Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

Nanotization, Characterization and In-Vitro Activity of Kushta-E-Qalai (Tin Calx): A Traditional Unani Medicine of India

Syed Mohammad Umair, Sumbul Rehman, Tajuddin, Siddiqi KS and Shahab AA Nami

The present study reports a novel method of preparation of kushta-e-qalai, a well-known Indian traditional drug of Unani system of medicine prepared from stannum. In this work the Tin calx (kushta-e-qalai) was prepared by laboratory method in order to develop a standard protocol both in terms of synthesis and its subsequent conversion to nanoscale termed as nanotization. The finished kushta-e-qalai was characterized using standard analytical techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). It was inferred that the kushta-e-qalai contains nano-particles of tin-oxide in the range of 20 to 40 nm. During the TLC examination of kushta-e-qalai a single spot was observed in a variety of solvents implying the complete conversion of stannum into its calx. The kushta-e-qalai was screened for its possible biological activity. The results obtained are indicative that the kushta-e-qalai possesses significant anti-bacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Corynebacterium xerosis. The LD50 of kushta-e-qalai was also analyzed by the graphical method of Miller and Tainter and was found to be 1250 mg/kg b.w.