Pharmacognostic and Pharmaceutico-Analytical Study of Murvadi Agada

Abstract

In the current era, the quality assessment of herbal formulations is of great importance in order to confirm the authenticity before its release into the market. Comprehensive guidelines have been set up by the World Health Organisation to ensure rigorous standards in their production and use. Murvadi Agada is a formulation which is composed of 10 herbal drugs and it is indicated in Gara Visha (artificial poison). Aim: To prepare Murvadi Agada and to establish its preliminary standard profile through pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical analysis, phytochemical screening and High performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting. Materials and Methods: The pharmacognostic evaluation was performed at the Pharmacognosy Department, ITRA, Jamnagar, while the pharmaceutical study was conducted at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, ITRA, Jamnagar. High performance thin layer chromatography analysis was carried out at Vasu Research Centre, Vadodara. Results: Pharmacognostical findings confirmed the ingredients of Murvadi Agada. Values of physico-chemical parameters were as follows: loss on drying 1.038%w/w, pH 6, total ash value 8.053%w/w, water soluble extractive value 11.3645%w/w and alcohol soluble extractive value 11.3839%w/w. Qualitative tests revealed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids in aqueous extract and carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids in methanolic extract of the sample. High performance thin layer chromatography showed 6 major spots at 254nm, 5 major spots at 366nm and 9 major spots at 540nm. Conclusion: The trial drug is free from any impurities or adulterants and data generated can be used to develop a preliminary standard profile for Murvadi Agada.