Nutritional Sciences

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
권호 표지

Biochemical and Trace Mineral Analysis of Silajit Samples From Pakistan

  • Shafiq Muhammad Imtiaz (Biochemistry Section, Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab) ;
  • Nagra Saeed Ahmad (Biochemistry Section, Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab) ;
  • Batool Nayab (Biochemistry Section, Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab)
  • Published : 2006.08.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Silajit is a blackish brown pitch-like gummy substance. It is an important Unani and Ayurvedic medicine widely used in the treatment of many diseases and as nutritional supplement It is found in certain mountainous regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Australia and Russia. Silajit samples of Pakistani origin were obtained from different sources and analyzed for their physical characteristics and biochemical & elemental composition. X-ray diffraction studies on Silajit showed that it is an amorphous substance and has no crystalline structure. Also, pH studies of Silajit (2 g/L of water) indicated that it was slightly acidic in nature and ranged from 3.45 to 7.23. Conductivity ranged from 157.7 to 330. Amino acid analysis revealed that Silajit contained lysine and alanine in higher amounts than all other amino acids and ranged from 1456 to 2240 and 68 to $1615{\eta}mole/g$, respectively. Mean concentration of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc was 73.15, 104.92, 0.496, 3.89, 4.04 and 17.23 ppm, respectively. Silajit samples were also analyzed for calcium, potassium and sodium.

Keywords

References

  1. Ansari QD, Badrurd-Din. Physico-chemical study of Silajit, a mineral pitch of Pakistan. The Journal of the University of Peshawar 5:26-30, 1956
  2. Shakir N, Salim M, Bhatty MK, Karimullah, Studies on Silajit (Asphalt). Pak J Sci Indus Res 8:28-30, 1965
  3. Nadkarni AK. Indian Materia Medica: 2nd vol. pp.23-32, Popular Book Depot, Bombay, 1982
  4. Sybil P, McGraw Hill. Encyclopedia of the Geological Sciences: 2nd ed. pp.25-27, McGraw Hill Books Company, New York, 1988
  5. Faruqi. Nature and origin of Silajit. Hamadard Medicus 49: 21-30, 1997
  6. Sharma RC, Zaman A, Kidwai AR. Chemical examination of Euphorbia royleanea. Indian J Chem 2:254-257 1964
  7. Ray PC. Antidiabetic properties of Silajit and its chemical composition. Patna Journal of Medicine 5:53-75, 1930
  8. Chopra RN, Chopra JC, Kapur LD. Indigenous Drugs of India. pp.444, 447-461, Dhur and Sons, Calcutta, 1958
  9. Peerzada NH, Nojek M, Bhatti MI, Tariq SA. Bioavailability of nutrient metals, biological thermal and spectroscopic properties of Silajit from Pakistan and Australia. Science International 44:77-179, 1992
  10. Powell A. History of Northern Territory. Melbourn University Press, 1980
  11. Ried E, Betts TJ. The record of Western Australian plants used by aboriginal as medicinal agents. Pharmacy Department, Curtin University Publication, Western Australia, 1977
  12. Hooper D. Silajit, an ancient eastern medicine. Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal 72:98-103, 1903
  13. Chopra RN. Indigenous Drugs. pp.433-436, U.N. Dhur and Sons, Calcutta, 1933
  14. Ghosal S, Reddy JP, Lai VK. Organic Composition of Silajit. J Pharm Sci 65:77-80, 1976
  15. Kong YC, But PPH, Chang KF, Cambie RC, Malia SB. Chemical studies on Nepalese panacea; Silajit. Int J Crude Drug Res 25:179-89, 1987 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880208709060925
  16. Mahdihassan S, Eradman JG. A study of Silajit from Pakistan. Pak J Sci Ind Res 31:835-836, 1988
  17. Cierwyn SJ. Analytical Chemistry of Foods. pp.24-46, 76-79, Blakie Academic and Professional Publishers, 1995
  18. Spackman DH, Stier H, Moore S. Automatic recording for using in the chromatography of amino acids. Anal Chem 30:123-129, 1958
  19. Babu S, Rao SB. Chemical contaminants in food. In: Text Book of Human Nutrition. Edit: Mahtab SB, Rao NP, Reddy, pp.418-42, Oxford and I.B.H Publishing Company, 1996
  20. Passmore R, Eastwood MA. Davidson and Passmore: Human Nutrition and Dietetics, eighth edition, pp.128-129, Longman Group Ltd., UK, 1986
  21. Friberg L, Norder GF, Vouk VB. Handbook on the toxicology of metals. 1979
  22. Nizami A, Fayaz-ur-Rehaman, Ahamad S. Geochemistry of Silajit from Pakistan. Acta Sci 2:177-179, 1992