Shilajit (Sanskrit: शिलाजीत) or Mumijo is a blackish-brown powder or an exudate from high mountain rocks, often found in the Himalayas, Karakoram, Nepal, Bhutan, Girda (Buldhana, MH, India), Russia, Iran, Mongolia and in the south of Peru, where it is called Andean Shilajit.[1]
Although shilajit is sometimes referred to as a mineral tar or resin, it is not actually either of those. It is a highly viscous substance like a tar or resin that is very dark brown or black in color, but unlike these is readily soluble in water but insoluble in ethanol. Shilajit is composed of 60% to 80% humic substances such as humic and fulvic acids, along with trace oligoelements including selenium.[2]
Some researchers hypothesize that shilajit is produced by the decomposition or humification of latex and resin-bearing plant material from species such as Euphorbia royleana and Trifolium repens over a period of centuries.[3][4]
Shilajit is of two types: gomutra shilajit and karpura shilajit.[clarification needed]
Shilajit can also be classified into four major categories according to substances present in it: Suvarna Shilajit, Rajat Shilajit, Tamr Shilajit and Loh Shilajit. Among them, Loh Shilajit is very popular. Formulations like Dabur Shilajit Gold contain multiple contents along with other herbs like ashwagandha and safed museli.[5]
References
- ↑ Hill, Carol A.; Forti, Paolo (1997). Cave minerals of the world. National Speleological Society. ISBN 9781879961074. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ Khanna, Rajesh; Witt, Matthias; Anwer, Md. Khalid; Agarwal, Suraj P.; Koch, Boris P. (December 2008). "Spectroscopic characterization of fulvic acids extracted from the rock exudate Shilajit". Organic Geochemistry. 39 (12). Elsevier: 1719–1724. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2008.08.009. Retrieved April 28, 2021 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
- ↑ Agarwal, Suraj P.; Khanna, Rajesh; Karmarkar, Ritesh; Anwer, Md. Khalid; Khar, Roop K. (February 13, 2007). "Shilajit: a review". Phytotherapy Research. 21 (5). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.: 401–405. doi:10.1002/ptr.2100. PMID 17295385. S2CID 40620070. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021 – via Wiley Online Library.
- ↑ Ghosal, S.; Reddy, J.P.; Lal, V.K. (May 1, 1976). "Shilajit I: Chemical Constituents". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 65 (5): 772–773. doi:10.1002/jps.2600650545. PMID 932958. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ https://www.pharmtm.in/products/viewProduct/196/shilajit-gold-with-kesar-20-capsules