Toxicology and free radicals scavenging property of Tamra bhasma.

Free radicals are implicated in various chronic diseases. There has always been a search for new antioxidants. In this paper we have investigated Tamra bhasma, a metallic ayurvedic preparation. It is a time-tested medicine in Ayurveda and is in clinical use for various ailments specifically the free radical mediated diseases. Our results show that Tamra bhasma inhibits lipid peroxidation (LPO), prevents the rate of aerial oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and induces the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rat liver homogenate in the bi-phasic manner. The drug was orally given for 7, 15 and 30 days in different doses. Best protective response was found at the dose of 0.5mg/100g body weight in albino rats, although it showed some histopathological changes at the dose of 20mg/100g body weight. The results suggest that this Ayurvedic preparation is not merely a source of copper metal, but it is a strong anti-oxidant with no detectable adverse effect in lower doses of therapeutic range.