International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine

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Research Article

X-RAY STUDY OF KOHL STONE USED IN INDIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND COSMETICS

Mohammed Aleem Pasha1, Babu Nallusamy1 1Department of Geology, School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga 585367, India

Correspondence should be addressed to Mohammed Aleem Pasha

Received January 07, 2016; Accepted January 25, 2016; Published February 09, 2016;

Copyright: © 2016 Mohammed Aleem Pasha et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cite This Article: Pasha, M. A., Nallusamy, B.(2016). X-ray study of Kohl stone used in Indian traditional medicine and cosmetics. International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine, 2(1).1-5

ABSTRACT

Kohl or surma is one such material which is widely used as medicine as well as cosmetics in traditional practices both in rural as well as urban India alike. Kohl stone is one of the major ingredients of kohl. Kohl stone used in the traditional practices is subjected to x-ray study to know the composition. X-ray study reveals that the composition of kohl stone is galena. It has been established by several studies that application of kohl does not cause poisoning. But recent scientific studies have reported lead poisoning following traditional lead based medication or kohl application. Similarly, Indian traditional medicinal texts advocates about the application of anjana (kohl) for curing eye diseases. But it has been mentioned that the prolonged and persistent use of anjana may cause conjunctivitis and cataract. Hence, the authors are of the opinion that application of kohl may be beneficial to eyes but still there may be a possibility of adverse effects on prolonged use.

KEY WORDS: Kohl stone, Kohl, Surma, Galena, Lead, Anjana

INTRODUCTION in Kannada, kaatuka in Telagu, kanmashi in Malayalam and kanmai in Tamil. In India, kohl or surma is widely used in traditional practices as cosmetics as well as medicine. Traditionally, Kohl may be defined as an ultra-fine powder of kohl stone only old people apply surma. In recent times even the that is used for various eye ailments. In addition to the kohl younger folks are also applying it as cosmetics as it is made stone it may also contain herbs, minerals and marine of natural material and it enhances the beauty of eyes. In products of therapeutic value [1][2][3][4][5]. addition, mothers of young infants also apply kohl to their newborn and young children to ward off the evil eye. It has In ancient India, natural minerals and metals were used to been reported that kohl is worn to ward off the evil eye or cure diseases apart from using them as ornaments or as an eye ailment material in other places as well cosmetics. For the conversion of minerals to a [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] pharmaceutical recipe, acceptable to the body, metals are converted into oxide form which is known as ‘bhasma’ Generally, kohl is used as cosmetics in many countries (ash). Susruta one of the pioneer of Indian traditional 1 including India and popularly known as kohl or ithmid or medicine has mentioned in his book ‘Susruta samhita’ surma [1]. In India, it is known by various names like about the use of , lead, , silver, and gold in sirma or surma in Punjabi and Urdu, kajal in Hindi and the form of oxides as drugs [8][9]. Urdu; and in south Indian languages it is known as kaadige

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International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine In Indian traditional medicine, the components of standard conditions. The resulting patterns are compared antimony, lead and are collectively called as with the JCPDS-ASTM data bank to identify the phases. ‘anjanas’. Anjana means collyrium – the material put into eyes as medicine or cosmetics, generally antimony – lead RESULTS OF X-RAY STUDY compounds. Figure 2 shows the resulting x-ray powder pattern of both In India, use of anjanas as cosmetics for decorating eyes the samples. The resulting patterns of x-ray powder has been mentioned in 150AD Indian text angavijja diffractometer for both the samples are matched with the whereas the traditional application of kohl dates back to JCPDS-ASTM data that matches well with the pattern of Age: c 3500-1100 in some other countries [1][8][9] galena (XPDF: 5-592). This confirms that compositionally the kohl stone is galena or lead sulphide (PbS). It has been The early 14th century text rasaratna samuchchaya is reported by some studies that the major elemental considered as one of the complete treatise of ayurveda and composition of kohl too is lead [2][3][5][11]. it classifies the anjanas into five types; sauviranjana (stibnite), rasanjana (yellow oxide of mercury or herbal Figure 2: X-ray powder patterns of kohl stone used in plant extract), srotanjana (antimony sulphide), traditional practices. a, X-ray powder pattern of kohl stone pushpanjana (extract from the nector of plants) and collected from traditional medicine practitioner comparable nilanjana (galena) [10]. to galena (XPDF: 5-592). b, X-ray powder pattern of kohl stone received as gift brought “from Saudi Galena is the most important and widely distributed Arabiacomparable togalena (XPDF: 5-592).” mineral of lead. Chiefly occurs in metalliferous veins associated with silver, antimony, arsenic, copper, gold, selenium etc. Compositionally, galena contains 86.6% of lead (Pb) and 13.4% of sulphur (S) [11]

X-RAY STUDY OF KOHL STONE

To know the composition of kohl stone used in traditional practices, two samples of kohl stones or surma are collected. One sample is collected from a gift received from a relative who returned from Hajj stated that it was purchased in Saudi Arabia. The other sample is collected from grandmother’s collection who was a traditional medicinal practitioner. Both the samples are of unknown origin, lumpy and shows silver grey colour. Figure 1 shows the photograph of kohl stone sample purchased in Saudi Arabia.

Figure 1:Photograph of kohlstone used in traditional practices

. The x-ray powder pattern of both the samples is almost identical. It is observed that the two theta values of both the samples are almost identical with minor changes. The x-ray powder pattern of both the samples can be compared to the reported Saudi Arabian sample of Ullah et al. (2010) [5]. It is assumed that the present sample is similar to the reported sample of Ullah et al. (2010) assuming that all the kohl stones sold in Saudi Arabia may originate from one place [5]. From this assumption we may guess that the chemical composition of galena of the present study may

be approximately 85.5% of lead, 11.5% of sulphur with traces of other elements as reported by them and corroborated with the composition given in the text book of mineralogy [5][11].

DISCUSSION 2 In rural India people try traditional medicine before The samples of kohl stone are ground to fine powder and consulting a modern medicinal practitioner may be either subjected to X-ray studies employing Rigaku-Miniflex due to lack of modern medical facilities or tradition. In table-top x-ray diffractometer (CuKα), Japan under urban areas, people are becoming more health conscious and preferring natural materials and adapting to Indian IJEE 21|Volume 2|Issue 1|2016

International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine traditional and/or home medicine and cosmetics in order to poisoning. No threshold level has been found below which minimise the consumption of chemicals. Kohl or surma is any exposure to lead can be considered safe. It is a known one such material which is widely used as cosmetics both fact now that children are more vulnerable to lead in rural as well as urban India alike. Habitually, kohl is poisoning than adults. It is reported in the literature that extensively used cosmetics in almost every civilization to the chronic exposure to low level of lead decreases the keep eyes cool and clean [1][12]. intelligence quotient (IQ), produces mental deterioration, learning disabilities, behavioural abnormalities, slow The x-ray powder diffraction study confirms that growth and impaired hearing among children whereas high compositionally the kohl stone is galena or lead sulphide concentration may cause acute encephalopathy, memory (PbS). It has been mentioned in the Indian traditional loss and death [2][3][4][18][19][20]. medicine books that lead is used for curing several diseases. Lead is one of the metals mentioned in the A recent study in Morocco conducted on 150 children who earliest text the atharva veda in which lead powder was use kohl regularly revealed lead intoxication in 19 children reported to have medicinal value that used in curing and impregnation of lead in 111 children. The authors tuberculosis [8][9]. Another book rasaratna samuchaya opine that the lead contamination might have occurred mentions the use of lead bhasma to cure urinary tract from the kohl what they use as it consists of up to 98% lead diseases and diabetes [10]. But the general application of [4]. Now, it is commonly accepted worldwide that lead kohl is for eye ailment to cure diseases such as, blepharitis, concentration higher than 10μg/dL in blood is considered trachoma, chalazion, pterygium, cataract, conjunctivitis, as toxic and it may cause lead poisoning [2]. In one of the ectropion, as well as for the prevention of recurrence of study, an elevated blood lead levels between 30-92 μg/dL trichiasis [1][5][12]. Similarly, in Indian traditional was recorded among few children in Delhi who used medicine the most common application of lead and surma [21]. In an another study, following the treatment antimony minerals is for the ailments of eye diseases as with lead based traditional medicines, an elevated blood evident in some of the ancient medicinal books. One such lead levels were noticed in Omani children indicating book Rasaratna samuchchaya mentions that the application subclinical lead intoxication [3,22]. Elevated blood lead of nilanjan or surma or kohl is beneficial to eyes [10]. It has levels due to the use of kohls have also been reported in been stated in the astanga samgraha that the anjanas will be adults as well [23]. helpful to clean the eyes, removes excess redness, greasiness, dust and other foreign particles [13]. A recent Lead poisoning also affects the nervous system and may traditional medicinal book swadeshi chikista ke chamatkar cause anaemia as well [21]. A recent study conducted on advocates that surma is beneficial to eyes and it enhance children reports an elevated mean blood lead concentration the shine of eyes [14]. Another book Aasaan Gharelu tibbi of 29.6 ± 10.2 μg/100 ml among the children who are Ilaaj states that application of kohl stone enhances the regular users of surma compare to 4.9 ± 0.8 μg/100 ml eyesight [15]. among non-users associated with reduced haemoglobin levels of 10.2 ± 1.4 g/100 ml in the regular users [24]. Some of the recent scientific reports also nearly corroborate with the above mentioned traditional medicinal There are reports of encephalopathy among neonates and claims either directly or indirectly. These reports have young children following the use of lead bearing traditional concluded that the application of kohl is safe and it does medicine [23][25]. A recent study reported an acute not cause lead poisoning. It has been established by some encephalopathy even at lower concentrations of blood lead of the studies that lead does not transport through levels of only 56.9 mg/dl whereas the proposed threshold transcorneal route [16]. To reason out the observed level for encephalopathy is 70 mg/dl [26]. It has been elevated blood lead levels in the kohl applying people, the demonstrated through a study conducted in Kuwait that in authors opined that the observed high blood lead levels in neonates lead affects the synaptic inhibitor gamma amino kohl applying people might have occurred through butyric acid (G.A.B.A.) [27]. ingestion [16]. Ingestion might have occurred in the following way. Kohl is an irritant and produces a slight Traditionally at homes surma is prepared from kohl stone burning and tearing in eyes when applied on the by grinding either using a mortor and pestle or by rubbing conjunctival surfaces. Generally, it is observed that when on a flat surface of clay tiles, stones etc. This produces a kohl or surma is applied in the eyes of children, they wipe very fine powder. Due to some constraints we could not or rub their eyes. Then the lead may reach stomach orally measure its particle size; but according to one of the study through fingers as finger licking is common among the estimated average size of the particles of similar children. This may be the cause of observed elevated blood material is 69μ on grinding[2]. Since, there is no lead levels among children [1]. Further, the authors have information of grinding method adopted by Hardy et al concluded that the observed lead poisoning or increased (2004)[2]. we presume that rubbing on a flat surface may blood lead level on application of kohl (surma) is likely to produce even finer particles. It has been reported that the be more theoretical rather than a practical health hazard smaller sized particles of galena are having higher [1]. In addition, many recent scientific studies support the dissolution in gastric fluids and the dissolution of lead is view that the black and shiny particles of galena or lead are doubled when the mean particle size is 30μ compared to 3 useful in protection of eyes from the glare of the sun and the mean particle size of 100μ[2][28]. Hence, the authors harmful effect of UV rays as well[1][5][17]. are of the opinion that the surma prepared by rubbing on a flat surface may have a higher dissolution rate and could be Contrary to this, it is evident from the recent scientific easily absorbed by the body on ingestion thereby elevating studies that the lead is purely toxic and causes lead the blood lead levels. IJEE 21|Volume 2|Issue 1|2016

International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine It is evident from the literature that the application of kohl [4] Bouftini Siham, Bahhou Jamila, Turcant Allain & causes lead poisoning or not is unclear and still is a Achour Sanae: Lead Poisoning and use of debatable topic. On one hand most recent scientific studies Cosmetic product: Kohl, IMPACT: International have confirmed that kohl causes lead poisoning. Numerous Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and substantiating studies conducted in different countries have Social Sciences (IMPACT: IJRANSS) 2014, reported lead intoxication and elevated blood lead levels in 2(5):45-48. children following the treatment with lead based traditional [5] Pervaiz Habib Ullah, Zafar Alam Mahmood, medicine or application of kohl [3][4][21][22]. On the other Mohammad Sualeh and SMS Zoha: Studies on the hand, several workers have showed that application of kohl chemical composition of kohl stone by x-ray or surma does not cause lead poisoning rather it enters the diffractometer, Pak. J. Pharm. Sci. 2010, 23(1):48- human body through ingestion thereby increases the blood 52. lead levels. Even the traditional medicinal texts endorse [6] Nnorom, I.C., Igwe, J.C. and Oji-Nnorom C.G: the use of kohl or surma or anjana for curing eye diseases. Trace metal contents of facial (make-up) But it has been observed by the authors that there are few cosmetics commonly used in Nigeria, African instances where, even the traditional medicinal Journal of Biotechnology 2005, 4(10):1133-1138. practitioners have warned about the adverse effects of [7] Carol Parry and Joseph Eaton: Kohl: A Lead- anjanas on prolonged use. One of the Indian traditional Hazardous Eye Makeup from the Third World to medicinal book astanga samgraha mentions that on the First World, Environmental Health continued application of anjanas if the redness and Perspectives 1991, 94:121-123. inflammation increases on application may to [8] Arun Kumar Biswas: Minerals and metals in conjunctivitis and cataract [13]. This can be corroborated ancient India. Vol 1. D. K. Printworld (P) Ltd, with a recent report from France where lead poisoning was New Delhi. 1996. observed in a woman caused by prolonged use of kohl [29]. [9] Arun Kumar Biswas and Sulekha Biswas: If we analyse the above mentioned scientific findings and Minerals and metals in ancient India. Vol 2. D. K. the traditional medicinal facts, it is still ambiguous to Printworld (P) Ltd, New Delhi. 1996. accept kohl as totally safe material. Hence, the authors are [10] Ashok D Satpute: Rasaratna Samuchchaya. of the opinion that kohl or surma may be beneficial to eyes Chetan Prakashana, Mysore. 1990. but still there is a scope for further study to confirm with [11] Edward Salisbury Dana and James D Dana: A authenticity that even on prolonged use it will not cause Text Book of Mineralogy. 17th Edition. John any harm. But there is no doubt that through ingestion kohl Wiley and Sons, New York. 1893. P. 236. causes lead poisoning. [12] Sweha F: Kohl a long history in medicine and cosmetics. Hist. Sci. Med. 1982, 17(2):182-183. CONCLUSION [13] Kaviraj Atrideva Gupta: Vagbhata’s Astanga Samgraha, Vol 1. Chapter 32, verse 1-21. Oriental The x-ray powder diffraction study showed that the Publishers and Distributors, Varanasi. 1993. p.116 composition of kohl stone or surma used in the traditional – 229. medicine and cosmetics is nothing but galena or lead [14] Ajit Mehta Swadeshi Chikitsa ke chamatkar. vol sulphide (PbS). Lead is a toxic material and it causes lead 2. Kalyan Chikitsa Prakashan, New Delhi. 1997. poisoning. The authors are of the opinion that the [15] Maqbool Ahmed: Aasan Gharelu tibbi Ilaaj. traditional method of kohl preparation at homes produces Manzoor Book Depot, Delhi. 19xx. finer particles and on ingestion it may have a higher [16] Aslam M, Healy MA, Davis SS and Ali AR: possibility of biological absorption and thereby elevating Surma and blood lead in children. The Lancet blood lead levels. Hence, there is an urgent need to educate 1980, 22 (1)(8169): 658-659. people about practice of personal hygiene thereby avoiding [17] Li-Yun C, Wen H, Jian-Feng H and Jian-Peng W: lead poisoning. Finally, the authors are of the opinion that Influence of deposition voltage on properties of application of kohl may be beneficial to eyes but still there lead sulfide thin film. American Ceramic Society may be a possibility of adverse effects on prolonged use. Bulletin 2008, 87(6):9101-9104. 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