PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF SUFOOF – E – HAZIM

Sufoof – e -Hazim (SEH), Unani formulation with high therapeutic efficacy, has been reported to cure indigestion and flatulence. The formulation is available with different manufacturers but scientific data on its pharmacognosy is lacking. Hence, the current research work is an attempt to standardize the formulation and establish quality control parameters in terms of its phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation. SEH was prepared as per National Formulary of Unani Medicine (NFUM). As a rapid method for detection of adulteration, powder microscopy was carried out for the formulation along with its individual ingredients in order to locate persistant and discernable characters belonging to the individual ingredients from the formulation. Phytochemical evaluation was carried out along with estimation of reducing sugars and crude fibre content in the formulation. Further, a simple, rapid, accurate and sensitive HPTLC method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of pharmacologically active markers, betasitosterol and lupeol. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for the parameters such as linearity, intra and interday precision, accuracy, recovery etc. The content of markers was calculated from the formulation as well as from the individual ingredients. Further, acute oral toxicity studies of SEH were carried out on albino Swiss mice following OECD guidelines no. 420 (fixed dose procedure). SEH was found to be safe and no mortality or abnormal behavioural changes was observed. This scientific data can be adopted to lay down new Pharmacopoeial standards to be followed in the preparation of SEH with increased and reproducible batch to batch consistency.