Characterization of Zinc Oxide Based Nano Siddha Medicine Naga Parpam – Potential Nutritive Supplement in Cancer

Abstract

Naga Parpam is a Zinc Oxide based nano medicine, used in Siddha system. Physiochemical analysis is done for standardization of this medicine and to have knowledge of the working principle of this medicine. It has anticancer activity and it is seen in autoimmune diseases, there is a definite imbalance in the metals and in cancer, Zinc is depleted in cell level whereas it is accumulated in the blood plasma. Hence, for substitution of Zinc, it has to penetrate the cells and also it should be non-toxic, for which, Naga Parpam is considered. FTIR, SEM, EDAX, XRD and PL studies were done. The morphology shows that in Naga Parpam there are different sized particles, which falls in the nano size. This shows that this drug can penetrate at different penetration depths. Presence of Zinc, Oxygen, Silicon, Magnesium and Potassium has been established by EDAX studies. FTIR confirms the presence of ZnO, SiO2 and Mg. XRD confirms the presence of ZnO in hexagonal wurtzite structure. Secondary phase is seen, which is mainly due to Mg present in the sample. The broad peak at 525 nm, which is the characteristic peak for ZnO, from the PL studies also shows the disruption of structure due to the presence of Mg, which is also confirmed by the secondary phase in XRD. It is concluded that Naga Parpam is a potential candidate for substitution of Zn, in Zn depleted auto immune diseases and also in cancer.