Nanomedicine and Toxicology of Ayurvedic Metallic Preparations

Ayurvedic metallic preparations, traditionally classified under Rasashastra, have long employed calcination and purification cycles to produce Bhasmas—fine particulates of metals or minerals that often fall within the nano- to submicron range. Recent advances in nanoscience reveal that these ancient protocols yield materials with distinctive physicochemical properties, including high surface area, unique crystallinity and tailored chemical forms that govern bioaccessibility, cellular uptake and therapeutic action. Gold, iron, zinc, copper and mercury are among the principal elements transformed into stable nanoscale assemblies, which have been applied to treat metabolic disorders, inflammatory conditions and even explored for targeted cancer therapy. Complementary modern techniques—scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy and magnetometry—have begun to characterise these materials in detail, shedding light on mechanisms of action but also on potential toxicological risks. Although many Bhasmas demonstrate low acute cytotoxicity in vitro, concerns remain over long-term accumulation of heavy metals, organotropism and interactions with endogenous biomolecules. A balanced assessment of therapeutic promise and safety demands rigorous standardisation, biodistribution studies and systematic toxicology profiling to integrate Ayurvedic metallic nanomedicines into contemporary healthcare.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have compared traditional incinerated gold particles with modern citrate-capped gold nanoparticles. Analysis in human cell lines demonstrates that incinerated gold aggregates into large clusters yet still penetrates cells, predominantly via macropinocytosis for larger assemblies and clathrin-mediated endocytosis for smaller fragments. Unlike chemically synthesised nanoparticles, the incinerated material displays sporadic nuclear localisation during cell division, suggesting transient interactions with chromatin. Despite differences in uptake pathways and intracellular distribution, neither form showed overt cytotoxicity at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. This work provides foundational insight into how ancient processing influences particle architecture, cellular entry routes and subcellular fate—key factors in designing safe and effective metal-based nanomedicines.

Nanomedicine and Toxicology of Ayurvedic Metallic Preparations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanomedicine and toxicology of ayurvedic metallic preparations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Rasashastra: The Ayurvedic discipline focused on transforming raw metals and minerals into therapeutic nano- to submicron formulations through calcination and purification.

Bhasma: A calcined metal or mineral product in Ayurveda, yielding fine particles often in the nanometre range with altered chemical speciation and bioavailability.

X-ray diffraction (XRD): An analytical method for identifying crystalline phases and estimating particle size by measuring the diffraction pattern of X-rays interacting with a sample.

Macropinocytosis: A cellular endocytic process by which large particles or aggregates are internalised within membrane-bound vesicles.

References

1. Comparative study on cellular entry of incinerated ancient gold particles (Swarna Bhasma) and chemically synthesized gold particles. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Introduction to ‘Rasashaastra’- The Iatrochemistry of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines (2011).
3. Nanostructured gold in ancient Ayurvedic calcined drug ‘swarnabhasma’. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (2021).
4. Structural investigation of Ayurveda Lauha (Iron) Bhasma. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (2023).
5. Product development and characterization of the Ayurvedic herbo-mineral-metallic compound- Hridayarnava Rasa. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (2024).