APPLICATION OF INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA–MASS SPECTROMETRY (ICP-MS) IN THE ANALYSIS OF RASA SHASTRA FORMULATIONS

Dr. Asana jangir*, Prof. (Dr.) Govind Sahay Shukla, Dr. Rajaram Agarwal, Dr. Manisha Goyal, Dr. Chandrabhan Sharma, Dr. Ravi Pratap Singh

Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) has emerged as a highly sensitive analytical tool for evaluating Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulations, particularly Rasa Shastra preparations. This review highlights its application in detecting and quantifying trace and toxic metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead at parts-per-trillion levels, ensuring safety and authenticity of Bhasma and Kupipakwa formulations. ICP-MS enables multi-elemental profiling, supporting both standardization and validation of classical purification processes like Shodhana and Marana. Comparative studies demonstrate its superiority over conventional techniques such as AAS and ICP-OES in sensitivity and detection limits. While ICP-MS provides elemental fingerprints crucial for authentication and regulatory acceptance, limitations include lack of speciation data, matrix interferences, and high operational costs. Overall, ICP-MS bridges traditional Rasashastra principles with modern analytical science, reinforcing evidence-based Ayurveda and enhancing global credibility of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. Introduction: Ayurveda employs its own well-defined qualitative and quantitative parameters for the evaluation of drugs and formulations, which are primarily based on classical principles such as Grahyatva, Guna, Karma, and Pariksha. Among these, metallic and mineral-based Ayurvedic preparations, collectively known as Rasa Bhasma, require special attention due to their complex composition and potent therapeutic nature. Before clinical administration, it is essential to establish their authenticity, safety, and quality through systematic assessment of their physical and chemical characteristics. Traditional Bhasma Pariksha methods described in classical texts provide valuable insights into the completion of the processing and transformation of raw materials. However, to achieve a deeper and more objective understanding of the physicochemical changes occurring during various pharmaceutical procedures such as Shodhana and Marana, the integration of modern analytical techniques has become indispensable. The combined application of ancient and contemporary methods allows for scientific validation of Ayurvedic formulations while preserving their classical foundation.[1] ICP-MS mostly uses a quadrupole mass spectrometer, which can quickly and continuously measure the mass of different elements. Currently, it can be used to analyse more than 70 elements. The detection limit of ICP-MS for more than 70 elements in the solution is one trillion or less, and the linear dynamic range can reach nine orders of magnitude. ICP-MS is an inorganic multi-element analysis technology with inductively coupled plasma as an ion source. and mass spectrometry in the field of analytical chemistry in the early 1980s. In 1980, published the first article on the feasibility of ICP-MS was published, and the first commercial instrument came out 3years later. So far, there are about 20 types of ICP-MS instruments commercialised worldwide. In the field of drug element analysis and safety monitoring, ICPMS and its combined technology are also increasingly widely used, which seems to have become a common and mature analysis and detection means.[2] ICP-MS is a powerful technique used to measure trace elements in a sample with high precision. It is particularly useful in detecting and quantifying metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals, which are commonly found in raw materials before they undergo purification processes.