Characterisation of Physical, Spectral and Thermal Properties of Biofield treated Resorcinol

What is it about?

Resorcinol is widely used in manufacturing of several drugs and pharmaceutical products that are mainly used for topical ailments. The main objective of this study is to use an alternative strategy i.e., biofield treatment to alter the physical, spectral and thermal properties of resorcinol. The resorcinol sample was divided in two groups, which served as control and treated group. The treated group was given biofield treatment and both groups i.e., control and treated were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed a significant decrease in crystallite size of treated sample i.e., 104.7 nm as compared to control (139.6 nm). The FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra of treated sample did not show any change with respect to control. Besides, thermal analysis data showed 42% decrease in latent heat of fusion. The onset temperature of volatilization and temperature at which maximum volatilization happened was also decreased by 16% and 12.86%, respectively. The significant decrease in crystallite size may help to improve the spreadability and hence bioavailability of resorcinol in topical formulations. Also increase in volatilization temperature might increase the rate of reaction of resorcinol when used as intermediate. Hence, biofield treatment may alter the physical and thermal properties of resorcinol and make it more suitable for use in pharmaceutical industry.

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Why is it important?

Resorcinol is a dihydric phenol having the hydroxyl group at 1 and 3 positions in the benzene ring [1]. It occurs naturally in argan oil as main natural phenol. It is white crystalline powder having a faint odour and bitter-sweet taste [2]. It is used as a chemical intermediate in manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, dyestuffs and fungicides such as p-aminosalicylic acid, hexylresorcinol and light screening agents for protecting plastics from UV lights [3,4]. It is used in the formulation of several pharmaceuticals such as acne creams, hair dyes, anti-dandruff shampoos, and sun tan lotions. It also possesses various therapeutic uses such as topical antipruritic and antiseptic. It is used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, corns, warts and eczema. It is effective in the treatment of several dermatological problems due to its antibacterial, antifungal and keratolytic effects [5,6]. Resorcinol solution in ethyl alcohol (Jessner’s solution) is used in chemical peeling [7], and it has special medical use as biological glue (gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue) in cardiovascular surgery [8,9]. Despite its wide pharmaceutical applications, some side effects are also associated with it, for instance, mild skin irritation, skin redness, etc. It is also hygroscopic i.e., absorb moisture from the air and turns pink on exposure to air or light [10]. By conceiving the usefulness of resorcinol, the present study was attempted to investigate an alternative way that can improve the physical and thermal properties of resorcinol. In recent years, biofield treatment was proved to be an alternative method that has an impact on various properties of living organisms and non-living materials in a cost effective manner. It is already demonstrated that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but it can be transferred through various processes such as thermal, chemical, kinetic, nuclear, etc. [11-13]. Similarly, electrical current exists inside the human body in the form of vibratory energy particles like ions, protons, and electrons and they generate a magnetic field in the human body [14,15]. This electromagnetic field of the human body is known as biofield, and energy associated with this field is known as biofield energy [16,17]. The human beings are infused with this precise form of energy, and it provides regulatory and communications functions within the organism [18,19]. The health of living organisms can be affected by balancing this energy from the environment through natural exchange process [20]. National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) places biofield therapy (putative energy fields) as subcategory of energy medicine among complementary and alternative medicines. The healing therapy is also considered under this category [21,22]. Thus, the human has the ability to harness the energy from environment or universe and can transmit it to any living or non-living object. This process is termed as biofield treatment. Mr. Trivedi’s unique biofield treatment (The Trivedi Effect®) is well known and significantly studied in different fields such as microbiology [23-25], agriculture [26-28], and biotechnology [29,30]. Recently, it was reported that biofield treatment has changed the atomic, crystalline and powder characteristics as well as spectroscopic characters of different materials. Moreover, alteration in physical, thermal and chemical properties were also reported in materials like antimony, bismuth and ceramic oxide [31,32]. Hence, based on above results the current study was designed to determine the impact of biofield treatment on physical, spectral and thermal properties of resorcinol.

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