Abstract

Lekshmy M.*, Shuchi Mitra, Usha Sharma and Khem Chand Sharma

ABSTRACT

Lepa kalpana is the topical medicament meant for external application to the skin or mucous membrane. Ayurvedic lepa have existed from the time immemorial, from vedas to samhitas and are in practice in concurrent era too. Lepas are used in different disease conditions like wound cleaning, wound healing, brightness of skin, inflammation etc. In this way it can be said that Lepa kalpana plays an important role in Ayurvedic system of medicine. In Ayurveda, topical application includes lepa, upanaha, malahara etc. In lepa kalpana absorption of drug takes place through body surface which deserves special care for its optimum delivery. The main disadvantage of the transdermal drug delivery is the poor penetration of most of the compounds into the human skin. If the lepa contains herbal drugs it should be used within 24 hours, otherwise the drugs get decomposed and the application may harm the skin. If the lepa is made up of mineral or metallic drugs, the drugs themselves do not have any expiry period. Hence the shelf life depends upon the base with which the drugs are mixed to form a lepa. Nowadays it is difficult to use lepa in its actual form because of smell, greasiness, fluidity and also due to lack of time. In the present era there is a demand for potent, easy, fast formulations. Hence, research on modifications of lepa kalpana is being undertaken in Ayurveda for increasing its efficacy and shelf-life. In this article a review of various modification of lepa kalpana is done.