Mandur Bhasma: Hepatoprotective Agent

weight lossmandur bhasma (also called mandoor bhasma) is an Ayurvedic formula made from the ferric oxide form of iron. This iron is processed to improve its bioavailability. This processing involves calcination (heating) the iron oxide in order to purify it. Mandur bhasma was formulated to help with the development of iron deficiency anaemia and it does this by supplying iron for the production of red blood cells. However, mandur bhasma can be also used to treat other conditions, and one such use is where liver problems exist. Studies suggest that mandur bhasma is hepatoprotective and is able to reduce elevated bilirubin levels and normalise abnormal liver function. Mandur bhasma also has fat burning properties, and this makes it useful in the treatment of fatty liver disease. Mandur bhasma can improve the insulin resistance that is often the cause of fatty liver disease through an insulin sensitising effect. In addition, the fat burning properties of mandur bhasma can decrease the presence of fats in the liver.

Mandur bhasma is an Ayurvedic formula made from iron oxide (rust). Studies suggest that mandur bhasma may be hepatoprotective. Mandur bhasma is present in the polyherbal formulas Liv 52 and Prak-20. Both of these herbal formulas have been shown to be hepatoprotective.

Much of the experimental evidence for the effectiveness of mandur bhasma comes from animal studies. In this regard, studies show the compound to have particular hepatoprotective effects. For example, in one study rats were administered carbon tetrachloride to induce experimental liver damage. Co-administration of mandur bhasma attenuated the liver injury caused to the rats suggesting that the compound provided significant hepatoprotective effects. Prak-20 is a polyherbal formula containing mandur bhasma. One study showed that Prak-20 was able to prevent carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. In particular, there was a significant reduction in the levels of the liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the blood of the rats. These enzymes can signify liver damage, and so the ability of the Prak-20 formula to lower blood levels of these enzymes, demonstrates its hepatoprotective effects, some of which may be due to the presence of mandur bhasma.

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Devarshi, P., Kanase, A., Kanase, R., Mane, S., Patil, S. and Varute, A. T. 1986. Effect of mandur Bhasma on lipolytic activities of liver, kidney and adipose tissue of albino rat during CCl4 induced hepatic injury. Journal of Biosciences. 10(2): 227-234
Prakash, V. B. and Mukherjee, A. 2010. Hepato-protective effect of an ayurvedic formulation prak-20 in CCl4 induced toxicity in rats: Results of three studies. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. 2(1): 23-27

About Robert Barrington

Robert Barrington is a writer, nutritionist, lecturer and philosopher.
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