A Comprehensive Review on Shilajit: What We Know about Its Chemical Composition

Shilajit, a natural material known for thousands of years, is primarily famous because it was the main constituent used for the mummification of bodies by dynastic Egyptians. However, for millennia, it has also been an important drug and supplement in traditional and modern medicine. A full search of Shilajit in the literature, reveals that its chemical composition is not known with certainty. That's due to the fact that surprisingly, no comprehensive chemical analysis has ever been performed to find all the chemicals and species present in it. Moreover, its source is not known; some believe that it is formed from dead plant residues or animal excrements, and some others believe it is a mineral secreted from rocks gradually. In this review article, it is tried to gather chemical property information available regarding this soft, mysterious black material to clarify what it is composed of and what formulation commercial supplements and drugs based on Shilajit may have. While there are many differences in the chemical compositions of Shilajit from various regions, it has been discovered that more than 80% of weight of Shilajit is mainly composed of humic substances and almost 20% of its weight consists of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It also contains amino acids (mainly glycine) and proteins, fatty acids, bioactive compounds such as caffeic acid and gallic acid, and heavy metals including chromium, selenium, and cobalt.