Evaluation of Quality Control Parameters for Srngyadi Churna– A Potential Ayurvedic Formulation

A. K. Meena², G.V. Simha¹, A.K. Mangal¹, R. Sannd¹, P. Panda³, M. M. Rao⁴ and M. M. Padhi⁵

¹National Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Research, Moti Bagh Road, Patiala,

²National Research Institute for Ayurveda - Siddha Human Resource Development, Gwalior

³National Research Institute of Ayurvedic Drug Development, Bhubaneswar

⁴Ayurveda Central Research Institute - New Delhi (India)

⁵Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi-110058, (India)

ABSTRACT:

Standardization of Ayurvedic formulations is essential in order to assess the quality, purity, safety and efficacy of drugs based on the amounts of their active principles. The present research work is an attempt to standardize “Srngyadi Churna” an ayurvedic polyherbal formulation used in the treatment of cough, asthma and fever. The formulation was prepared in institute pharmacy as per Ayurvedic formulary of India, Part- I guide lines and attempts to evaluate the organoleptic characters, phamacognostic study and physicochemical parameters like pH, Loss on drying at 105°C, Water soluble extract, Alcohol soluble extract, Total Ash, Acid insoluble ash and TLC. The study revealed specific identities for crude drug taken which will be useful in identification and control to adulterations of the drugs.

KEYWORDS: Srngyadi Churna, Standardization, Ayurveda, Asthama, Formulation

INTRODUCTION:

Since origin of human’s life, plants continue to play a curative and therapeutic role in preserving human health against disease and decay.The plants and animals including humans live in harmony and both complement with each other for their healthy existence. This includes nutrition for normal day today working and as medicine for good health and longevity. Ayurveda is a living example for using plants, minerals and animal products for maintaining the health and curing the diseases¹. These medicines rarely show side effects which are common with modern medicines. That is why in recent years, there has been great demand for plant derived products in developed countries.

Srngyadi Churna is a fine powder of a drug or drugs which is prepared by mixing clean, finely powdered and sieved drugs. Standardization is an essential factor for polyherbal formulation in order to assess the quality of drugs based on the concentration of their active principle. It is very important to establish a system of standardization for every plant medicine in the market, since the scope of variation in different batches of medicine is enormous.

Plant material when used in bulk quantity may vary in its chemical content and therefore, in its therapeutic effect according to different batches of collection e.g. collection in different season and collection from sites with different environmental surrounding or geographical locations.²One of the potent herbal formulation is Srngyadi churna (Ref-AFI, Part-I, 7:31).This formulation contains three ingredients like Karkatasrungi, Ativisa and Pippali. It isextensively used in Kasa, Jwara, Swasa and various Kapharoga in Ayurvedic system of medicine (AFI).

Srngyadi churna has only three ingredients. Piper longum (Pippali) is an immunomodulating herb. Anti-allergic activity of the fruit has been studied and is attributed to piperine^3-4. If we seen the Pharmacological action of Piper longum, it plays an important role in aiding the thermogenic response, i.e. the release of metabolic heat energy. This effect is the result of increased thyroid hormone level in the body and makes Pippali a typical Ayurvedic complementary component whose benefit is to increase the bioavailability and enhance absorption of the other active ingredients. It is a powerful stimulant for both the digestive and the respiratory systems and has been shown to have a rejuvenating effect on the lungs. Pharmacological actions as analgesic, aphrodisiac, carminative, expectorant actions. The pharmacological action of Karkatasrungi (Pistacia integerrima Stew. ex Brandis) is Expectorant, Carminative, Antispasmodic, Irritant, Antibacterial, Antiprotozoal, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiallergic, Oestrogenic, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Anthelmintic and Antigiardial. Ativisa is used for children experiencing fever and diarrhoea. The root is the main part of this plant that is used. The root has analgesic, tonic, astringent, stomachic, anti-periodic, aphrodisiac, and sedative properties; it also slows the heart rate. Today Aconitum heterophyllum is used in cases of diarrhoea, liver disorders, haemorrhoids, and oedema, and dysentery, inflammatory infections with cough, cold, flu, or dyspepsia and is a mild diuretic. It stimulates the flow of breast milk in nursing mothers and when taken regularly by nursing mothers, helps prevent colic in their babies. It is also used to treat headaches caused from eating excessive amounts of greasy foods, thirst associated with fever, yellowish sclera (white outer coat enclosing the eyeball), nausea, vomiting, throat pain, and lung and eye inflammation. The root is also used for treating digestive disorders such as anorexia, piles, diarrhoea, vomiting and worms. It is said to help revitalize sexual desire and reduce obesity. The fried root is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, astringent, cholagogue, febrifuge, and tonic. It is used in India in the treatment of dyspepsia, diarrhoea and coughs. It is also used in Tibetan medicine, where it is said to have a bitter taste and cooling potency to treat poisoning from scorpion or snake bites, the fevers of contagious diseases and inflammation of the intestines. This herb is just wonderful in many afflictions. The scientists and pharmacists have also found that Acontum hterophyllum has also been useful in the following diseases; Abdominal Distention, Amenorrhoea, Amnesia, Anorexia Nervosa, Bronchitis, Colic, Common Cold, Dysmenorrhoes, Fevers, Flatulence, Flu and Halitosis (bad breath).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Procurement of raw drugs:

Srngyadi churna contains three ingredients like Karkatasrungi(Pistacia integerrima Stew. ex Brandis), Ativisa (Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex. Royle) and Pippali (Piper longum Linn).All these three ingredients were collected from local market of Patiala, Punjab. Specimen was identified and authenticated by Pharmacognosy section at the National Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Research (NIAPR), Patiala (Punjab).

Preparation of the Srngyadichurna:

Srngyadi churna was prepared as per Ayurvedic formulary of India part Part-I, 7: 31 All ingredients were dried below 60⁰C, powered individually in a pulverizer and pass through # 85 seive and stored in air tight containers. Each ingredient was weighed separately required weight, mixed together to obtain a homogeneous blend ⁵ details given in Table 1.

Table 1. Srngyadi churna contains following ingredients:

S.No	Sanskrit name	Scientific name	Parts used	Quantity
1.	Karkatasrungi	Pistacia integerrima Stew. ExBrandis,	Gall	1 part
2.	Ativisa	Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex.Royle	Root Tuber	1 part
3.	Pippali	Piper longum Linn.	Fruit	1 part

Table 2. Organoleptic properties of Srngyadi churna.

Appearance	Colour	Odour	Taste
Fine powder	Greenish Brown in colour	Pleasant	Acrid

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Organoleptic evaluation:

Organoleptic evaluation refers to evaluate that the formation by colour, odour, taste, texture etc.^[^6] The Organoleptic characters of the Srngyadi churna were evaluated and tabulated in Table 2.

Powder drug analysis of Srngyadi churna:

About few mg of Srngyadi Churna powder warmed with chloral hydrtae, washed and mounted in 50 percent glycerine; few mg of Srngyadi Churna powder washed thoroughly with water and mounted in 50 percent glycerine and few mg of Srngyadi Churna powder treated with iodine solution and mounted in 50 percent glycerine. ^[^7-11] Microscopically, Sclereids, tannins sacs, Clusters of crystals and vessels with annular thickening (Pistacia integerrima Strew.)

Fig. 1(1—4); numerous parenchyma cells filled with starch grains, xylem vessels with reticulate thickening (Aconitum palmatum D.Don) Fig. 1(5-7) andstone cells, starch grains (Piper longumLinn) Fig. 1(8-9) characters were observed in different mounts of Srngyadi Churna.

Figure.1. Powder drug analysis of Srngyadi Churna

1. Sclereids; 2. Tannin sacs; 3. Vessels with annular thickening; 4. Clusters of crystals (Pistacia integerrima strew. Ex Brandis); 5. Parenchyma cells filled with starch grains; 6. Xylem vessels with reticulate thickening; 7. Starch grains (Aconitum palmatum D. Don); 8. Stone cells; 9. Starch grains (Piper longum Linn.)

Evaluation of physicochemical parameters

Evaluation of physicochemical parameters like total ash, acid insoluble ash and loss on drying at 105^oC, alcohol, and water soluble extractive values were carried out as per the API/WHO guidelines^[12-17] for Srngyadi churna results tabulated in Table. 3.

Table 3. Physicochemical parameters of Srngyadi churna

S. No.	Name of Parameters	Results
1.	pH (10% aqueous solution (v/w)	5.38
2.	Total Ash (% w/w)	5.05
3.	Acid-insoluble ash (% w/w)	2.09
4.	Water-soluble extractive (% w/w)	28.04
5.	Alcohol-soluble extractive (% w/w)	11.16
6.	Loss on drying at 105^oC (% w/w)	7.59

Moisture content / Loss on drying at 105^oC:

4 g of the sample was taken and heated in an oven at 105°C for 5 hour in a previously weighed 100 ml beaker. It was cooled in desiccators and weighed. The procedure was repeated till constant weight is obtained. The percentage of loss in weight of the sample was calculated.

Deterioration time of the plant material depends upon the amount of water present in plant material. If the water content is high, the plant can be easily deteriorated due to fungal attack. The loss on drying at 105°C of Srngyadi churna was found to be 7.59percent.

Determination of Total ash value

2 g of the sample was taken accurately in a previously ignited and tarred Silica dish. The material was spread evenly and ignited in a muffle furnace by gradually increasing the temperature to 600^oC until it is white, indicating the absence of carbon. The crucible was cooled in desiccators and allowed to stand for 30 minutes and weighed.

Total ash value of plant material indicated the amount of minerals and earthy materials attached to the plant material. Analytical results showed total ash value of Srngyadi churna was 5.05 percent.

Determination of Acid insoluble ash value

To the dish containing the total ash, 25 ml of 20 % Hydrochloric acid was added covered with a watch glass and boiled gently for 5 minutes. The watch glass was rinsed with a hot water and added to the crucible. The residue was washed with the hot water till the washing was neutral to the litmus. The insoluble material was collected and again placed in a same crucible and again ignited for 6 hours to constant weight. The residue was cooled in desiccator for 30 minutes and weighed.

Percentage of acid insoluble as was calculated. The amount of acid-insoluble siliceous matter present in the Srngyadi churna was 2.09 percent.

Determination of Water soluble extractive value

4 g of the sample was taken in a glass stopper flask,100 ml of distilled water was added. The flasks were shaken occasionally for 6 hours and then allowed to stand for 18 hours. The extract was filtered and 25 ml of the filtrate was pipette out in a pre-weighed 100 ml beaker and evaporated to dryness on a water bath. It was kept in a hot air oven for 5 hours at l05°C, cooled in desiccators for 30 minutes and weighed. The procedure was repeated till constant weight.

The water-soluble extractive value indicated the presence of sugar, acids and inorganic compounds. The water soluble extractive value in the Srngyadi churna sample was found to be 28.04 percent.

Determination of Alcohol soluble extractive Value

Same procedure as for the water soluble extractive value was followed. Instead of water, rectified spirit (ethanol) was taken as a solvent.

The alcohol soluble extractive values indicated the presence of polar constituents like phenols, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids and secondary metabolites present in the plant sample. The alcohol soluble extractive value in the Srngyadi churna was found to be 11.16 percent.

Determination of pH Value

10 percent aqueous solution of sample was prepared and used for determining the pH value by pH meter. The pH value of Srngyadi churna was found to be 5.38.

CONCLUSION:

Ayurvedic medicine Srngyadi churna has been standardized by intervention of modern scientific quality control parameters in the traditional Ayurvedic preparation described in classical texts. The individual ingredients of the formulation were authenticated and standardized. The ingredients and Srngyadi churna were standardised as per WHO guidelines and ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India. Morphology as well as various phamacognostic aspects of the sample was studied along with phytochemical, organoleptic and physio-chemical studies. Srngyadi churna exhibits a set of diagnostic characters, which may help in identifying the drug and its ingredient in dried condition. Purity and potency of the materials and formulations following the procedure given could be performed in quality control laboratory of pharmacy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are very grateful to Dr. Ramesh Babu Devalla, Director General and Dr. M. M. Padhi, Deputy Director (Technical) of CCRAS, New Delhi for providing encouragement and facilities for carrying out this work.

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Received on 11.01.2013

Modified on 12.01.2013

Accepted on 20.01.2013

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 5(1): January–February 2013, 42-46