Chemical and pharmacological evaluation of different ayurvedic preparations of iron

Ayurvedic preparations of metallic iron commonly categorised as different ' putas' of 'Louha Bhasma' was chemically analysed and pharmacologically inve stigated in iron deficiency anemia. Atomic absorption spectral (AAS) study of different putas of Louha Bhasma revealed the presence of various proport ions of important metals along with varied concentration of iron in it. The effect of a representative puta viz. 50 puta of Louha Bhasma in the manage ment of agar gel diet and phlebotomy induced iron deficiency anemia in anim al model was found to be statistically highly significant (P < 0.001) in co mparison to the control and standard drug Fefol(R) treated groups. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.