An Appraisal of Medicinal Properties of Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum): A Review

Abstract

Alum (Shibb-e-Yamani) is a colorless, transparent, odorless crystalline mass with a sweetish astringent taste and consists of any of a group of hydrated double salts, usually consisting of aluminium sulfate, water of hydration, and the sulfate of another element. It is often mixed with impurities. It may be rendered fit for medicinal purposes by dissolving it in boiling water, straining the solution and evaporating it so as to obtain crystals, which should be preserved for use. It has many important uses, including the production of medicines, textiles, sugar, paper, paints, matches, and deodorants. It is also used in baking powder, in fire extinguishers, as binder in dyeing, as a flocculating agent in water purification, and for waterproofing paper. It possesses astringent, haemostatic, caustic, styptic, antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. It diminishes the exhalations, secretions and blood supply to a part by constricting small vessels and organic fibers. It is therapeutically used in various diseases like leucorrhoea, haematuria, haemoptysis, menorrhagia and other haemorrhages. It is externally used in a number of diseases such as uterine and anal prolapse, bleeding from nose, gums, vagina and rectum, excessive sweating in armpits, groins and soles of the feet. It has shown diverse biological and pharmacological activities. It has been used in Unani Medicine (Tibb-e-Unani) and other Traditional systems of medicine from time immemorial. Keeping in view the high medicinal importance of the drug in Unani medicine, the present review provides available information on traditional uses and pharmacological properties of Unani drug Shibb-e-Yamani.

Full text

April 2018 – Sept. 2018, Volume X, Issue 2: 78-87
ABSTRACT
Alum (Shibb-e-Yamani) is a colorless, transparent, odorless crystalline mass with a sweetish astringent
taste and consists of any of a group of hydrated double salts, usually consisting of aluminium sulfate, water
of hydration, and the sulfate of another element. It is often mixed with impurities. It may be rendered fit for
medicinal purposes by dissolving it in boiling water, straining the solution and evaporating it so as to
obtain crystals, which should be preserved for use. It has many important uses, including the production of
medicines, textiles, sugar, paper, paints, matches, and deodorants. It is also used in baking powder, in fire
extinguishers, as binder in dyeing, as a flocculating agent in water purification, and for waterproofing
paper. It possesses astringent, haemostatic, caustic, styptic, antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. It
diminishes the exhalations, secretions and blood supply to a part by constricting small vessels and organic
fibers. It is therapeutically used in various diseases like leucorrhoea, haematuria, haemoptysis,
menorrhagia and other haemorrhages. It is externally used in a number of diseases such as uterine and anal
prolapse, bleeding from nose, gums, vagina and rectum, excessive sweating in armpits, groins and soles of
the feet. It has shown diverse biological and pharmacological activities. It has been used in Unani
Medicine (Tibb-e-Unani) and other Traditional systems of medicine from time immemorial. Keeping in
view the high medicinal importance of the drug in Unani medicine, the present review provides available
information on traditional uses and pharmacological properties of Unani drug Shibb-e-Yamani.
Keywords: Alum, Phitkiree, Shibb-e-Yamani
12 3 4 5
*Fahmeeda Zeenat ,Wasim Ahmad , Suboohi Mustafa , Syeda Aamena Naaz , Ashfaque Ahmad
1,3,4Department of Amraze Niswan wa Atfal, Faculty of Unani Medicine, A.M.U., Aligarh
2 5
Department of Ilmul Advia, Department of Qabalat wa Niswan, Mohammadia Tibbia College, Malegaon, Nashik, India
Introduction:
7
Alum is a colourless, white transparent,
odourless crystalline masses or a granular powder
with a sweetish astringent taste. When heated it
o
melts and at about 200 looses its water of
cry s tallis a tion with t he format i on of the
23
anhydrous salt . As found in the bazaars, it is often
mixed with impurities. It may be rendered fit for
medicinal purposes by dissolving it in boiling
water, straining the solution and evaporating it so
as to obtain crystals, which should be preserved
28
for use .
Alum is any of a group of hydrated double
salts, usually consisting of aluminum sulfate,
water of hydration, and the sulfate of another
element. The alum of greatest commercial
importance is aluminum potassium sulfate, also
known as potassium alum or potash alum, written
. .
a s K SO A l ( S O ) 2 4 H O or a s KA l
2 4 2 4 3 2
.
(SO ) 12H O. It is produced by evaporation of a
4 2 2
water solution containing aluminum sulfate and
potassium sulfate. Aluminum sulfate can also
form alums with the sulfates of sodium, ammonia,
cesium, silver, rubidium, thallium, hydrazine,
hydroxylamine, many organic amines, and
possibly lithium. In addition, sulfates of trivalent
iron, chromium, manganese, cobalt, gallium,
titanium, vanadium, iridium, rhodium, and indium
7
may take the place of aluminum sulfate .
The alums c o llecti vely have many
important uses, including the production of
medicines, textiles, sugar, paper, paints, matches,
Zeenat et. al.
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An Appraisal of Medicinal Properties of Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum): A Review
An Appraisal of Medicinal Properties of Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum): A Review

79
Alum is a liquid in which septic parts of
earth are present. This liquid is condenced due to
cold like Namak and Naushadar but not like stone.
It is found in Yaman, Egypt, Rajasthan, Bihar,
Cutch and Punjab. According to colour, shape and
consistency, it is divided in to 17-18 types. But
three types of Shibb-e-Yamani are found easily
and commonly being used that are described as
29
Najmul Ghani (2011)
1. Yellowish white, transparent, heavier,
astringent on tongue. It is less acidic. It is
called mushaqqaq. It is found in Yaman so
called as Shibb-e-Yamani.
2. This is type of alum is found in round
pie ces. I t a naest hetize s the tong ue
minutely. It is acidic in taste. It is called as
Zaj Madharaj wa Mustadbar.
3. This type of Alum is soft and breaks easily.
It feels a bit wet on touch. It has bad smell.
It is called Shibbe Zafar or Zaje Zafar or
Shibbe Ratab. The best is transparent and
milky in colour.
According to colour, it is of various types:
Red, White, Yellow, Green and Black. The white
variety is known as Qalqadees, while yellow is
3 20
Qalqatar, green is Qalqand and red is Soori .
Vernaculars:
The Alum is k n own by d i fferent
vernacular names: Shab, Zaje-abyaz, Zaj, Shibbe
Yamani (Arabic); Phitkari, Phatkiri, Phatphadi
(Bengali); Sambe-mani (Bombay); Keo-Khin,
Khin, Kyouh-Kyen (Burm); Phati-Kara, Pati-
Kara (Canarese); Alum, Aluminous sulphate,
Sulphate of Alumina and Potash, Sulphate of
Aluminium and Ammonium (English); Phatkari
(Gujrati); Phitkari, Phitikhari, Phitkiri (Hindi);
Alyosan (Latin); Patikar, Turati, phitki, Phatki
( M a h a r a s h t r a ) ; C h i n i k - k a r a m , Ta w a s
(Malyalam); Fatkari (Panjabi); Zak, Shab-i-
yemeni, Zake bilor, Zake safed, Zama, Zaj, Zaj
Safed (Persian); Sanqarya (Roomi); Sphatikari,
Surashtraja, Kamakshi, Tuvari (Sanskrit); Pitki
(Sindhi); Pati-karam, Padikharam, Shinacarum
(Tamil); Pati-karam, Pattikaramu, Padikharam
and deodorants. They are also used in baking
powder, in fire extinguishers, as binder (mordant)
in dyeing, as a flocculating (aggregating) agent in
7
water purification, and for waterproofing paper .
Before 5000 BC, people in Iraq were
making fine pottery from clay that consisted
largely of a compound containing aluminum, and
al m os t 4 0 0 0 y ea r s a go , E g yp t i an s a n d
Babylonians used aluminium compounds in
various chemicals and medicines. Pliny refers to
alumen, known now as Alum, a compound of
aluminum widely used in the ancient and
th
medieval world to fix dyes in textiles. By the 18
century, the earthy base 'alumina' was recognized
7
as the potential source of a metal .
Alum is chiefly found with peroxide of
iron in Silajit or in Alum earths of Nepal or
prepared from the Alum shales in the Punjab,
28
Rajputana, Bihar and Cutch states . In India, the
Ken-Sun Enterprises, Mumbai, is a major
manufacturer of common alum produced as
aluminium sulphate, with capacities of 36,000
tonnes of ferric alum and 16,000 million tones of
8
non-ferric alum per annum .
Astringents precipitate proteins and when
applied to mucous membrane or damaged skin
they form a superficial protective layer and are
not usually absorbed. They harden the skin and
ch e c k e xu d a ti v e s e cr e t io n s a n d m in o r
23
haemorrhage .
The Unani morphology of Alum (Shibb-e-
Yamani) has been described in detail by certain
Unani physicians. It is a mineral salt. It is
yellowish white in colour, lighter and transparent
like 'Boraq' but looks like 'Zarneekh'. It is soft like
Namak (Common Salt) but it becomes hard after
drying in air. It is acidic in nature. It converts into
various small pieces and grinded in hand. It is used
as binder in dyeing. The article that is subjected to
dye is firstly cleaned, then dipped in a solution of
Shibb-e-Yamani and dried. After that it is dipped in
a solution of dye to stain desired colour. The best
19
variety of Shibb-e-Yamani is found in Egypt . The
drug found in mountaneous region of Yaman is
1
known as Shibb-e-Yamani .
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80
The drug alum is described in detail in
scientific literature and various actions have been
reported to possess by it. Some pharmacological
actions are as follows:
8
Alum possesses emetic (repeated dose) ,
23
as trin gent , haem osta tic , caustic, styptic,
antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. It checks
sweat. In large dose it acts as irritant and purgative.
Alum diminishes the exhalations, secretions and
blood supply to a part by constricting small vessels
28
and organic fibers .
Istemal (Uses)
Alum is especially effective in diseases of
2,38
kidney, urinary bladder and eye .
Due to property of qabiz (astringent),
ha b i sud d am ( ha e m ost a tic ) an d m uja f fi f
(siccative), alum is therapeutically used as
Mazmaza in a number of diseases such as quruh
lissa (ulceration of gum), sailane khoon lissa
(bleeding gums), istarkhae lissa wa tahriq dandan
(looseness of gum & teeth), qula'a (stomatitis),
warm lauzatain (tonsillitis) and warm-e-halaque
(pharyngitis). It is used orally as powder in
sailanur rahem (leucorrhoea) and jiryan-e-dam
14,21
(bleeding) .
Alum checks the uterine bleeding when
32
used as humool or along with ganadana water .
Uterine douching by alum water relieves sailanur
rahem (leucorrhoea), cures vaginal itching and
inflammation, and also constricts uterine wall
after delivery. Syringing of alum solution is
38
indicated in nasal bleeding and nasal injuries .
Shibb-e-Yamani biryan (roasted alum) is used to
check the haemorrhage and to strengthen gums. It
is also applied on teeth along with honey and
vinegar to make them strong. It is useful in
17
stomatitis (qula) along with honey .
Alum is beneficial in phode, phunsi,
suzaak, sailan-e-uzn, sar ki joon, sar ki bhoosi
(dandruff) and axillary foul smell because of
possessing dafa-e-ta'affun (antiseptic) property. It
is used in kali khansi (whooping cough), zeequn
nafas (asthma) and sua'al (cough) due to its dafe
14,21
tashannuj (antispasmodic) property .
( Te l g u ) , Q a l q a d e e s , F i l fi l u l - Q u a i s
1,3,29,14,15,16,20,19,27,28,38,39
(Unani) .
Molecular formula
21
K SO Al (SO ) .24H O .
2 4 2 4 3 2
Molecular weight
21
458.28 gm .
Composition
Potassium, Aluminium, Hydrogen,
21
Sulphur and Oxygen .
Habitat
It is found in Egypt, Italy, England,
Germany and India. In India, mostly found in
14
Assam, Punjab and Bihar .
Temperament (Mizaj):
The Unani physicians have unanimously
described the Mizaj of the drug as Hot and Dry.
But they differ regarding its degree of hot and
19, 3,29
dryness. It is Hot in first degree . But
1
according to others it is Hot in second degree and
15, 20,3 7
third degree . It is Dry in third degree
19,3,1,15,37,20. While some says it is Dry in second
29
degree .
Afa'al (Pharmacological Actions)
In classical Unani literature, various
actions of the drug Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum) have
been described i n d e t a i l s s u c h a s q a b i s
(astringent), musakkin (sedative), muqee (emetic),
mukhrij-e-janeen wa masheema (abortifacient),
daf e n aub a t -e- t a p ( a n tip e r iod i c ), a kka l
18
(corrosive) ; habisuddam (haemostatic), dafe
t a a f fu n ( an t i s e p t i c ), d af e t as h a n n u j
1 4
(an tispa smodi c), musakhkhin (calo rific) ;
muj affif-e -ratub a t ( siccat ive), m unaffis -e-
bal g h um ( ant i p hle g m ati c ) , d a fe b ukh a r
38
(antipyretic), jaali (detergent) ; mohallil riyah
(carminative), mufattit sang-e-gurda wa masana
2
(lithotryptic), daf-e-nakseer (anti-epistaxis) ;
muhammir (rubefacient), mudammil (cicatizant),
muqashshir (sloughing agent), mudir (diuretic)
and mohallil awram halaq wa lissa wa zuban
37
barid (antiinflammatory) .
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Therapeutic Uses
The therapeutic uses of alum are also
described in detail in scientific literature. Some
therapeutic uses are as follows:
It is therapeutically used in various
diseases such as leucorrhoea, haematuria,
haemoptysis, menorrhagia, gastric and intestinal
catarrh and other haemorrhages, chronic diarrhea
and dysentery, atonic discharges, asthma, narcotic
poisoning in children, whooping cough, serpent
animal bites, malaria, obstinate hiccup, infestation
of guinea worm, renal, uterine and other internal
organ haemorrhages, bleeding piles, epistaxis,
mucous surface bleeding, enteric fever, diabetes,
albuminuria, ulcerated sore throat, aphonia, atony
of larynx, spongy or bleeding gums, loos teeth,
toothache, swollen gums, ulcers of the mouth and
tongue, fissures of the tongue in consumption,
exce s s i ve s a livat i o n , d i p h ther i a , cr o u p ,
pharyngitis, chronic and purulent ophthalmia,
ch ronic conjunctiviti s, country sore eyes,
otorrhoea, recent ecchymosis, contusion, sprains
28
and umbilical ulcers of infants .
In chronic diarrhea, 10 grains of alum
along with 5 drops of laudanum and 1 ½ ounces of
acorus root infusion is useful. In a diarrhoea
preceding cholera and a diarrhoea of phthisis, a
compound of powdered alum, catechu and
cinnamon each in 10 grain quantity mixed with
honey is given in repeated doses. It is good and
efficient antidote in narcotic poisoning in children.
In whooping cough, after the first and acute stage
is passed, alum is given in a dose of 2-4 grain twice
or thrice daily in the form of powder or in solution
in omum water proves most beneficial. First line
of treatment in injuries resulting in concussion of
the brain, spinal cord or in severe sprains or
fractures is alum in a dose of 5 grains with treacle
or sugar. Alum stops hiccups when given in one
drachm twice or thrice a day by inducing
vomiting. It helps to relieve lead colic when given
in repeated doses of 3 0 g r a i n s a l u m b y
precipitating soluble salts of lead. 45 grains of
alum is also mixed with treacle and given
internally in guinea worm. Alum lotion is used
Vomiting is induced by using alum powder
in a dose of 3 gm, to relieve khunaque (diptheria)
and surfa (cough). Alum when used along with
14
a'ab-e-zift, removes dandruff . Due to habisud
dam (haemo static ) a nd mujaffi f-e-ra tubat
properties (siccative), it is used as haemostatic in
22
small wounds by constricting the vessels . Its
decoction is therapeutically used to clean and
wash the wounds. Roasted alum is sprinkled on
infected wounds. An eye drop is useful in aashob-
e-chashm (conjunctivitis) that is prepared by
adding alum in a quantity of 2 ratti (250 mg) in 2
tola (25 ml) rose water. This helps to cure eye pain
and redness. Its matbookh (decoction) orally or its
humool (tampon) locally is applied for the
expulsion of foetus and placenta. It is used in
sozish-e-andam-e-nehani, kharish-e-sailanur
rahem, kushadgi-e-rahem, bad wazaie rahem,
18
khuruej maqad and bawasir .
If alum 2 gm and misri 4 gm is taken orally
along with milk 250 ml + water 250 ml, it will help
2
to cure wounds of kidney, ureter and bladder .
Alum has contraceptive effect when used as
14,21
humool before the coitus .
In epistaxis and nose wounds, alum is
mixed with water and syringing is done. Internally
it is taken with milk in case of pain due to any
wound or fall. It is taken in powder form in chronic
diarrhoea. In naubati bukhar, if there is no
constipation it is given few hours before the fever,
38
as a result of which fever stops .
It is used as first line of treatment in
haemorrhagic dieases like istehaza, nafsud dam,
37
qayam-e-kabdi (damwi) and balgami pechish . It
is taken orally along with 1 gm of misri in warm-e-
masana wa gurda. Alum also helps to cure
32
headache .
Alum is used to filter the water since long
time. For this purpose add 5- 6 grain alum in 1
gallon water, alum sediments the water contain
soluble impurities in insoluble form. Alum also
kills the bacteria in water but does not kill
38
viruses .
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82
ounces is useful n weeping eczema. In sweating
feet, alum powder with talc and zinc oxide is a
good remedy. Local application of cloth saturated
with the solution of alum in decoction of gall or
babul bark is helpful in bleeding piles and also in
28
anal prolapse especially in children .
Muzir (Adverse Effect):
It produces harmful effects on lungs,
18,21
stomach and intestine . If it is given in a dose of
29
3 gm, it may cause coughing . Large doses of
alum are irritants and may be corrosive. Gum
necrosis and gastrointestinal haemorrhage have
occurred. Adverse effects on muscle and kidneys
23
have been reported .
Musleh (Corrective):
Milk and Ghee are corrective for the
adverse effect on intestine and lungs while Sugar
29
an d Gum are corrective f or coughi ng .
Poisoning with alum should be treated with
copious drinks of water and gastric lavage if
vomiting has not occurred. The demulcent drinks
should be given and shock alleviated if the patient
23
shows sign of collapse .
Badal (Substitute):
29
Naushadar, Namake Siyah and Phitkari
18
Surkh are being used as substitute of alum.
Miqdar Khurak (Dose)
37,38
2- 4 ratti (250-500 mg) .
Muqi Miqdar
38
3 gram
Pharmacological Studies
A number of studies have been carried out
on alum in recent years showing that it possesses
diverse pharmacological effects. Some of the
important pharmacological effects are as follows:
Antibacterial
In vitro study on efficacy and safety of
potassium Aluminum Tetraoxosulphate (Alum) in
the treatment of tuberculosis was carried out using
the proportion method. The results showed that at
internally to check internal haemorrhage from
lungs, stomach, kidney and other organs or to
28
arrest excessive menstrual flow .
In small dose of alum as 2-10 grains is very
effective in strangury and vomiting. 10 grains of
alum is used to arrest asthmatic spasm, and 5
grains of alum in half an ounce of rose water is
used twice a day in asthma and cough. According
to J.L. Duveji, drinking of buttermilk or water
mixed with 6 masha of good alum is very effective
in poisoning caused by serpents bite. Satisfactory
results in the patients of malaria can be achieved
by taking desiccated alum in 5 grain doses with a
teaspoon of water 2 hours before the expected
28
rigor .
External Uses
Alum is externally used in a number of
diseases such as uterine and anal prolapse,
bleeding from nose, gums, vagina and rectum,
excessive sweating in armpits, groins and soles of
the feet, Leech bites, cuts. It is applied locally in
diphtheria, croup and pharyngitis as a collyrium. It
is an important ingredient of hair dyes and lotions.
Alum is externally used in a number of diseases
such as uterine and anal prolapse, hair dye, hair
lotions, locally in bleeding from nose, gums,
vagina and rectum, excessive sweating in armpits,
groins and soles of the feet. Leech bites, cuts. It is
appli e d l ocally in d iphtheria, croup a nd
pharyngitis as a collyrium . Weak solution of alum
is used as lotion in ulcers and chilblains. It acts as
an astringent gargles in a strength of 2 drachms in a
pint of decoction of galls or Babul bark or a plain
water. It is also used in relaxed or ulcerated sore
throat, aphonia, atony of larynx, spongy or
bleeding gums, loose teeth, ulcers of mouth and
tongue, fissures of tongue in consumption, in
excessive salvation etc. In ear inflammation, paste
of alum and gypsum in equal parts and Gil-e-
Armani is applied and it is used as ear drop in
ottorhoea. Sterilized cotton plugs saturated with
al u m p o wd e r o r s te r i li z ed a lu m l ot i on
immediately stops the bleeding in case of
postpartum hemorrhage and menorrhagia. A
lotion of alum and borax 40 grains and water 8
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83
water) were given for a period of 6 weeks on a
daily basis. Salivary samples were collected at the
end of 3 weeks and 6 weeks and S mutans levels
were assessed and compared with the baseline and
among each other. Both the alum containing
mouth rinses showed statistical significance
reduction in S mutans level in children, thus alum
should be used as a routine oral hygiene, though its
safety f o r p r olonged u s a g e n eeds t o b e
26,35
established .
Antimicrobial activity of crude extract
from two commonly used medicinally materials,
alum and clove were evaluated against four
microorganisms over different concentration (10,
20, 30, 40 and 50) w/v %. Minimum inhibitory
co ncentration (MI C) and the dia meter of
inhibition zone were determined by in vitro
bioassay using agar well diffusion method against
S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and Klebsiella
pneumonia. Th e t wo medic inal mate rials
exhibited antibacterial activity and inhibition
growth of gram positive and gram negative
9
bacteria isolated from different sites of infection .
A study was carried out to test the
antimicrobial activity of alum on seven bacterial
iso l a tes: Proteu s s p ., P seudomon a s s p1.,
Pseudomonas sp2., Streptococcus sp., E. coli,
Staphylococcus aureus1 and Staphylococcus
aureus2. The results exhibited that alum in
concentrations 5 and 10 gm/100 ml sterilized by a
Millipore filter and gauze was affected against
m o s t b a c t e r i a l i s o l a t e s w h i l e a l u m i n
concentration 2.5 gm/100 ml not showed any
inhibited affect against all selective bacterial
isolates. The best mean of Minimal Inhibition
Concentration for the alum sterilized by the a
Millipore filter was in (100 & 200) mg/cm3 the
MIC was (19,15 and 11) respectively while low
(MIC) was in concentrations 25 mg/cm3 the MIC
was (3), the high MIC for alum sterilized by gauze
was in concentration (100 and 200) mg/ cm3 the
MIC was (15,12 and 9) respectively, while low
(MIC) of alum sterilized by gauze was in
concentration (50 and 25) mg/cm3 the MIC was
(4,2 and 1) respectively. The high mean of
inhibited activity of alum against bacterial isolates
the h i g h e s t c o n c e ntration o f 0 . 0 0 3 g / m l ,
Mycobacterium tuberculi was resistant to the alum
extract while the standard drug (streptomycin)
inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculi
at the same concentration. The histological
analysis of the various organs showed normal
morphology and no inflammation was seen.
Stat i s tical analysis o f t h e w eight of the
experimental animals compared with those of the
controls showed no significant weight difference
and no mortality was recorded throughout the
experimental process. The histological studies
sugge st that alum was rela tively safe for
mammalian consumption at the concentration
used, but was ineffective against Mycobacterium
30
tuberculi .
The effects of alum [KAl(SO4)2] on free-
living and copepod-associated Vibrio cholerae O1
and O139 were investigated by using plate counts
and immunofluorescence direct viable counting
(DVC). Growth of alum treated cells in 0.5‰
Instant Ocean seawater was inhibited, i.e., no
growth was obtained on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar
or thiosulfate-citrate-bile salt-sucrose (TCBS)
agar. However, a significant number of the
inhibited cells maintained viability, as measured
by DVC. In comparison, a significant number of V.
cholerae organisms associated with zooplankton,
most of which were crustacean copepods, were
viable but nonculturable, with only a small
number of cells retaining culturability on LB and
TCBS agar. Both DVC and viable plate counts
(CFU) were significantly greater for V. cholerae
O1 and O139 associated with zooplankton than
for V. cholerae in water alone, i.e., without
copepods. It is concluded that alum is an effective
coagulant but not an effective killing agent for V.
cholerae and that association with copepods
offers protection for V. cholerae O1 and O139
11
against alum and chlorine treatments .
The anti-cariogenic effect of alum was
evaluated in the study by measuring the salivary S
mutans levels of children at baseline. Two
experimental mouth rinses (alum in physiological
saline and alum in distilled water) and two control
mouth rinses (physiological saline and distilled
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explored further, taking into account possible side
24
effects especially in renal compromised patients .
Haemostatic
The study was carried out to evaluate the
effect of aluminium p otassium sulfate on
tonsillectomy time, blood loss during the surgery
and the number of ties used. A prospective trial of
45 consecutive patients was carried out, in which
tonsillectomy was performed using aluminium
potassium sulfate (>99% pure) as haemostatic
agent on one side and gauze pack on the other side.
Application of aluminium potassium sulfate in the
tonsillar fossae reduced the operation time by
28.6%, the operative blood loss by 19.7% and the
number of ties used by 33.3% in regard to control
side. All these results were statistically significant
which showed that local application of aluminium
potassium sulfate on tonsillar bed in tonsillectomy
is beneficial in regard to decreased volume of
blood loss, procedure time, and number of ties
5
used .
Continuous vesical irrigation with 1 per
cent alum solution was performed without
anesthesia in 9 patients in whom massive bladder
hemorrhage persisted despite evacuation of clots
and normal saline irrigation for at least 24 hours.
Hematuria ceased promptly in all patients,
although the effect was transient in 3. No side
effect was observed. Biopsy of the tumor
su bsequent to alum irrigation show ed no
alteration in the histological characteristics.
Biopsy of the normal appearing bladder mucosa
13
also showed no evidence of epithelial damage .
Five patients with malignant hemopathies,
incl u d i ng f o u r t r e a ted b y bo n e m arro w
transplantation, developed cyclophosphamide-
induced hemorrhagic cystitis that failed to
respond to the usual treatments. Each was treated
by continuous irrigation of the bladder with
potassium alum. Hematuria ceased in three
12
patients followed up for 5 to 10 months .
The efficacy of intravesical alum irrigation
was analyzed after application to 9 patients with
continuous and severe bladder hemorrhage.
was observed when it sterilized by a Millipore
filter, while low mean of inhibited activity when it
sterilized by gauze. Alum which sterilized by a
millipore filter have high inhibited activity
towards most selective bacterial isolates and
showed high activity against Streptococcus sp.
Comp a r e d wi t h a ntibi o t i cs ( A m p icill i n ,
Tobramicin and Ceftriaxone) while alum which
sterilized by gauze have high activity against
Sta phylo coccus a ureus1 compa rison w ith
antibio t i c s ( A m p icillin, To b r a micin a n d
35
Ceftriaxone) .
Antimicrobial activity of propolis, alum
and plant aqueous extracts at 50% concentration
by well-diffusion method was characterized by
inhibition zones. At this concentration, the
maximum inhibition zone diameters 35mm, 40
mm were found in Salvadora persica and alum,
respectively, for propolis the inhibition zone was
30 mm, while green tea and clove give the same
inhibition zone 20 mm, the minimum inhibition
24
zone 10 mm was found in black tea .
In another study children using saturated
saline rinse and alum rinse showed statistically
significant reductions in salivary S. mutans counts
after 10 days and also after 21 days. After 21 days,
the saturated saline rinse and alum rinse groups
showed statistically significant differences over
the placebo rinse group. Again, the alum rinse
group showed a statistically significant difference
33
over the saturated saline rinse group .
Antiplatelet
One study was done to investigate the in
vivo effect of alum on platelet aggregation and
bleeding time in rabbits. The collagen-induced
platelet aggregation of platelet rich plasma
samples from 14 healthy rabbits was measured
turbidometrically using a platelet aggregometer,
before and 1 hour after intravenous injection of
alum. Collagen induced platelet aggregation was
significantly reduced after alum injection.
Bleeding time from an ear puncture in 8 rabbits
was also significantly prolonged after intravenous
alum injection. These results suggest that the use
of alum as an oral antiplatelet drug could be
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85
Anti-Obesity
In Wistar rats fed on high fat diet, oral
intake of potash alum exhibited significant
reduction in body weight, food intake, serum
triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TCs) and
hi gh dens ity l ipoprotei ns (HDL) wher eas
simultaneously increased the dry weight of feces,
total lipids in feces, compared to high fat diet fed
3
control .
Spermicidal
Viability and motility of alum vary with
different concentration of potash alum. In case of
15% concentration the death time was 51.9% sec
in case of 10% it was 87.2 sec and in case of 5% it
34
was 122.1sec .
Conclusion
Shibb-e-Yamani (alum) has been in use
since times immemorial to treat wide range of
indications. It has been subjected to quite
extensive experimental and clinical investigations.
Exp e r ime n t a l a n d c l i nic a l st u d ies h ave
demonstrated its antibacterial, antiplatelet,
haemostatic, healing, larvicidal, anti-obesity and
spermicidal effects. The scientific studies have
pro ved most o f t he claim s o f tradit ional
medicines. However, further detailed clinical
research appears worthwhile to explore the full
therapeutic potential of this drug in order to
establish it as a standard drug.
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