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Abstract
Shilajit is an asphalt-like substance found embedded in rocky sediments in the Himalayas in western Nepal at altitudes between 2500-5000 m. It is popularly used in Nepal as a tonic. Chemical analysis of shilajit revealed that two-thirds by weight of this medicinal material was extractable by warm 50% alcohol. Repeated crystallization of the hydroalcoholic extract has led to the isolation of crystals, which were subsequently identified as calcium benzoate. The antiseptic properties of benzoates may account for the antiseptic effects of shilajit in places where hygiene remains at a low level.