Pharmacological evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory activity of Sangu Parpam (Conch) A Siddha Medicine

V. Murugan1, Thomas M.Walter2, S. Sulfin Nihar3, B. Sampath Kumar4. Introduction: The Materia Medica of Siddha Medicine is divided into three major divisions namely Plant (or) Vegetable kingdom, Metals; Minerals and Animal Kingdom. Among the Animal species, Sangu (Conch shell, Chank) plays a very important in the preparation of Sangu Parpam, a medicine very frequently prescribed by all the Indian Medicine Doctors for Peptic Ulcer (Gunmam in Siddha) and also for a wide variety of Abdominal conditions. While doing literary research on Sangu, apart from abdominal diseases, it was also indicated for Arthritis (Keel Vayu in Siddha) in the texts and hence it was decided to prove it Pharmacologically. The tests were conducted at the Post Graduate Study Center, Dept. of Pharmacology, Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India and the results are discussed.

Zoological classification:

Class: Family: Zoological name: Commercial name: Tamil name:

Gastropoda Turbinella Turbinella phyrum, Lam. Sacred Chank, Conch shell. Sangu, Ven sangu, Oothu sangu.

1,2,3 Asst. Lecturers, Dept. of Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India. siddhaexpert@gmail.com 4. Head, Dept. of Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India.

External appearance of Chank:

It has a large, massive, elegant shell with a fine pear shaped spire and a wide opening or mouth which is prolonged into a narrow spout. It has an external lustrous yellowish brown horny layer and beneath it is a thick layer, chiefly formed of Calcium carbonate. Male chank measures about 57-60 mm in its diameter and Female chank about 58-60 mm. Usually, chanks measuring a minimum size of 64 mm are only picked.

Valampuri Chank:

Chank are characterized by large shells with fine texture and colour is highly valued. Normally the chank chells are formed in a dextral spiral; occasionally shells with a sinistral spiral are also formed. This peculiar type of chank is called as Valampuri chank. These have a high value (especially spiritual value) and very rarely caught, almost one in a lakh.

Sangu Parpam & Sangu (Conch shell)

Actions: Nutrient Anodyne Carminative

Stomachic Astringent Febrifuge Expectorant

General properties: Diseases of the eye, spasm, Kapha diseases, swellings, abdominal pain, distension of abdomen, fever and anaemia are the diseases relieved by sangu.

Preparation of the Test drug:

The test drug was prepared with great caution as mentioned in the text, The Pharmacopoeia of Siddha Research Medicines; Page no: 51.

Ingredients:

Purified Sangu (Conch shell) Kovai ilai (Leaves of Cephlandra indica) Pudam with 250 Varaties.

Dose: Vehicle: Indication:

300 mg, thrice daily. Milk Keel Vayu (Arthritis).

Bio-chemical analysis:

Colour Appearance Smell Solubility Inference Estimation of Calcium

White Fine powder Odourless Hydro chloric acid (Hcl) Contains Calcium. 100 mg of the test drug contains 25 mg of calcium.

Anti microbial study Disc Diffusion method.

Sangu parpam has mild inhibitory action against E.Coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococci in 30 mg/10 ml, 40mg/10 ml and 50 mg/10 ml concentrations.

Acute Anti-inflammatory study Hind paw oedema method in rats.

Preparation of the drug: 25 mg of Sangu Parpam was dissolved in 10ml of honey and 10ml of water. A dose of 1ml was given to each rat. This 1ml contains 1.2mg of the test drug.

Procedure: Nine healthy albino rats weighing 100 150 gm were taken and divided into 3 groups each consisting of 3 rats. First group was kept as control by giving distilled water of 2ml/100gm body weight. The second group was given Ibuprofen at a dose of 10mg /100gm body weight. The third group received the test drug of 1ml /100gm body weight. Before administration of test drug, the hind-paw volume of all rats was measured. This was done by dipping the hind-paw up to the tibiotarsal junction in a Mercury Plethysmograph. While dipping the hindpaw, by pulling the syringe piston, the level of mercury in the centre small tube was made to coincide with red marking and reading was noted from the plethysmograph. Soon after measurement, the drugs were administered orally. One hour later, a sub-cutaneous injection of 0.1ml of 1% (W/V) Carrageenin in water was made into plantar surface of both hind-paw of each rat. Three hours after carrageenin injection, the hind-paw volume was measured once again. The difference between the initial and the final volume were calculated and compared. The method is more suitable for studying the anti-inflammatory activity in acute inflammation.

Inference: Sangu parpam possesses 38.3% acute anti-inflammatory effect in albino rats.

Chronic Anti-inflammatory by Cotton Pellet Granuloma method Standard drug: Ibuprofen was taken as the standard drug. 200mg tablet was taken and dissolved in 200ml of water and 1ml was given to each rat.

Procedure: (Cotton pellet Granuloma method) Nine healthy albino rats were taken which weighs about 100-150 gm and divided into three groups each consisting of 3 rats. First group was kept as control by giving distilled water of 2ml/100gm body weight. To the second group, the standard drug (Ibuprofen) of 20mg/100gm body weight and to the third group, the test drug Sangu Parpam 1ml/100gm of body weight was given. In this procedure the drug were given daily. Before giving the drug, cotton pellets were prepared of each of 10mg weight and sterilized. Four cotton pellets were kept subcutaneously, in the lower abdomen, two on each side and sutured carefully. After 7 days of drug administration, the animals were anaesthetized. The cotton pellets were found to be surrounded by granulation tissue and were removed and dried. The weight of cotton pellets in each rat was weighed. From this value, the chronic antiinflammatory action was calculated and compared. This method is more suitable for studying chronic anti inflammatory action. Results: Sangu parpam possesses 27.8 % chronic Anti-inflammatory effect in rats.

Antipyretic study on Sangu Parpam Procedure: Group of 9 Albino rats were selected and divided equally into three groups. All the rats were made hyperthermic by subcutaneous injection of 12% suspension of yeast at a dose of 1ml/100mg of body weight. 10 hours later, one group of animals were given test drug by gastric tube in a dose of 1.2mg/100gm, the second group received only distilled water in a dose of 1ml and the third group received 30mg/100gm of Sodium Salicylate as the standard. The mean rectal temperature for the three groups was recorded at 0 hr, 1 hrs, 3 hrs, 4 hrs after the drug administration. The difference between the mean temperature of the control group, standard and that of the other group is measured. Inference: The test drug Sangu Parpam has got significant Anti-pyretic activity on rats.

Analgesic study on Sangu Parpam:

Instrument: Dolori-meter or Analgesio meter using heated Nichrome wire as the source of stimulus. Procedure: Three groups of rats on either sex were selected and divided into three groups consisting of three rats each. The rats were put inside a rat holder with the tail projecting out fully. The tip of the tail was kept over the nichrome wire of analgesio meter. Without touching it, waited until the rat does not move the tail. 5ma current was passed through the meter to heat the nichrome wire. The switch was put on at the same time starting a stop watch. The time taken for the rat to flick the tail was noted. This is the Reaction time. The reaction time was noted for each rat and the average is calculated.

First group was given 2ml of water and kept as control. Second group was administered with pethedine (1mg/ kg body weight) intra-peritoneally. The test drug (Sangu parpam) was administered to the third group. The reaction time was noted after the administration as hour, 1 hour and 1 hour readings. The results of the three groups were tabulated and compared. Inference: The test drug Sangu parpam has got mild Analgesic action.

Important preparations having Sangu as the main ingredient Serial Name of the no. 1 medicine Sangu Chendooram Main ingredients Chank, juice of Aloe vera etc. Dose & Anupanam 130 mg, with Vatha Palm jaggery, lemon juice 2 Velli Sangu Parpam Chank, processed in Occimum sanctum 3 Sangu Chunnam Chank, processed in Occimum sanctum 4 Sangu parpam Chank, flesh of Snail. 130 mg , Ghee, Honey, Sugar. 200 mg , twice daily with Ghee. 5 Manosilai Mai. Chank, rock salt, sandal wood etc For external application 100-200 mg, diseases, Peptic ulcer, Gunapadam Thathu Jeeva Vaguppu. Indications Reference

Skin diseases Page:489 Leurrhoea, Paramparai Vaithiyam, Page: 390.

Butter, Ghee, Anuria, Milk Dysuria, Vatha Vatha diseases, Abdominal pain. Kapha diseases,

Mooligai marmam, page: 187.

Gunapadam Thathu Jeeva

Tuberculosis. Vaguppu. Eye diseases Siddhars Aruvai Maruthuvam.

Kankasa mathirai

Chank, Ginger, Pepper, long pepper etc.

For external application along with honey. Applied as eye drops with Mothers milk

Kan kasam, Padalam (Eye diseases) Padalam,

Siddhars Aruvai Maruthuvam.

Macha Rathinathi mathirai.

Chank, lemon juice, Trianthema decandra etc

Siddhars

Poo, Cataract Aruvai (Siddha eye diseases) Maruthuvam.

Santhirodhaya Mathirai.

Chank, Butter, Acorus etc.

Externally applied on eyes

Pillam, Padalam, Poo (eye diseases)

Siddhars Aruvai Maruthuvam. Page: 251. Koshaye Anubogha Vaidhya Brahmma Ragasiyam. Noigaluku Siddha Parikaram, Part I. 262.

Akkini kumara rasam

Sangu parpam, pepper, Mercury, Sulphur etc

130 mg, twice daily, with Piper betel juice

Fever with vomiting, indigestion, Mukkutra noi.

10

Vikkal Nivarani

Sangu + Mothers milk.

To be applied over the tongue.

Hiccough

11

Gunmam cure Baspam

Sangu parpam, Silazet parpam, Annabedi Chendooram.

5 to 10 grains, twice daily with

Gastric troubles, Peptic &

Noigaluku Siddha Parikaram, Part I. 306.

Gooseberrys Duodenal juice. ulcers.

References:

1. Dr. R.Thiyagarajan, Gunapadam Thathu Jeeva vaguppu; Part 2&3, Dept.of Indian medicine and Homeopathy, Chennai-106. 2. Dr. K.S. Uthamarayan, Siddhar Aruvai Maruthuvam (Surgery), 4th edition 2005, Dept. of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy, Chennai 106. 3. The Pharmacopoeia of Siddha Research Medicines. 4. Noigaluku Siddha Parikaram. 5. Koshaye Anubogha Vaidhya Brahmma Ragasiyam. 6. Paramparai Vaithiyam. 7. Mooligai Marmam (Secrets of Herbs).