increase in compression force
Repetition of heating & cooling
Disruption in compression tension equilibrium
Increased brittleness, reduction in hardness & particle size
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5. INFLUENCE OF BHAVANA (WET
LEVIGATION) ON BHASMA
PREPARATION
 Bhavana  Wet grinding  shodhita
metals/minerals with specific liquid media for
specific period  convert them into more finer
form.
 Helps in conversion of coarse powder to finer
state.
 Impregnation of properties of media to the
material which lead to unique and suitable
physicochemical changes.
 Facilitate further processing  Marana.

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6. JARANA
 Jarana is the intermediate procedure for the
metals having low melting point, between
Shodhana and Marana.
 Metals are melted  mixed with particular
plant drug powders  are rubbed by iron ladle
until metals become complete powder form.
 Oxidation of metals occurs during heating at
open air , which increases the melting point of
the metal.
 Facilitates reduction of particle size.
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7. CONCEPT OF MARANA
 The process which converts purified metals and
minerals into Bhasma after subjecting them to
levigation and incineration is called Marana
Role of Marana
 Marana responsible for feasible changes 
converts these industrial materials 
magnificent medicine.
 Increase in no of puta Decease in size of
particle
 Conjugation of trace elements
 Elimination of impurities.
 Formation of desirable compounds which are
biologically favorable to the body. 7

8. STAGES OF BHASMA PREPARATION
Ashodita Shodhita Powder of Metal Bhavana
Chakrika Sharava samputa Puta Bhasma
s
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9. CHARACTERISTICS OF BHASMA
 Physical - Varitara, Rekhapoorna, Unama,
Slakshnatwa, Sookshmatwa, Anjana sannibha,
Varna, Nishchandra
 Chemical – Apunarbhava , Niruttha
Credentials of Bhasma
Rasayana
Yogavahi
Alpa matra
Shighra vyapti
Agni deepana 9

10. NANO MEDICINE (0.1-100NM)
 Monitoring, repairing, construction and control of
human biological systems at the cellular level by
using material and structures engineered at the
atomic or molecular level.
 Importance
 Target specificity
 Encapsulation efficiency
 Carry high concentration drug
 Efficient drug release
 Ability to cross blood brain barrier
 Reduction in peripheral side effects of drugs by
decreasing over all dose of drugs 10

11. SYNTHESIS OF NANO PARTICLES
 PHYSICAL METHODS
 CHEMICAL METHODS
 BIOLOGICAL METHODS
Detection of Nano particles in Bhasma
 Environmental Electron Microscopy
 Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)
 Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM)
 Cryo TEM
 Fast Freeze Fracture
 Confocal Laser Scanning
 Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis(EDAX)
 AAS
 X-Ray induced Photo Electron Spectroscopy(XPS)
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12. BHASMA AS NANO PARTICLE
 Swarna bhasma – Through TEM, SEM-EDS, AFM –
56-57nm
 The Swarna bhasma was analyzed qualitatively
through XRD,FTIR (Fourier Transmission Infrared
Spectroscopy) results showed that the final product is
almost pure Au in zero valency state.
 Yashada Bhasma – Oxygen deficient state and are
in nano meter in size.
 Naga Bhasma, it was found that drug contains lead
in nano crystalline (60nm), lead sulphide form with
organic contents. It was found to be safe in histo
pathological study on rats at dose of 6mg/100g/day.
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 Vanga bhasma – Particle study in our department.

13. DISCUSSION
BHASMA NANO MEDICINE
 Preparation  Physical(vapor
Shodhana, Jarana, deposition, solid state
Bhavana, Marana, process – grinding
which includes grinding, milling),
milling, heating. Chemical,
 Characteristics Biological.
Sookshmatwa,  Particle size  0.1-
Slakshnatva, Anjana 100nm
sannibha, varitara.  Targeted drug delivery,
 Properties  Yoga efficient drug release,
vahi, Rasayana, ability to cross blood
Shighravyapti, Agni brain barrier, minimal
deepana, Alpa matra dose. 13

14. CONCLUSION
 Bhasma preparations and Bhasmas are the best
example of Nano technology & Nano medicine
practiced during the ancient period.
 Shata puta, Sahasra puta Bhasmas are the
indirect reference for the concept of conversion of
drug to Nano medicine.
 Ancient knowledge of Bhasmeekarana may cover
the currrent scientific validation of Nano
Technology.
 Bhasma - Safe, Quick, Effective Remedial
Measure.
 More researches are essential in this direction to
establish ancient Nano Technology = BHASMA 14

15. 15

16. REFERENCES
Journel of scientific and industrial research vol.69, december 2010,pp901-905
Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research
SARKAR & CHAUDHARY:: APPLICATION OF NANOMEDICINE
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