Investigating structural aspects to understand the putative/claimed non-toxicity of the Hg-based Ayurvedic drug Rasasindura using XAFS.

XANES- and EXAFS-based analysis of the Ayurvedic Hg-based nano-drug Rasasindura has been performed to seek evidence of its non-toxicity. Rasasindura is determined to be composed of single-phase α-HgS nanoparticles (size ∼24 nm), free of Hg(0) or organic molecules; its structure is determined to be robust (<3% defects). The non-existence of Hg(0) implies the absence of Hg-based toxicity and establishes that chemical form, rather than content of heavy metals, is the correct parameter for evaluating the toxicity in these drugs. The stable α-HgS form (strong Hg-S covalent bond and robust particle character) ensures the integrity of the drug during delivery and prevention of its reduction to Hg(0) within the human body. Further, these comparative studies establish that structural parameters (size dispersion, coordination configuration) are better controlled in Rasasindura. This places the Ayurvedic synthesis method on par with contemporary techniques of nanoparticle synthesis.

Peroral pneumo colon--a double contrast technique to evaluate distal ileum and proximal colon.

The technique of peroral pneumocolon (POPC) has been found to be simple and easy to obtain excellent double contrast visualization of the distal ileum and proximal colon. Thirty-four patients were subjected to the POPC examination of which 29 had undergone prior barium meal follow through studies. In 86.2% of these cases POPC was found to be superior as compared to conventional studies. In 5 patients who could not retain Ba-enema, POPC was performed as first line of investigation with 100% efficacy.