PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF AYURVEDIC HEPATOPROTECTIVE DRUG PHALATRIKADI KVATHA
HTML Full TextReceived on 21 April, 2013; received in revised form, 10 October, 2013; accepted, 23 September, 2013; published 01 January, 2014
PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF AYURVEDIC HEPATOPROTECTIVE DRUG PHALATRIKADI KVATHA
Nirmal Kumar* and Shivani Ghildiyal
Departments of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi–221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
To investigate an Ayurvedic compound formulation Phalatrikadi Kvatha (PTK) having seven plant origin drugs for quality control and standardization. This compound formulation is mentioned in Ayurvedic classics for the treatment of Kamala ~ hepatic disorders. Macroscopy, qualitative phytochemical analysis, extractive values in ethanol and water and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the formulation was done. Physicochemical parameters include loss on drying, total ash, acid insoluble ash, sulphated ash, alcohol soluble extractive, water soluble extractive and preliminary phytochemical screening of various solvent extract (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous). Phytoconstituents such as Tannins, Saponin, Flavonoids, and Steroids were found to be present. Further TLC of Alcoholic extract of Phalatrikadi Kvatha (PTK) was done for proper identification. The qualitative phytochemical and pharmacognostic study of the drug is helpful in sample identification, quality and purity standards of the plant materials. The result of the present study can serves as valuable source of information and provides suitable standards for identification of PTK formulation for future investigation and its application.
Keywords: |
Phalatrikadi Kvatha, Standardization, Physicochemical, phytochemical
INTRODUCTION:There is a global demand for medicines, pharmaceuticals, tonics, cosmetics and other products based on plant materials. Current spurt in the commercial production of these items has put a great pressure on the raw materials. The escalating gap between demand and supply is now fulfilled through all possible means. Majority of crude drugs is collected without any consideration of quality.
The trade in herbal raw materials, though flourishing, lacks efficiency in maintaining the quality of raw material under supply. In a number of cases the part of the plant designated officially is adulterated or even substituted by a different part of the same plant or by that obtained from altogether a different botanical source.
The drug taken from the raw drug market is generally in the form of a dried part of a plant and it becomes difficult to determine the identity of botanical source from which it has been collected due to general lack of knowledge in this regard. Such problems call for proper guiding materials enabling easy and quick determination of genuineness and quality of a particular crude herbal drug.
Methods based on macroscopic, microscopic pharmacognosy and chromatography is available for this purpose. The knowledge of the identity of the plant and major morphological and organoleptic characters of the plant constituting the crude drug may go a long way to solve such problems. Phaktrikadi kvatha (PTK) is a well-known Ayurvedic dosages form mentioned in various Ayurvedic classics. But the ingredients and indications of PTK formulation are varied in different classics.
In Charaka Samhita and Bhaishajyaratnavali, it is prescribed for Prameha ~ Diabetes 1, 2.
PTK as a remedy for Kamala ~ liver disease first time mentioned in Siddhasara samhita, as the name of Phalatrika. In this context, PTK contains 8 drugs namely- Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica Roxb), Amrita (Tinospora cordifolia Miers), Vasa (Adhatoda vasica Nees), Katuki (Picrorrhiza kurroa Royale ex Benth), Bhunimba (Andrographis panniculata Nees)and Nimba (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) 3, 4. The kvatha ~ decoction of it is prescribed to treat Kamala ~ hepatic disorders 5-8 (table 1).
TABLE 1: INGREDIENTS, PARTS AND RATIO OF DRUGS USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF PHALTRIKADI KVATHA
S. No. | Ingredients | Part used | Botanical name | Family | Ratio |
1 | Amalaki | Fruit | Emblica officinalis Gaertn. | Euphorbiaceae | 1 part |
2 | Bibhitaki | Fruit | Terminalia bellerica Roxb. | Combretaceae | 1 part |
3 | Haritaki | Fruit | Terminalia chebula Retz. | Combretaceae | 1 part |
4 | Guduci | Stem | Tinospora cordifolia Miers. | Menispermaceae | 3 part |
5 | Vasa | Leaf | Adhatoda vasica Nees. | Acanthaceae | 3 part |
6 | Kalmegha | Whole plant | Andrographis panniculata Nees. | Acanthaceae | 3 part |
7 | Nimba | Bark | Azadirachta indica A. Juss. | Meliaceae | 3 part |
8 | Katuki | Rhizome | Picrorrhiza kurroa Royale ex Benth. | Scrophulariaceae | 3 part |
According to WHO authenticity, purity and assay are the three major attributes for standardization and quality control of the herbal medicine 10.
Hence, in the present work to establish botanical and chemical standards like pharmacognostic characterization, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical testing and thin layer chromatographic analysis of PTK was done which would help for the identification of this important compound formulation prescribed for Kamala ~hepatic disorders.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Plant material: All the raw drugs for Phalatrikadi Kvatha (PTK) was collected from Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Mirzapur and sample specimen of each drug was preserved, in the department of Dravyaguna, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
For the preparation of formulation each ingredient was taken in classically prescribed ratio 5-8 (Fig. 1, 2).
FIG. 1: MEASURING OF PHALATRIKADI KVATHA
FIG. 2: COMPLETE PREPARED PHALATRIKADI KVATHA IN PACKETS
Macroscopic analysis: The drugs studied macroscopically for important identification points like – Color, odor, taste and texture 9.
Physiochemical analysis: Physiochemical studies such as moisture content, total ash, foreign matter, acid insoluble ash, sulphated ash were determined according to WHO guidelines on quality control method for medicinal plants 10.
Qualitative phytochemical screening: Chemical tests were employed for the qualitative phytochemical screening for various secondary metabolites such as tannins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, proteins and steroids. Phytochemical screening was carried out by using the standard methods 11.
Thin Layer Chromatography: Silica gel (60 F 254) and distilled water were used to prepare a slurry coating materials and aluminium plate was coated by using the spreading device, with a layer about 0.30 mm thick coated plate was then dried and activated in oven for 30 min. a pencil line is drawn near the bottom and two small drops of ethanolic extract was placed separately on it; and the spots were placed to become dry. Plate was placed in chromatographic chamber containing the Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid, 5:3:0.5 and Rf value were recorded.
Observation and Results:
Macroscopic Characteristics: Important and specific macroscopic identifying characters of the plant parts used as an ingredient in PTK are as follows:
- Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) – Dried pieces are tough and cartilaginous and almost unbreakable by hand; each piece about 1 to 2 cm. in length and 1 cm. in breath shows a broad convex reticulately wrinkled outer surface and two somewhat flat transversely wrinkled lateral surface which converge inward to form a narrow concave internal surface; attached with fibrous vascular strands of the mesocarp, pieces of hard endocarp and sometimes seeds also; dried fruits are greyish white, dark brownish or black in color.
In raw drug market it is present in as brown to black color pieces of different size (Fig. 3).
FIG. 3: DRY FRUITS OF AMALAKI
- Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) – Fruit is a hard stony drupe, greenish yellow in color, odorless, ovate, longitudinally wrinkled 3.5 to 4.0 cm. in length, 1.5 to 2.0 cm. wide; has 5 to 6 ridges (longitudinal ribs). In some, the basal portion is narrower and somewhat elongated on tapering; taste astringent (Fig. 4).
FIG. 4: DRY FRUITS OF HARITAKI
- Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica Roxb.) – Fruit is a dry drupe, spherical to ovoid irregularly round, 1.2 to 2 cm. in diam., dirty whitish brown externally, velvety surface shrunk and somewhat irregularly wrinkled showing 5 longitudinally ridges; upper end of the fruit is depressed while the lower end is projecting and shows round scar of pedicel up to 5 mm in diam. (Fig. 5).
FIG. 5: DRY FRUITS OF BIBHITAKI
- Amrita (Tinospora cordifolia Miers.) – Stem is succulent, soft; possessing long, filiform, aerial roots arising from branches. Bark warty, creamish white or grey brown; wood soft, perforated. Dried sample consists of 5 to 10 cm. long conical pieces, light in weight; bark light and papery, brittle, dark brown; wood with longitudinal surface ridges, and radially divided into wedge shaped pieces in cross- sections. Pieces difficult to fracture when fully dried and can be torn only by twisting; odourless; taste bitter (Fig. 6).
FIG. 6: PIECES OF AMRITA STEM
- Vasa (Adhatoda vasica Nees.) – The leaf is simple, entire, wavy, ovate lanceolate, attenuate at base, apex acuminate, 6 to 14 cm. long, 3 to 4.5 mm broad, midrib prominent at the lower surface, slightly grooved on the upper surface, lateral veins 6 to 10 pairs arising at the angle of 45o to 60o, running parallel to each other, somewhat glabrous but minutely puberulous on the veins, odor not characteristic, taste slightly bitter (Fig. 7).
FIG. 7: DRY LEAVES OF VASA
- Bhunimba (Andrographis panniculata Nees.)- It is an erect branched annual, 0.3-0.9 meters high, branches sharply quadrangular winged in the upper part; leave - lanceolate, acute, undulate, pale beneath (Fig. 8).
FIG. 8: FRUITED PLANT OF KALMEGHA
- Katuki (Picrorrhiza kurroa Royale ex Benth.) –Rhizomes are sub cylindrical, straight; usually possess apical buds, which are surrounded by a stuffed crown of leaves. The roots are thin, cylindrical in pieces, 5 to 10 cm. long 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter, slightly curved with a few longitudinal wrinkles, dotted scars and dusky grey in color. Fracture is tough, inner surface black with whitish wood. The odor is pleasant and the taste is bitter (Fig. 9).
FIG. 9: DRY RHIZOMES OF KATUKI
- Nimba (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) - Bark is channeled, tough, fibrous, brownish gray with a rough scaly surface. Internally bark is yellowish, laminated and coarsely fibrous (Fig. 10).
FIG. 10: BARK OF NIMBA
Physicochemical analysis: Physiochemical studies such as moisture content, total ash, foreign matter, acid insoluble ash and sulphated ash were presented in table 2.
Qualitative Phytochemical Screening: The yield of ethanolic and aqueous extracts was 17.2% and 14.6 % respectively. The extracts revels the presence of flavonoids, saponins, steroid and tannin (Table 3).
TLC: Both the extracts showed five bands of separation (Figure 11). Corresponding Rf values of the bands is presented in Table 4.
FIG. 11: THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY PLATE OF PHALTRIKADI KVATHA
TABLE 2: PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF PHALTRIKADI KVATHA SHOWED FOLLOWING RESULTS:
Parameters | Value |
Loss on drying (Hot Air Method at 105°C) (%w/w) | 5.44 % |
Ash Values | |
a) Total Ash (% w/w) | 6.8 % |
b) Acid Insoluble Ash (% w/w) | 1.5 % |
c) Sulphated Ash (% w/w) | 7.4 % |
Extractive Values | |
i) Alcohol Soluble Extractive (% w/w) | 17.2% |
ii) Water Soluble Extractive (% w/w) | 14.6 % |
iii) pH (Range) | 6.5 |
TABLE 3: QUALITATIVE PHOTOCHEMICAL SCREENING SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF FOLLOWING PHYTOCHEMICALS
Chemical constituents | Chemical tests | Aqueous
extract |
Ethanolic
extract |
Flavonoids | Shinoda’s test | + ve | + ve |
Steroids | Liebermann-Burchard’s test | + ve | + ve |
Salkowski Reaction | + ve | + ve | |
Tannins | Ferric chloride test | + ve | + ve |
Saponin | Foam test | + ve | + ve |
TABLE 4: THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY OF PHALTRIKADI KVATHA
Alcoholic extract | |
Stationary phase | Precoated Merck plates |
Mobile Phase | Toluene – Ethyl Acetate – Formic Acid (7: 3: 1) |
Rf values of spots visualized in UV Short Wave Length | 0.05, 0.15, 0.26, 0.54 & 0.62 |
DISCUSSION: In recent years, the worldwide interest in medicinal plant products has grown significantly. With an increasing global demand for herbal medicines, it is necessary that the quality and the consistency of these drugs are maintained for their maximal efficacy. These plant based drugs would be much more widely used both nationally and internationally, with wider acceptance, for enhanced health care if the standardization provides creditability to the quality of the medicine used. It becomes imperative, therefore to have quality standards of the raw material used in various plant based products.
Despite the modern techniques, identification and evolution of plant drug by pharmacognostic studies is still more reliable, accurate and inexpensive means. According to World Health Organization the macroscopic and microscopic description of a medicinal plant is the first step towards establishing its identity and purity 12.
The qualitative phytochemical analysis will reveal the chemical nature of the drug and explore the source of pharmacologically active chemical compounds and provide therapeutic diagnostic tools for scientist who wishes to evaluate herbal medicines obtained from indigenous sources 13.
Physiochemical parameters are helpful to analyze impurity and adulteration in a drug. Thin layer chromatography study having specific Rf values and appearance of a particular color by using different reagents gives direction for different constituents i.e. Flavonoids, Steroids, Tannins, Saponin.
Therefore the present study provide information about the identification, chemical constituents and physiochemical characters of Phaltrikadikvatha, which may be useful for standardization of an important hepatoprotective Ayurvedic formulation.
Conflict of interest statement: We declare that we have no conflict of interest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The author is thankful with core of heart to Dr. V.K. Joshi, Dr. K.N. Diwedi, Dr. Anil Singh, Dr. B. Ram, Dr. Anjali and Dr. Kanhaiya of Department of Dravyaguna B.H.U. for valuable guidance and Dr. Rajesh Tiwari, NBARI and H. CCRAS, Department of Pharmacology, Lucknow, for providing me best facilities and kind support for this research work.
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How to cite this article:
Kumar N and Ghildiyal S: Pharmacognostical standardization of Ayurvedic hepatoprotective drug Phalatrikadi Kvatha. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2014; 5(1): 275-78.doi: 10.13040/IJPSR. 0975-8232.5(1).275-78
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IJPSR
Nirmal Kumar* and Shivani Ghildiyal
Departments of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi–221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
28.nirmal@gmail.com
21 April, 2013
10 October, 2013
23 September, 2013
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.5(1).275-78
01 January, 2014