The document discusses Nabeez, an important fermented medicinal preparation in Unani medicine. It provides background on Nabeez and similar preparations used historically. Key points discussed include:
- Nabeez involves fermenting sweet aqueous solutions of foods/herbs to enhance efficacy, palatability and digestibility.
- Various types of Nabeez were used traditionally but it is not widely used presently in Unani medicine like similar Ayurvedic preparations.
- The fermentation process involves microorganisms breaking down sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide, increasing potency. Multiple factors like temperature influence the fermentation rate.
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Presentation nabeez dr. abdul latif 19.03.2009
1. NABEEZNABEEZ: A MOST EFFECTIVE &: A MOST EFFECTIVE &
IMPORTANT DOSAGE FORM OF UNANIIMPORTANT DOSAGE FORM OF UNANI
MEDICINE; A NEED & MODIFICATION OFMEDICINE; A NEED & MODIFICATION OF
TECHNOLOGY IN UNANI PHARMACYTECHNOLOGY IN UNANI PHARMACY
Dr Abdul LatifDr Abdul Latif
Deptt. Of Ilmul Advia, F/O Unani MedicineDeptt. Of Ilmul Advia, F/O Unani Medicine
A.M.U., AligarhA.M.U., Aligarh
2. Historical Background:
• Nabeez is actually an Arabic word employed
to a special form of medicinal/nutritional liquid
preparations obtained by the fermentation of
sweet aqueous solutions of various food
grains, fruits and medicinal ingredients for a
specific period of time.
• It is considered as one of the initial forms of
compound drugs formulated in the earlier
days of Unani medicine.
3. • The Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Arabs and
Persians had prepared various forms of
Nabeez and used them for medicinal and
nutritional purposes.
• The famous Roman Physician Rufus (100AD)
in his manuscript “Risala Nabeez” later
translated in to Arabic by Qusta bin Luqa in
9th Centaury AD has described properties and
uses of Nabeez along with its socials and
cultural importance in their time.
4. • Earlier Indian Physicians like Sharif Khan,
Azam Khan, Mohd Husain, Najmul Ghani and
Ajmal Khan have mentioned various Nabeez
formulations in their respective Pharmacopeias
and used as refreshing sexual and digestive
tonic which also promote the general health.
• The Ayurvedic medicine has the pride
possession of different types of Asava and
Arishta as the counterparts of Nabeez.
5. Arishta / Nabeez
Arishta are the Ayurvedic medicinal liquid
preparations obtained by keeping the kasaya
(decoction) of the drugs in the form of a
solution of sugar or jaggery in a container (pot)
for a specified period of time during which it
undergoes the process of sandhana
(Fermentation). After the completion of
fermentation the solution is decanted and after
another or three days it is stained and then
preserved for use.
6. Asava / Darbehra
• Asava are also similar to Arishta with only the
difference that here in avasa the cold infusion
of the drugs is used to make the solution with
Sugar, Jaggery, Honey etc. and then fermented
according to the texts. All other processes are
same as in Arishta.
• Fermentation is a complex biochemical
phenomenon brought about by various
microorganisms which results in to the
breakdown of the complex organic matter in to
the simpler/ smaller substances (Sharma
B.K.1997).
7. Purpose of fermentation
• To preserve the food or medicines
• To make them more effective, Palatable,
nutritious and digestible.
• Combination of all above properties.
Present Status of Nabeez
• At present the use of Nabeez as a health
supplement is not common in India
(Anonymous 1988).
8. • Only few pharmaceutical companies manufacture the
Nabeez but only to add it to some other products to
improve their efficacy and potency.
• No prominent Dawakhana is marketing it in the name
of Nabeez.
• While in Ayurveda Asava and Arishta similar to
Nabeez have greater scope in the market of India.
• The only possible reason for lesser use of Nabeez in
Unani medicine in present era seems to be just
supposed fear of intoxication which is not based on
facts. In fact the properly prepared Nabeez is never
intoxicating if used properly in its recommended dose
(Latif A. 1997).
9. Indigenous fermented food products
• A large number of indigenous fermented foods
are used in various parts of the world, such as
Bouza (from wheat) in Egypt, Chinese yeast
(from soyabeans) in China, Mahewu (from
maize) in South Africa, Pozol (from maize) in
Mexico, Kishk or Kushik (from wheat & milk) in
Egypt, Syria and Arab countries.
• In India Idli and dosa (from black gram & rice)
Ra’bdi (from maize, butter and milk), Dhokla
(from wheat & Bengal gram) and Jalebies and
Nan (from wheat flours).
10. • In day to day life we often come across various
forms of fermentation brought about by the
agency of living organisms.
• Examples are souring and curdling of milk,
conversion of fruit juice in to wines and
vinegars, baking of bread etc. (Sharma, B.K.
1997).
11. Temperament of Nabeez
• Although the temperament of Nabeez is
variable depending upon the ingredients
present in it, but most of the Unani author
believe that majority of Nabeez
formulations have hot and moist
temperament with variable degree.
• The fresh Nabeez is usually considered to
be hot and moist in first degree while the
old one has hot & Moist in II degree.
(Ghani 1921, M.A. Khan 1898)
12. Contra indication
• The majority of common form of Nabeez
preparations is usually contraindicated for
the people having predominantly Saudavi
temperament and people who are more
prone to suffer from frequent headache
and other cerebral diseases.
• Nabeez is also contraindicated in very hot
climatic conditions, pregnancy, cancer and
presence of inflammatory diseases, and
spleenomegaly (Majoosi, 1889, Rhazi
1968, Baitar 1291 H).
13. Dosage
• Dose is variable depending upon
ingredients, environmental conditional and
types of diseases. The common dose is
25-50ml.
14. Different types of Nabeez
Various Unani authors have mentioned many types of
Nabeez prepared from different ingredient and they
given the relevant information about them such as.
• Nabeez Zabeeb (Raisin/ Mawiz)
• Nabeez Asl (Honey)
• Nabeez Shakar (Sugar cane juice)
• Nabeez Tamar (fresh or dried dates)
• Nabeez Teen ( Dried fig fruit)
• Nabeez Hintah (wheat)
• Nabeez Uruz (Rice)
• Nabeez Fawakeh ( Fruit Juices)
• Nabeez Shayeer (Barely)
• Nabeez Faneez (Jaggery /Qand Siyah)
• Nabeez Doshab ( dried extracts of dates)
• Nabeez Basar wa balah (immature dates)
• Nabeez Narjeel etc.
15. Method of preparation
In general the basic steps involved in the
preparation of a common Nabeez formulation
are as under.
Step I- Collection of material
• The material should be from authentic source
and of good quality.
Step II- Preparation of material
• The collected material should be cleaned and
free from unwanted substances and powdered
to ease and promote the extraction of active
constituents.
16. Step III- Soaking of solid ingredients in the
prescribed solvent
• The powdered ingredients are to be soaked in
solvent (usually water) and left for one day and
night in summer and for three days in winter (M.A.
Khan 1898).
17. Step IV- Preparation of hot aqueous solution of
drugs
• The infused drugs are heated at moderate heat
alongwith the prescribed quantity of water to boil until the
maximum dissolution of ingredients is achieved and the
water volume is reduced through evaporation up to the
prescribed proportion.
• Practically the proportion of water and drugs could not
be fixed because of grater variations in the nature of
drugs however if the Nabeez is to be prepared from the
fruits like raisin, dates and figs etc. ancient Unani
scholars advise to immerse the drugs in double quantity
of water for one day and night and then boil the solution
until the volume of water is reduced to its two-third while
the scholars of earlier era advise to immerse the drugs in
five times water and heat until the water volume is
reduced to its half.
18. Step V- Preparation of containers
(fermented vessels)
• In earlier periods the earthen pot smeared
with ghee on inner surface were used for
fermentation.
• Now a day with the advancement of
industrial technology, the earthen pots
have been replaced by larger wooden
barrels and large metallic and plastic pots
taken for this purpose.
19. Step VI- Fermentation
• The prepared solution is transferred to
fermented vessel leaving its upper half
portion empty so that it may not over flow
when the fermentation takes place. The
lids should be closed and placed in direct
sunlight for initial few days, it is stirred two
to four times a day. When the process of
fermentation starts it is left undisturbed but
watched closely till the fermentation
process is completed.
20. Duration of fermentation
• Different ingredients need different times for their
fermentation.
• Nabeez from Cereals need one week for
fermentation.
• Nabeez from Raisins need 5-6 weeks for
fermentation (M.A. Khan 1898, Husain 1874, Antaki
1923).
• The duration of fermentation depends upon the
nature of ingredients, the climatic conditions and
some other microbiological factors.
• Avicena writes in Adviya Qalbiya that the process
of fermentation doubles the efficacy and Potency of
the product- (Ibn Sina 1986).
21. Step VIII Collection and preservation of
Nabeez.
• After completion of the process of
fermentation the semisolids get settled
down at the bottom and the clear Nabeez
forms the upper liquid portion which is
carefully collected in a neat, clean and
sterile container by gently decantation. It
should be stored at dark, dry and cool
place.
22. Process of fermentation
• Louis pausteur (1822) firstly gave the principle of
“No fermentation with out life”.
• The term fermentation is derived from Latin
world “fermentare” means “to boil” is applied to
the changes brought about by microorganisms
where the complex organic matter is
decomposed and broken down into simpler and
smaller substances.
• Actually the fermentation is not brought by the
direct action of the living microorganisms but by
the action of enzymes secreted by the yeast
cells. The fermentation enzymes mainly Zymase
is associated in the yeast cells with another
substance called Co-enzyme. The presence of
both the Zymase and Co- enzyme is necessary
for fermentation (Sharma B.K. 1997).
23. • When these Zymase enzymes act on sugars
found in sweet fruits and other food grains,
they decompose the glucose in to alcohol
and CO2
C6 H12 O6 Zymase 2C2 H5OH+ CO2
(Ethyl alcohol) – (Carbon dioxide)
• This reaction was formulated by Guy-
Lussaca in its present form in 1815
(Schiagel, 1995).
24. • It is important to know that all types of
sugars can not be fermented by the
enzyme Zymase. Cane sugar, beat sugar,
and malt sugar or maltose is not
fermentable with Zymase. But still these
sugars are fermented by the addition of
yeasts into the solutions of these sugars.
• In this case the fermentation taken place
due to the fact that apart from Zymase, the
yeast calls also secrete some other
enzymes like the Intertase and Maltase.
25. • Invertase beings about the conversion of cane
sugar (sucrose) into glucose and fructose by a
process known as hydrolysis.
Invertase
• C12H22O11 + H2O C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
(Sucrose) (Glucose)
(Fructose)
26. • Similarly the enzyme Maltase converts the
maltose into glucose by hydrolysis.
Maltase
• C12H22O11 + H2O 2C6H12O6
(Maltose) (Glucose)
27. • The starch from rice, wheat, barley, maize, etc. also
can be converted into fermentable sugar by
hydrolysis in presence of enzyme Dieastase which
is contained in the malt naturally.
Diastase Maltase
2(C6H10O5)5 + nH2O nC12H22O11 + H2O
(Starch) (Maltose)
Zymase
2C6H12O6 4C2H5OH + 4CO2
(Glucose) (Ethanol)
(Sharma, B.K. 1997)
28. • A final net balance of entire fermentative
system can be expressed as:
1 Glucose 2CO2 + 2ATP + 2 Ethanol
(Reed & Rehm, 1983)
29. Factors affecting the rate and course
of fermentation
• Temperature
• Concentration of the solution
• Aeration of the solution
• Sugar concentration
• Inoculation of yeast
• Presence of preservatives and pesticides residues
• Presence of other microorganisms
• pH of the solution
• Presence of chemical activators
• Ethanol concentration
• CO2 pressure
• Viscosity of the solution