Anti-Microbial studies of Linga Kattu,

a Siddha Herbo Mineral drug

M. Ravichandran1, Thomas M.Walter2, S. Prema3

Background:

The Siddha Pharmacology undergoes a number of scientific evaluations and

standardization methods now-a-days and a lot of medicines are being evaluated for their
safety and efficacy which in turn confirms and illustrates the superiority of these time
tested formulations. The dosage forms of Siddha medicine is divided into 32 internal and
32 external types. The 32 internal forms start with simpler herbal preparations like
juices, decoctions etc to higher dosage forms such as Kattu, Kazhungu, Chunnam
consisting of Herbo mineral preparations.

Kattu, a highly effective internal form of Siddha Materia Medica is in wider use
among the Siddha professionals and Traditional healers. The word Kattu means solid,
binding and with rock consistency. The origin of Kattu dates back to centuries since the
main idol of Gods in Hindu temples were made out of this process by great Siddhars such
as Bogar. Preparation of kattu methods are found extensively in age old Siddha
literatures. The making of kattu is possible only with Mercurials, Arsenicals and salts.
The merit and superiority of kattu form over other dosage forms is that it is safe, time
tested, easy to use and quick in action since it is applied directly to the tongue (lingual
route). Anti-bacterial activity of Linga Kattu is being discussed in this original research
article.

1
Head of Dept (Gunapadam), Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India.
sreeveeka.rv@gmail.com
2
Asst. Lecturer, Gunapadam Dept, Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu.
dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com
3
Professor and HOD (Retired), Dept. of Siddha, Tamil University, Tanjore, Tamilnadu.
Materials and Methods:

Preparation of Linga Kattu:

The Linga kattu was prepared as per the procedure found in Anuboga Vaithya
Navaneetham, Part IV by Abdullah Sahib. It consists of Purified Lingam (Cinnabar) and
Juice of Allium cepa (Onion). Linga kattu in prescribed doses is indicated for fevers
especially chronic in nature, chest pain, pleurisy like pains and also as a nervine tonic and
for improving the sperm count.

Anti-Microbial activity:

No report is available on micro-morphological as wellas anti bacterial and

antifungal activity of this drug, hence the present study was undertaken to explore it.
The test drug was subjected to Anti-Microbial activity at the Dept. of Microbiology,
Madras Medical College (M.M.C) at Chennai, India.

Material preparation:

100 grams of the dried drug powder were boiled in a soxhlet apparatus with 300
ml of methanol for 24 hours. The entire extract was evaporated to dryness in a rotary
evaporator.
 The antibacterial activity of the crude extract was determined using Bacterial
growth Inhibition test of each fraction, using paper filter technique. Aliquots of a
bacterial suspension containing 5 to 7 ml were spread on a supplemented nutrient broth
agar plate and a disc of 2 mm in diameter cut from whatmann No.1 filter paper was
placed on the agar surface in the plate and diluted various ratio of each extract was added
to the paper disc and DMSO was used as a control (30 mm).

After incubation at 28 C for 48 hours growth inhibition zone of each disc by the
fractions was detected and measured. Experimental controls, used in tests in the same
manner as the extracts, were a DMSO control (1mg/1ml) using sterile water and 2 ml of
bacterial suspension. An inoculum control (2ml of sterile water and 2ml of bacterial
suspension) and as control sterile distilled water was used.

The micro organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus aureus

(coagulase -), Entero cocci, Micrococci, E.coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aerogerosa,
citrobacter, Salmonella typhii, Morgonella, Vibriocholera and Serratia were obtained
from the laboratory stock culture. The test micro-organisms wer cultured on nutrient agar
slants at 37 C for 13 hours. The stock cultures were maintained on Nutrient agar slants
at 4 C.
The following concentrations were made for paper disc/filter technique for
bacterial culture. The plant extract in various ratios were diluted with the media (NBA).
Table 1.

Serial Extract Media Concentration

No g/ml
1 1 ml 14 ml 66.66
2 1.5 ml 13.5 ml 99.99
3 2 ml 13 ml 133.33
4 2.5 ml 12.5 ml 166.66
5 3 ml 12 ml 200
6 4 ml 11 ml 266.66

Results and Discussion:

After 16 hours onwards the zone of inhibition rate was noted down. Almost all
the bacterial growth was complete at 24 hours growth period and showed the results as
follows.

In minimal concentration of the drug, the zone inhibition was more and all the
tested bacterial strains were responded and showed the bacteriacidal activity.

In 66.66 g/ml and 99.99 g/ml concentration of the drug, almost all the tested
strains responded within 24 hours growth period. The maximum inhibition zone were
observed from serration (30 mm), Vibrio cholera (28 mm), Staphylococcus aureus
ordinary (25 mm), moderately the zone of inhibition were reduced little lesser in
Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm) (Coagulase -), Entero cocci (23 mm) & Klebsiella (22
mm).

In Micrococci, E.coli, Citrobacter, Morgonella, the zone of inhibition were less

than 20 mm, i.e., 14 mm, 14 mm and 15 mm respectively. The diversified forms like
Pseudomonas aerigenosa and Salmonella typhi strains were reported to have negligent
ration of inhibition.
 The bacterial strains tested may be grouped into 4 categories. The strains which
show zone of inhibition more have higher ratio of controlling effect on the tested
microbes. The bacterio static effect was not reported in these strains.

In concentration like 133.33 and 166.66 g/ml except Vibrio cholera,

Pseudomonas rest all the other strains were responding positively.

In 200 g/ml concentration except Staphylococcus aureus (Coagulase -) strain

other microbes tested were not showing any growth or inhibition.

The minimum inhibitory concentration is falling between 166.66 to 200 g/ml

concentration for all the tested strains.

Conclusion:

From the observed results it is clear that the drug, Linga Kattu is potentially
controlling the no. of micro organisms even in lesser concentration, i.e., less than 200
g/ml except Vibrio cholera and Pseudomonas aerogenosa, rest all the other strains can
be efficiently controlled from the tested drug sample. So the drug can be used with one
time or two times dilution effectively.