Qualitative and Quantitative Standardization of Trikatu Churna

Mahesh K. Senghani¹*, Prakash S. Sukhramani¹, Sarav A. Desai², Ashvin V. Dudhrejia³ and Navin R. Sheth³

¹Veerayatan Institute of Pharmacy, Bhuj-Mandvi Road, Jakhania, Mandvi, Dist: Kutch – 370460, Gujarat, India

²Pioneer College of Pharmacy, Ajwa Road, Nr. N.H. 8, Sayajipura, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

³Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot-360 005, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT:

The Ayurvedic system of medicine mentions many of churna formulation. One of them is Trikatu churna, nowadays most widely used in cold, cough, indigestion and gastric discomfort. Trikatu churna is finely powdered (# 80) mixture of Zingiber officinalis, Piper longum and Piper nigrum. The main object of this study was to check the quality of laboratory prepared Trikatu churna as well as to establish certain qualitative and quantitative parameters which may help in standardization of churna. The WHO guidelines were followed to evaluate laboratory preparation and individual drug component to gather the information regarding the quality. The standardization of churna was carried out by evaluating parameters like powder photomicroscopy, TLC study and preliminary phytochemical study. In addition to these, Trikatu churna and individual powder components were evaluated by physicochemical parameters like bulk density, % porosity, % compressibility, Hauser’s ratio, flow property etc. These additional parameters were useful to establish certain quantitative standards for assessment of Trikatu churna. In microscopic study, we have identified the different cells and tissues which give clear identity of the content of Trikatu churna. The phytochemical screening test as well as simultaneous TLC study confirms presence of reported chemical constituents and presence of each individual drug in churna by comparing R_f values respectively.

KEYWORDS: Physicochemical parameter, powder microscopy, preliminary phytochemical study, Trikatu churna.

INTRODUCTION:

The Trikatu churna is one of the classical Ayurvedic dosage form used in Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is official in ayurvedic formulary of India is combination of three reputed herbs, comprised of the fruits Piper longum (Pippali), Piper nigrum (Marica) and rhizomes of Zingiber officianalis (Saunth). Trikatu churna is an Ayurvedic proprietary medicine containing Pipalli as an important constituent, which is used for bronchitis and asthma. ¹

The consumption of these spices would exert several health beneficial effects by the virtue of their innumerable therapeutic potentials, such as fever, asthma, cold, cough and other general health disorders. ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10}

In recent years, the need for quality assurance tools to ensure the identity, purity and quality of botanical material has raised dramatically. ¹

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Description:

The laboratory prepared Trikatu churna and individual powder components were passed through 80# sieve. Physical Properties (Table 4) like flow property, bulk density, tap density, Carr’s index, angle of repose, Houser’s ratio were performed for laboratory formulation as well as individual powder components.

Identification:

The identification of laboratory churna and individual powder components was carried out by performing microscopical evaluation (Table 1), photomicroscopy (Fig. 1.A. – 1.G.), preliminary phytochemical screening (Table 2) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) study (Table 3).

Photomicroscopy:

The Laboratory preparation of Trikatu churna and individual powder component could be microscopically identified and covered in results (Fig. 1.A. – 1.G.).

Preliminary phytochemical screening:

Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out for laboratory churna as well as individual powder components. The preliminary phytochemical study (Table 2) was performed for Alkaloids, Steroids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins and Lignans.

Thin Layer Chromatography:

Thin layer chromatography study of laboratory churna and individual powder components were performed.

Sample preparation: Powder of Trikatu churna as well as individual powder components were extracted by hot maceration method with methanol and these methanolic extract were used for TLC finger printing. ^{8, 9}

Solvent system: (1) Toluene: Ethyl acetate (93:7)

(2) Toluene: Diethyl ether: Dioxane (62.5:21.5:16)

RESULTS:

Microscopic Evaluation:

Table 1: Microscopical Evaluation of the components

Sr. No.	Characteristics	Piper longum	Piper nigrum	Zingiber officinalis	Trikatu churna
1	Parenchymatous cells containing yellow brown oleo resin bodies of ginger	̶	̶	+	+
2	Perisperm cells filled with oleo resins of black pepper	̶	+	̶	+
3	Thin walled cells of long pepper	+	̶	̶	+
4	Reticulated vessels with fibers of ginger	̶	̶	+	+
5	Stone cells of black pepper	+	+	̶	+
6	Fibers of ginger	̶	̶	+	+
7	Starch grains	̶	̶	+	+

Photo Microscopy:

Fig 1.A. Fibers of Ginger

Fig 1.B. Reticulated vessels with fibers

Fig 1.C. Thin walled cells

Fig 1.D. Starch grains

Fig 1.E. Perisperm cells filled with oleo resins

Fig 1.F. Stone cells

Fig 1.G. Parenchymatous cells with yellow brown oleo resin bodies

Qualitative phytochemical analysis

Table 2: Qualitative phytochemical Distribution of primary and secondary metabolites in Trikatu churna and its Ingredients

Qualitative Tests		Piper nigrum	Piper longum	Zingiber officinalis	Trikatu churna
Alkaloids	Mayer’s test	+	+	+	+
	Wagner’s test	+	+	+	+
	Dragendroff’s test	+	+	+	+
Steroids	Salkowski’ test	̶	+	+	+
	Libermann and Burchard test	̶	+	̶	+
Flavonoids	Extract + Mg turnings	+	+	+	+
	Extract + Aqueous	+	+	+	+
	NaOH + Conc H2SO4	+	+	+	+
Saponins	Foam test	+	̶	+	+
Tannins	Gelatin test	+	̶	+	+
Lignans	Labat test	̶	+	̶	+
	Lignan test	+	+	+	+

TLC study:

Test solution: Powder of Trikatu churna was extracted by hot maceration method with methanol, methanolic extract was used for TLC finger printing. ⁸

Table 3: TLC Study Interpretations

Solvent system	Spraying reagent	Rf value	Inference
Toluene: Ethyl acetate (93:7)	Anisaldehyde sulphuric acid reagent	0.2	Presence of Gingerol
Toluene: Diethyl ether: Dioxane (62.5:21.5:16)	Vanillin-Sulphuric acid	0.5	Presence of piperine
		0.7	Presence of dipiperine

Physical Properties:

Table 4: Physical Properties of Components

Sr. No.	Properties	Piper longum	Piper nigrum	Zingiber officinalis	Trikatu churna
1	Bulk Density	0.55	0.42	0.40	0.42
2	Tap Density	0.77	0.66	0.63	0.60
3	Carr’s Index (%)	28.57	36.36	36.00	18.00
4	Hauser’s Ratio	1.40	1.57	1.56	1.42
5	Angle of Repose	40.25	41.62	43.56	44.27
6	% Porosity	27.77	36.17	36.00	42.00

WHO Parameters:

The WHO parameter evaluation of laboratory Churna and individual powder material were carried out. These parameters (Table 5) were helpful in standardization of Churna.

Table 5: WHO parameters interpretations:

Sr. no.	WHO Parameters	Piper longum %w/w	Piper nigrum %w/w	Zingiber officinalis %w/w	Trikatu churna %w/w
1	Foreign matter	0.90	0.85	0.47	0.65
2	Total Ash	4.90	3.45	6.70	8.45
3	Acid insoluble Ash	0.15	0.06	3.40	1.54
4	Water soluble Extractive value	15.08	21.23	4.08	14.53
5	Alcohol soluble Extractive value	5.35	9.12	7.01	7.24

CONCLUSION:

The results showed that laboratory formulation of Trikatu churna having same properties as there of individual components. The WHO guidelines were followed to evaluate laboratory preparation and individual drug component to gather the information regarding the quality. The standardization of churna was carried out by evaluating parameters like powder microscopy, TLC study and preliminary phytochemical study. In addition to these, Trikatu churna and individual powder components were evaluated by physicochemical parameters like bulk density, % porosity, % compressibility, Hauser’s ratio, flow property. These additional parameters were useful to establish certain quantitative standards for assessment of Trikatu churna. The phytochemical test as well as simultaneous TLC study confirms presence of reported chemical constituents and presence of each individual drug in churna by comparing R_f values respectively. In microscopic study, we have identified the different cells and tissues which give clear identity of the content of Trikatu churna.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

We all authors are very thankful to Dr. Navin Sheth, Prof. and Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, for providing us all the necessary facilities and cooperation throughout the research work.

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Received on 22.02.2011

Accepted on 22.05.2011

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 3(4): July- August 2011, 154-157