Abstract

Shanmuga Mezhugu is a traditional herbo-mineral Siddha formulation used in the management of Vatha diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to evaluate its physicochemical properties and identify functional groups to support standardization and therapeutic relevance. Physicochemical analysis showed acceptable moisture content (Loss on Drying: 5.47% ± 0.30), low total ash (0.31% ± 0.03), and no acid-insoluble ash, indicating good purity. Water- and alcohol-soluble extractive values were 9.47% ± 0.40 and 6.1% ± 0.20, suggesting the presence of polar and semi-polar bioactive compounds. The pH of 6.6 confirms its suitability for internal use. FTIR spectroscopy revealed functional groups such as primary amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, thiols, alkynes, isothiocyanates, and ethers, indicating a chemically diverse phytoconstituent profile. These findings provide a scientific basis for the traditional use of Shanmuga Mezhugu and support its potential for further pharmacological validation and standardization as an effective internal remedy for Vatha-related disorders.

Key words: FTIR analysis, Shanmuga mezhugu, herbo-mineral formulation, vatha – related disease.