CA19-9 LOWERING EFFECT OF AN AYURVEDIC MINERAL COMPLEX PREPARED USING COPPER, MERCURY AND SULPHUR

Abstract

Rasa Shastra is a branch of Ayurveda that deals with the therapeutics of metals and minerals. It emphasizes on the essentiality of balance of metals and minerals in body tissues for the regulation of body metabolism. The role of metal based Ayurvedic formulations has been explored in various disorders. Here, we discuss about an Ayurvedic Mineral Complex (AMC) that is being used to bring sustainable and complete relief in patients of Pancreatitis. A recent observation deciphers the involvement of AMC in bringing down elevated CA19-9 levels in pancreatitis patients. CA19-9 is a tumor marker largely used to monitor the disease course of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Increasing levels of CA19-9 signify progression of disease while decreasing levels are indicative of regression. The findings of this study could open a new thrust area for research to develop this formulation as a preventive therapy for pancreatic cancer in patients suffering from Pancreatitis.

Full text

Ay. Darpan J., Volume 11, Issue 1, Page 19-22 (2020)
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Research article
CA19-9 LOWERING EFFECT OF AN AYURVEDIC MINERAL
COMPLEX PREPARED USING COPPER, MERCURY AND SULPHUR
Vaidya Balendu Prakash1*, Vaidya Shikha Prakash2, Shakshi Sharma2, Sneha Tiwari1,
Vaidya Pooja Jaryal2, Jyoti Tewari1 and Meenakshi Joshi1
1VCPC Research Foundation, Danpur, Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, India.
2Padaav-Speciality Ayurvedic Treatment Centre, Uttarakhand, India.
*Corresponding Author. Email: balenduprakash@gmail.com; Phone: +91-9837028544
Abstract
Rasa Shastra is a branch of Ayurveda that deals with the therapeutics of metals and minerals. It emphasizes on the
essentiality of balance of metals and minerals in body tissues for the regulation of body metabolism. The role of
metal based Ayurvedic formulations has been explored in various disorders. Here, we discuss about an Ayurvedic
Mineral Complex (AMC) that is being used to bring sustainable and complete relief in patients of Pancreatitis. A
recent observation deciphers the involvement of AMC in bringing down elevated CA19-9 levels in pancreatitis
patients. CA19-9 is a tumor marker largely used to monitor the disease course of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Increasing levels of CA19-9 signify progression of disease while decreasing levels are indicative of regression. The
findings of this study could open a new thrust area for research to develop this formulation as a preventive therapy
for pancreatic cancer in patients suffering from Pancreatitis.
Keywords: Ayurvedic Mineral Complex, Rasa Shastra, Pancreatitis, Ayurveda
INTRODUCTION
The word ‘dhatu’ is derived from ‘dharanat dhatavah’,
meaning that which bears is called dhatu1. Ayurvedic
literature has used the word dhatu for rasa, rakta,
mansa, medha, asthi, majja, shukra, and the same word
is also used for seven elements of the periodic table,
Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Tin and Lead1. Rasa
Shastra has described a close linkage between both the
dhatus for a healthy state of the human body. The
imbalance of elemental dhatu in the tissue dhatu might
lead to disturbed metabolism and cause diseases2.
Copper, the 29th element of the periodic table, is
found to be present in body tissues, including liver,
muscles and bones and has special effect of an anti-
inflammatory3,4. However, Copper is also described to
be toxic in raw form as well as in certain salt forms5,6.
Therefore, great emphasis has been laid on its
processing; shodhan and maran.
In early seventies, Meerut based Late Vaidya
Chandra Prakash ji made a unique attempt for the
processing of Copper. He first made an amalgam of
shodhit tamra (Copper) with hinguloth + tamroth +
vishoth parad (Mercury) and subjected that to shatguna
gandhak jarana using nalika baluka yantra. This
Ayurvedic Mineral Complex (AMC) prepared in nearly
three years reportedly miraculously brought complete
and sustainable recovery to a terminally ill patient
suffering from pancreatic cancer7.
Over the years, AMC has continued to exhibit
therapeutic effect in certain forms of cancers along with
chronic and progressive inflammatory disorders, more
specifically in bringing complete and sustainable relief
to the patients of Recurrent Acute/ Chronic
Pancreatitis8,9. This formulation was studied for process
characterization and standardization at Indian Institute
of Science, Bengaluru. Analysis using non-destructive
techniques, like XRD, TEM and SEM, have shown that
the mixture of Copper, Mercury and Sulphur converts
into complex mineral form, comprising of
CuSO4.5H2O, K2(CuSO4)2.6H2O, CuS, KFe2(PO4)2,
SiO2 and CaSO4.2H2O (Figure 1). There were no traces
of any free metals (Indian patent filed).
This complex has shown pancreatitis protective
properties in L-Arginine-induced chronic pancreatitis in
rats10. Large numbers of patients in different parts of
India suffering from different variants of pancreatitis
have volunteered to avail the benefits of this treatment.
Their data is procured following good clinical practice
guidelines, within the ambit of observational research.

Ay. Darpan J., Volume 11, Issue 1, Page 19-22 (2020)
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Figure 1. Chemical composition of AMC
EFFECT ON CA19-9
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas
and could be broadly classified into acute and chronic
pancreatitis11. Acute phases of the disease could be
managed by emergency hospitalizations, intravenous
fluids, painkillers and enzymes but Pancreatitis
continues to progress in spite of all treatments. Up to
40% cases of Pancreatitis progress to cancer of
pancreas12. CA19-9 (Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9) is a
tumor marker which has been identified to evaluate the
progression/ regression of Chronic Pancreatitis and
cancer of pancreas13. It has been reported that the high
values of CA19-9 could be reversed by using
chemotherapeutic agents or post-surgical measures.
Hence, the disease course of chronic pancreatitis and
pancreatic cancer could be measured by the values of
CA19-913.
METHODOLOGY
An observational data was collected in forty nine
patients suffering from Pancreatitis who had elevated
CA19-9 levels (Level more than 37 U/mL). Nine of
these patients were female and forty were male with
disease history ranging from one month to fourteen
years. Their ages varied from six to sixty seven years
(Figure 2).
The patients were prescribed AMC at a dose of 3-4
mg/kg body weight along with 1600-2400 calorie
balanced daily diet, a regulated lifestyle and moderate
rest. Ayurvedic treatment for Pancreatitis is a one year
long protocol. These patients were asked to get their
serum CA19-9 levels evaluated periodically.
<40 years >40 years
37
12
Figure 2. Age groups of the patients (n=49)
Marked lowering effect on CA19-9 was observed
in these cases after administration of AMC (Figure 3).
In majority of the cases, the first effect started within
first ten to forty days. The said effect was sustainable
and there was no adverse effect. Presently, patients of
Pancreatitis have been treated and the effect is depicted
below.
185.97 212.96
154.53
576.13
61.06
193.98
85.14
190.33
93.09 89 61.59
519.44
45.08
91.69
46.17 32.85
0 10 0 20 0 40 0 60 0 120 0 200 0 360 0 600
Pre Post
n=17
n=13
n=5
n=3
n=3
n=4
n=2
n=2
Days
Figure 3. Lowering effect on CA19-9 levels; compared using mean levels for all days at initial & final points (n=49)

Ay. Darpan J., Volume 11, Issue 1, Page 19-22 (2020)
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RESULT
These observations establish strong prima facie effect
of Copper based mineral complex in lowering CA19-9
in patients of Pancreatitis.
DISCUSSION
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth and could be
considered as a progressive and irreversible
inflammatory disorder14. This fact is more evident in
pancreatic cancer where up to 40 % cases of Chronic
Pancreatitis progress to pancreatic cancer12. This
progression is more visible among patients who are
more than 40 years of age; up to 78% cases convert to
pancreatic cancer in this age group.
In recent years, there is an up-rise in the number of
patients of pancreatic cancer which still remains
incurable15. Nearly 9% patients have more than five
years survival. In the above pretext, the CA19-9
lowering effect of AMC in patients of Pancreatitis
might open an avenue to develop a preventive model
for pancreatic cancer. It is imperative to mention that
CA19-9 levels more than 300 U/mL is presently
considered confirmatory of pancreatic cancer16. In this
clinical study, it has been observed that CA19-9 values
have a declining trend after administration of AMC,
which in itself is an unforeseen effect of any natural
compound.
The result of the study is also helpful in the
revalidation of ancient knowledge of strong anti-
inflammatory properties of tamra. The clinical and
experimental studies following modern parameters
could be considered as revalidation of that wisdom
only.
Though the preliminary chemistry and safety along
with experimental and clinical efficacy are available
and its benefits are being extended to many sufferers,
there is a need to develop this approach further to
understand its intrigue chemistry, mode of action,
duration and limitations.
CONCLUSION
Copper based mineral complex could be developed as a
potential anti-inflammatory, preventive and curative
agent for pancreatitis and early stage of pancreatic
cancer.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge the well-wishers of VCPC Research
Foundation for supporting these studies. We also
appreciate the support of the patients and their families
for consenting to share the medical records.
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Article received on January 04, 2020; Accepted on January 15, 2020
© Author(s) and Ayush Darpan Journal. All rights reserved.