Ayurvedic Medicated ghee effective in treatment of skin disorders

A new research study in the department of rasa shastra, faculty of ayurveda at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), has found anti-bacterial and anti-psoriatic properties in 'panchatikta grhita' (a specifically designed ayurvedic formulation of medicated ghee mixed with powdered drugs of five different ingredients).
The study has also validated the shelf life of specifically designed ayurvedic formulations of medicated ghee and oil to be from 18 to 24 months.
Panchatikta grhita is a widely used medicine for the treatment of various kinds of 'kushtha' (18 types of skin disorders) as described in classical ayurvedic texts.
The study had focused on the efficacy of the formulation for 'ekakushtha', a kind of skin disorder similar to psoriasis as referred in modern medicine. The research study showed anti-psoriatic and anti-bacterial properties of panchtikta grhita, provided the preparation is used within two years of manufacturing, said Dr Anand Chaudhary, an associate professor and supervisor of the research study, while talking to TNN on Friday.
The inter-disciplinary research study was conducted by Vikas Kumar and C S Onten of department of pharmaceutics, IT-BHU, under the supervision of Dr Chaudhary of rasa shastra, department of ayurveda, BHU. He said that panchatikta grhita consists of five ingredients that are used in powdered form along with medicated ghee. He added that the study has evaluated and compared the anti-bacterial and anti-psoriatic effects of these preparations in-vitro and in animals using female 'albino mice'. These preparations come under 'sneha kalpana', a pharmaceutical procedure to prepare oleaginous medicine from substances like kalka (bolus of the drugs) and dravya (liquid material). They are prepared in specific proportions by subjecting them to uniform heating pattern and duration to fulfil certain pharmaceutical parameters as per the requirement of the therapeutics, added Dr Chaudhary. He also said that the research studies have shown that the preparation reduces itching, pain and swelling associated with psoriasis, a skin disorder with unknown etiology with autoimmune and non-infective nature.
In addition, the research study of stability for determining the shelf life of medicated ghee (panchatikta grhita) has confirmed the period to be from 18 to 24 months under various conditions and constituents of the medicated ghee as per different ayurvedic classics.
A number of organoleptic tests including testing of colour, odour, taste, appearance, touch and clarity apart from physico-chemical tests have validated the stability for a maximum of two years.

Source:TNN