Abstract

NECESSITY & UTILITY OF ZOOLOGICAL SOURCES IN RASASHASTRA

Shweta S. Nayak*

ABSTRACT

Rasashastra evolved in the beginning as study of Mercury, as it developed further study of metals, minerals as well as animal and plant products was also included in it. Sources of drugs may be natural, synthetic. Drugs of animal, marine, plants, mineral origin constitute natural resource and rich source of medicine. Nearly half of all pharmaceuticals now in uses were originally derived from natural sources. Animals and their derivatives have been used as medicinal resource for the treatment and relived diseases since many years. Both wild & domesticated animals & there by-products are used in protective, preventive & curative. Drug research & development demands new drug discovery in the field of medicine. Marine animals represent an exceptional source of bioactive natural products many of which exhibit structural features not found in terrestrial natural products. Majority of animal products used in Rasashastra are grouped under Sudha Varga which contain calcium compounds used in calcium deficiency and also prescribed in different diseases. The necessities of animal resources in Rasashastra are for Dehavada & Lohavada. It is used in different mercurial preparation like Jarana Bandhana etc.

Keywords: Necessity, Animal sources, Dehavada, Dhatuvada.