Characterization of Physical, Thermal and Spectral Properties of Biofield Treated 2-Aminopyridine

What is it about?

2-Aminopyridine is an important compound, which is used as intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds. The present work was aimed to assess the effect of Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy treatment on the physical, thermal and spectral characteristics of 2-AP. The work was accomplished by dividing the sample in two parts i.e. one part was remained untreated, and another part had received biofield energy treatment. Subsequently, the samples were analyzed using various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, ultra violet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XRD analysis revealed a decrease in crystallite size of the treated sample (91.80 nm) as compared to the control sample (97.99 nm). Additionally, the result showed an increase in Bragg’s angle (2θ) of the treated sample as compared to the control. The DSC and Differential thermal analysis analysis showed an increase in melting temperature of the treated 2-AP with respect to the control. Moreover, the latent heat of fusion of the treated sample was increased by 3.08%. The TGA analysis showed an increase in onset of thermal degradation (Tonset), and maximum thermal decomposition temperature (Tmax) of the treated 2-AP as compared to the control sample. Additionally, the treated sample showed a reduction in weight loss as compared with the control indicating higher thermal stability of the sample. UV-visible analysis showed no changes in the absorption peak of the treated sample as compared to the control. The FT-IR spectroscopic results showed downward shifting of C-H stretching vibration 2991→2955 cm-1 in treated sample with respect to the control.

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Why is it important?

Aminopyridines are an important class of compounds used as a research tool for characterizing subtypes of the potassium channel [1]. 4-Aminopyridine or fampridine is used as a drug for symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis and it is believed to improve the walking in adults with several variations of the disease [1, 2]. It acts by blocking the potassium channels and prolong the action potentials, thereby releases neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction [3]. 2-Aminopyridine (2-AP) is one of the isomers of aminopyridines and it has been used for the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents [4]. 2-AP is a colourless solid used in the production of piroxicam, which is used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to relieve the symptoms of painful, inflammatory conditions like arthritis [5, 6]. It has been used as an intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents such as sulfapyridine, tenoxicam, and tripelennamine [4]. Recently Gonzalez Cabrera et al. [7] and Younis et al. [8, 9] synthesized the 2-AP derivatives as potential anti-malarial candidates, and they evaluated its efficiency in Plasmodium berghei infected mouse model. Dambuza et al. also reported the antimalarial properties of 3,5-Diaryl-2-aminopyridine derivatives [10]. Moreover, 2-AP based compounds have been evaluated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and neuro vascular diseases [11]. Pharmaceutical analysis and stability are required to validate the potency, identity and purity of the ingredients as well as those of the formulated products [12]. The stability of pharmaceutical agents is known as the capability of a formulation in a container to remain within its physical, chemical, microbiological, and toxicological specifications [13]. Thus, novel methods should be explored in order to improve the pharmaceutical stability of the drugs. Recently biofield energy treatment was used as a lucrative approach for modification of the physicochemical properties of various materials such as organic compounds [14] drugs [15], and polymers [16]. Biofield energy treatment is a healing technique where life force energy is transmitted to a person’s biofield (energy body) by a practitioner. Further, the human biofield is also referred as an energetic field or matrix that surrounds the human body. This energetic field is identical to superhighway that allows the DNA in cells to communicate faster than light and maintain coherent, holistic intelligence in the organism [17]. Thus, it is envisaged that human beings have the ability to harness the energy from the environment/Universe and can transmit into any object (living or non-living) around the Globe. The object(s) will always receive the energy and responding in a useful manner that is called biofield energy. Moreover, biofield energy treatment which comes under the category of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies have been approved by the prestigious National Institute of Health (NIH)/The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), as an alternative treatment in the healthcare sector [18]. Mr. Mahendra Kumar Trivedi is a well-known healer of biofield energy therapy who can alter the characteristics of living and non-living things. The biofield treatment has improved the growth and production of agriculture crops [19] and significantly altered the phenotypic characteristics of various pathogenic microbes [20]. This unique biofield energy treatment is also known as The Trivedi Effect®. Hence, by considering the excellent outcomes from biofield energy treatment and pharmaceutical properties of 2-AP, this research work was undertaken to investigate the impact of biofield energy treatment on the physical, thermal and spectral properties of this compound. The control and treated samples were analysed for their physicochemical properties using various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, ultra violet-visible spectroscopy analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

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