A COMPARATIVE STUDY: QUALITY OF WATER PURIFIED WITH TERMINALIA CHEBULA AND TERMINALIA BELLERICA BASED ON THE TRADITIONAL EVIDENCE FROM SIDDHA LITERATURE

Water is an essential ingredient for all living things to exist on earth. Ancient Siddha texts suggest that soaking some therapeutic plants may purify water. The current study aims to assess the water quality after being soaked with Terminalia chebula (Kadukkai) and Terminalia bellerica (Thantrikkai). Three distinct pots containing two liters of drinking water each were taken from Chembaramapakkam Lake and designated as samples A, B, and C. As a control group, Sample A was left behind. In the same setting, 50g of Terminalia chebula is soaked for 6 hours in the sample B container, and 50g of Terminalia bellerica is soaked for 6 hours in the sample C container. All filtered samples were then subjected to elemental analysis, microbiological testing, and physical inspection as per the drinking water standard methodology. The water treated with Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica had improved color, odor, pH, hardness, alkalinity, and conductivity within allowable bounds. Elemental analysis showed elevated calcium levels, NO₂ below the detection limit, and Cl, SO₄, and Fe within the allowable range. Sample C has a higher magnesium content, but Sample B has a level that is acceptable. There was a decrease in the levels of fecal, total, and Escherichia coli. Sample C had a greater reduction than samples A and B. Thus, it can be concluded that adding Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica to drinking water would undoubtedly change its characteristics.