DETECTION OF FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS IN ULTRA-HIGH DILUTIONS OF ASTERIAS RUBENS USING ADVANCED SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Homoeopathy is one of the most popular forms of medicine in which medicinal products from natural products are prepared through the process of dilution and potentization. Amongst many sources of homoeopathic ultra-high dilutions, the medicines derived from animals are least researched owing to their rich biochemical composition. Asterias rubens is a marine echinoderm also called starfish and has been used traditionally in homoeopathy for treatment of heart ailments, hormonal imbalance, haemorrhages and malignant diseases. The aim of this study is scientific comparison of functional groups and bioactive compounds of extract of Asteria rubens, mother tincture(Φ) and its homoeopathic ultrahigh dilutions (3X, 12C and 30C) by means of GC-MS and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The functional groups have been identified using FTIR spectroscopy technique, whereas bioactive compounds have been detected and characterized using GC-MS analysis. FTIR technique has revealed presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, aliphatic, ester and amine functional groups. Some of the biologically important compounds identified from Asteria rubens through GC-MS include fatty acids, steroidal derivatives, hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds. These compounds are known to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties.