Chemical composition

The chemical composition of shilajit became a subject of scholarly research in the 1920s. A quantitative spectrum analysis showed that shilajit contains 28-29 macronutrients (These elements include C, O, H, N that form 96% of the total body mass. Ca, Р, К, S, Mg, Na, F, Cl form 3% of the total body mass. As a rule, macronutrients are concentrated in one type of tissues in the body (connective tissues, muscles, bones, blood). They form elastic material of the basic supportive tissues, maintain certain properties of the internal environment, as well as a certain pH value, and osmotic pressure. They also maintain acid/alkali balance and ensure stability of colloidal systems in the body) and micronutrients (Micronutrients are chemical elements present in the tissue of humans, animals and plants in minuscule amounts (10-2 to 10-7%) (the so-called trace elements). Micronutrients are parts of organs, tissues, and many organic compounds – proteins, enzymes, hormones and vitamins. They are essential for growth stimulation, bone formation, cell and tissue regeneration. They also participate in most of the metabolism and hematopoiesis processes. Micronutrients are necessary for reproduction, differentiation and stabilization of cell membranes, tissue respiration, and many other processes that ensure normal vital functions). Among other elements found in shilajit there are about 10 various metallic oxides. Altogether, 51 chemical elements are found in shilajit.

The organic part of shilajit contains following elements: essential oils, B group vitamins, humic acids (high-molecular, dark compounds that possess both aromatic and aliphatic groups which are bound through heteroatoms (sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen). Carboxylic, phenolic and alcohol groups also constitute humic acids. Humic acids contribute to higher level of glycogen in liver, decrease blood sugar, inhibit exudative and proliferative phases of inflammation and stimulate activity of adrenal glands. Other elements constituting shilajit are hutiminic, fulvic, hydroxycarboxylic, dicarboxylic, tricarboxylic, hippuric, and benzoic acids. shilajit also contains amino acids: essential (must be obtained from the diet, cannot be produced in the organism from other amino acids), such as, valine, leucine, methionine, lysine and threonine; semi-essential (essential for infants), such as, histidine and arginine; and conditionally essential (can be substituted in adults with phenylalanine and methionine, respectively), such as, tyrosine, cysteine, and nonessential amino acids, such as, glycine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutaminic acid, serine, proline, and alanine. shilajit also contains: hydrocarbons, albumins, wax-like and tar-like substances, gums, alkaloids, polyphenols, fatty acids, phospholipids, and biologically active substances (phenolic and pregnane steroids).

shilajit obtained from various sources has a relatively constant organic and mineral composition. Regardless of the source, its medicinal properties are almost identical.