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Therapeutic Potentials of "Shilajit Rasayana"-A Review

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International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2009; 1(2): 47-49

Review Article ISSN 0975 1556

Therapeutic Potentials of “Shilajit Rasayana”-A Review

Mittal P.1*, Kaushik D.1, Gupta V. 2, Bansal P.2, Khokra S.1
1
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
2
National Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Research, Patiala, Punjab, India

ABSTRACT
Shilajit is a rejuvenator (‘Rasayana’) of traditional Hindu Ayurvedic origin, which clearly has attracted considerable
interest in India. Shilajit is a blackish-brown exudation of variable consistency exuding from layers of rocks in many
mountain ranges of the world, especially the Himalayas and Hindukush ranges of the Indian subcontinent. Shilajit has been
used as a folk medicine for general physical strengthening, anti-aging, blood sugar stabilization, urinary tract rejuvenation,
enhanced brain functioning potency, kidney rejuvenation, immune system strengthening, arthritis, hypertension as well as
for treating many other conditions. Shilajit (botanical name: Asphaltum), also known as mineral pitch, is a natural exudate
oozed from rocks during hot weather. Shilajit is a compact mass of vegetable organic matter, which is composed of a
gummy matrix interspersed with vegetable fibers and minerals.

Keywords: Shilajit, Rasayana, Exudate.

INTRODUCTION cow’s stale urine. [41-42] Shilajit, an ancient traditional

Shilajit is a rejuvenator (‘Rasayana’) of traditional Hindu medicine has been ascribed a number of pharmacological
Ayurvedic origin, which clearly has attracted considerable activities and has been used for ages as a rejuvenator and for
interest in India. Ayurvedic pharmacology classifies treating a number of disease conditions. [10] Shilajit is one
medicinal substances into different groups (e.g. ‘Rasayana’) such remedy, which has been in use as a folk medicine for
according to their actions. Rasayana medicines improve the over 3000 years as a rejuvenator and adaptogen. [11] Shilajit
quality of ‘Rasa’ (plasma) and thus strengthen or promote the mainly consists of pale humus (around 80–85 %) and organic
health of all tissues of the body. [1] Shilajit is blackish-brown compounds derived from vegetation fossils that have been
exudation of variable consistency obtained from the steep compressed under layers of rocks for hundreds of years and
rocks of different formation found in the Himalayas at have undergone a high amount of metamorphosis due to the
altitudes between 1000-1500 m, from Arunachal Pradesh in high temperature and pressure conditions prevalent there. [7,
12-14]
the East, to Kashmir in the West. Shilajit is also found in
other mountain ranges of the world, e.g., Afghanistan Varieties of Shilajit
(Hinduksh, Badakh-Shan), Australia (Northern Pollock There are four different varieties of shilajit which have been
Ranges) and in the former USSR (Tien-Shan, Pair, Cancasus, described in charka samhita, namely savrana, rajat, tamra and
Ural). [2-5] Shilajit has urinous odour and slight bitter, saline, lauha shilajit. Savrana shilajit is gold shilajit and is red in
somewhat pungent and astringent taste. The purified colour. Tamra is a copper shilajit and is blue in colour. Rajat
substance is nearly completely soluble in water and has an is a silver shilajit and is white in colour while the lauha
acid reaction. [2] Shilajit is not a rock but a complex mixture shilajit is an iron-containing shilajit and is brownish-black in
of organic humic substances and humic nature, plant and colour. Blue and Gold Shilajit are not found commonly and
microbial metabolites occurring in the rock rhizospheres. [6-9] the variety mostly available is the Iron Shilajit which, from
It is also called, Momio in Persian, myemu in Russian and the therapeutic point of view, is considered to be active. [2, 11,
mumie in German. [2, 6, 43] Shilajit has been used for 15-16]

thousands of years, in one form or another, under the Origin of Shilajit

indigenous systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha There are many scientists who claim that shilajit exuding
and Unani. It is bitter in taste and its smell resembles pungent from a layer of rocks of mountains is basically of vegetative
origin. [2, 17] Shilajit was variously described as bitumen
*Corresponding author: Ms. Mittal P., varying greatly in consistency from a free flowing liquid to
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, hard brittle solid; a mineral resin, a plant fossil exposed by
Kurukshetra, Haryana, India the elevation of the Himalayas, a substance of mixed plant
Email: payal_mittal84@yahoo.com and animal origin and an inorganic material. [18-19] Latex
bearing plants, namely Euphorbia royleana Boiss and

47
 Mittal et al. / Therapeutic Potentials of “Shilajit Rasayana....

Trifoleum repens which occur in the vicinity of the shilajit micropores of Has and Fas [12] and also in conjugated forms
bearing rocks are thought to be the most likely source of in the humus of Shilajit. [6]
shilajit. [20-21] Other recent research claims that the mosses of GENERAL PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
species such as Barbula, Fissidenc, Minium, Thuidium and Shilajit extract have LD50 1g/kg. The general
species of Liverworts like Asterella, Dumortiera, pharmacological activities shown by Shilajit are summarized
Marchantia, Pellia, Plagiochasma and Stephenrencella- below:
Anthoceros were present in the vicinity of shilajit-exuding Anti-inflammatory
rocks and these bryophytes are responsible for the formation Orally administered Shilajit (50 mg/kg) induced significant
of shilajit. [7, 22] anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced pedal
TRADITIONAL USES oedema. [10]
In Ayurveda, the term maharasa denotes a group of drugs of Analgesic
mineral origin. Shilajit is an important drug of the ancient Studies were conducted in albino mice to determine the
Hindu materia medica and is extensively used by the Hindu effect of 50-200 per kg of Shilajit. The analgesic effect of
physicians in a variety of diseases. It is said to be efficacious Shilajit pretreatment were studies using the technique of hot
against phthisis, chronic bronchitis and asthma, digestive wire induced tail-flick response. Shilajit was found to have
troubles, sexual and bladder calculi, dropsy, nervous analgesic activity (p, 0.001) in the dose of 200mg/kg i.p. The
diseases, leprosy, diabetes, and fracture of bones. It is also effect was significant during the first 60 min. [10]
used in parasitic diseases of the skin and as an antiphlogistic. Antidiabetic
[2-3]
According to Ayurveda, shilajit arrests the process of Shilajit (50 & 100 mg/kg, p.o) had no discernible per se
aging and produces rejuvenation which is two important effect on blood glucose levels in normal rats but attenuated
aspects of an Ayurvedic rasayana. [19] Shilajit is also used as the hyperglycemic response of STZ. [27]
yogavaha. [16, 31] Shilajit increases efficacy of: Shoria robusta Immunomodulatory
(sala), Bachanania lactifolia (piala), Acacia fernesiana Shilajit and its corresponding combined fractions, acted
(acacia), Terminalia tomentosa (asana), Catechu nigrum essentially as cell growth factors in both normal and tumour
(catechu), Terminalia chebula (myrobelan) and Sida cells by maintaining membrane integrity. Thus, Ayurveda
cordifolia (bala) in the decoction form. [32] rasayan, Shilajit would be validated as currently available
PHYTOCHEMISTRY efficacious immunomodulator. [19] It was found that the white
Considerable controversy had existed in the reported blood cell activity was increased by shilajit extract. The
literature on the nature and chemical constituents of Shilajit. observed activity increased as the dose of shilajit extract and
It was reported to contain resins, fatty acids, benzoic and time of exposure was increased. [34]
hippuric acids, albuminoids, amino acids and a number of Nootropic
minerals. [2, 20] Extensive chemical studies by Ghosal et.al [3, Shilajit at a dose of 50 mg/kg, p.o has significant nootropic
20]
have indicated the occurrence of oxygenated biphenyls activity as shown by passive avoidance learning and
and three oxygenated 3, 4-benzocumarins, several phenolic , retention. It was found that processed shilajit and its active
amino acid and triterpines in Shilajit. [13, 23] constituents (total ethyl acetate fraction and fulvic acids)
Shilajit contains two classes of organic compounds, namely significantly increased the learning acquisition and memory
(1) Humic substances retention in old albino rats. [29, 44]
(2) Non-humic organic metabolites Anti-anxiety
Humic substances are the major organic constituents of Shilajit at a dose of 10 mg/kg, p.o has significant anti-anxiety
Shilajit present in an amount of about 80-85%. The humic activity as proved by elevated plus-maze test which is
substances can be further divided into three fractions comparable to that of diazepam (1 mg/kg, p.o). [29]
1. Fulvic acids (Fas) Anti-ulcer
2. Humic acids (Has) Shilajit pretreatment at the dose of 100mg/kg orally reduced
3. Humins (HMs) ulcer index in immobilization and aspirin induced gastric
The Fas micropores of Shilajit are occupied by low ulcers. In duodenal ulcers also, Shilajit pretreatment
molecular weight. Bioactive molecules e.g oxygenated significantly reduced the incidence of ulcers induced by
dibenzene-alpha-pyrones and their dimeric and oligomeric cysteamine in rats & histamine in guinea pigs. [23]
equivalents. [19, 20, 24] , other low molecular weight phenolic Antiviral activity
entities and Fas of Shilajit act as an efficient carrier of Shilajit is endowed with both immunopotentiating [19, 34-39]
several classes of drug molecules for uninterrupted systemic and viral load reducing properties [25, 40].
distribution and absorption. [15-16] Spermatogenic and ovogenic effects
The non-humic substances of Shilajit are low molecular The administration of Shilajit to rats showed a remarkable
weight compounds of marine fossil, plant, and microbial increase in the number of sperm of the epidydimus in male
origin, occurring in and around Shilajit bearing rocks. The rats and in the number of ovulation induced rats in females.
[28]
remaining non-humic organic masses in Shilajit comprise a
mixture of low molecular weight aromatic, aliphatic alicylic Antifungal activity
and heterocylic (N- and S- containing) compounds of Methanolic extract of Shilajit at the concentration of
particular biological interest are low molecular weight 5000µg/ml was having excellent inhibitory activity against
oxygenated dibenzo-alpha-pyrines (DBP) and hydroxy Alternaria cajani (95.12 % spore inhibition). [30]
acetophenones (HAPS). Protection of mast cells from degranulation
The two oxygenated dibenzo-alpha-pyrones, viz 3- The effects of fulvic acids,4-methoxy-6carbomethoxy
hydroxydibenzo-alpha-pyrone and 3, 8 dihydoxy dibenzo- biphenyl and 3,8-dihydroxy- pyrone were studied in relation
alpha-pyrone occurred both in the free form in the to the degranulation of mast cells against noxious stimuli.

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 Mittal et al. / Therapeutic Potentials of “Shilajit Rasayana....

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