Anti-Fungal activity of a Siddha Herbo-Mineral medicine

Linga Kattu

M. Ravichandran[1], Thomas M.Walter[2], S. Prema[3]

[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 (Retired), Dept. of Siddha, Tamil University, Tanjore, Tamilnadu.

Siddhars made medicines from the sources of Vegetable, Animal, Mineral kingdom and they
have known the disease curing methods. Among these medicines which have been prepared from
Vegetable and Animal kingdom have short expiry date and so they should be prepared when required.
Moreover they were not available at all seasons. So they identified the medicines which have longer
expiry and potency such as Kattu, Kalangu, Chunnam, Gurukuligai etc. They are very powerful and
effective medicines in Siddha system.

The Siddhars were efficient in Calcination and Oxidation of metal and by those process they
made metals and minerals fit for human consumption those medium play their effective wonderful
role in the treatment of incurable chronic diseases.

Kattu medicines are very important and very effective preparations in Siddha system,
invented by our ancient Siddhars. Siddhars have invented strong and powerful medicines to heel and
protect the body for many years. They are kattu (Consolidated stone), kalangu (Brittle powder),
Gurukuligai (Medicated beads), etc. Moreover, kattu medicines provide longevity of life and enhance
the quality of life.

Kattu means consolidation or solidification that is to make a strong solid like a stone, doubly
strong that does not liquefy/melt in fire and which is insoluble in water. They are strengthened by
repeated processing to attain this stage. Kattu is usually prepared with mercurials (Panchasootham),
poisonous group of compounds (Padanam), acidic & alkaline salts (Karasaram) and metal (Ulogam).

The material which become smoky and disappear in fire like mercury, zinc, red sulphide or
mercury (cinnabar), arsenic, etc., can be turned into solid by kattu method of preparation. Often it is
prepared along with herbal juices.

Linga-kattu (cinnabar) is one of the such preparation. as per Siddha Literature Lingakattu is
used for fever, Chest pain, pleurisy, paralysis, chronic fever and also as a nervine tonic.
Anti fungal activity:

Anti fungal activity was carried out using Muller Hinton agar medium in test tube culture
technique. The seven fungal strains were used to test the efficacy of the test drug Linga Kattu. They
are as follows:

1. Aspersillus flavus

2. Aspersillus fumigatus

3. Rhizopus stolonifer

4. Aspersillus niger

5. Candida albicans

6. Mentographytes species

7. Gypsium species.

The drug extract and media were amended in four different concentrations (66.66 g/ml, 133.33
g/ml, 200 g/ml & 266.66 g/ml) prepared in the following ratio.
Table 1 Fungal concentration:

Serial No Extract Media Concentration

1 0.2 ml 2.8 ml 66.66 g/ml

2 0.4 ml 2.6 ml 133.33 g/ml

3 0.6 ml 2.4 ml 200 g/ml

4 0.8 ml 2.2 ml 266.66 g/ml

Aseptic sterile test tubes were sterilized with the respective concentration of the medium and
in warm condition the plant extract of relevant concentrations were amended aseptically.

The fungal inoculums were inoculated uniformly in all the test tubes inside air laminar
chamber. The inoculated tubes were incubated and second day onwards observed for changes till it
produces characteristic growth pattern or spore production.

Results and Discussion:

The lower the concentration, the higher the inhibition of growth of the respective strains was
noted down. In lowest concentration (66.6 g/ml & 133.33 g/ml) all the strains were actively
prevented growth and spore production. In 200 g/ml concentration Candida albicans, Gypsium and
Mentographytes were not responded, whereas other forms have shown positive control on the
organisms.

In highest concentration except A. fumigatus and Rhizophus sp. no other strains showed growth.

From the tested strains, the Herbo Mineral Siddha medicine Linga Kattu has direct effect on
controlling growth on A. fumigatus and Rhizopus stolonifer only.

Conclusion
From the Fungal growth pattern reports, the lower concentration of the drug is sufficient to control
the diseases caused by these strains. Hence the tested drug, Linga Kattu has efficacy to control the
fungal growth.