Nuclear technique for the characterization of Rudraksha powder

Use of various ayurvedic medicines for curing diseases is well known, particularly in India and Asian countries. Rudraksha is best known for its biomedical properties thereby controlling stress, hypertension and blood pressure. It can cure dangerous diseases like small pox, epilepsy, whooping cough etc. and known to heal the most poisonous wounds, if used in a specified method. In the present work, Rudraksha powder has been characterized for its possible inorganic elemental concentrations using neutron activation analysis (NAA). The possible effect of the different elements and their correlation for medicinal use of this matrix has been discussed in this paper. (author)