Comparative Physicochemical and Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation of Sigru Patra Choorna and Varuna Twak Kwatha Bhavitha Sigru Patra Choorna

Abstract

Bhavana is an important pharmaceutical process in Ayurveda in which a powdered drug is triturated with a liquid medium. The physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics of the drug may undergo qualitative and quantitative changes during processing. In the present study, Sigru patra choorna was subjected to Bhavana using Varuna twak kwatha. Materials and Methods: Sigru patra choorna and Varuna twak kwatha bhavitha Sigru patra choorna were subjected to physicochemical evaluation, qualitative analysis of ash, determination of water and alcohol-soluble extractives, successive solvent extraction and preliminary phytochemical screening. The observations obtained from the two samples were comparatively assessed. Results: Total ash values were 9.1% and 7.24% in Sigru patra choorna and Varuna twak kwatha bhavitha Sigru patra choorna, respectively. The acid-insoluble ash values were 3.2% and 3.8%, while water-insoluble ash values were 4.2% and 3.68%, respectively. Total sugar was 1.99% and 4.51%, and reducing sugar was 0.78% and 4.08%, respectively. Cold-water soluble extractive values were 24% and 28.4%, whereas cold-alcohol soluble extractives were 9.2% and 10.78%. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the cold-water extracts showed the presence of saponins, carbohydrates and proteins in two samples. Phenolic and tannin reactions showed differences in Sigru patra choorna and Varuna twak kwatha bhavitha Sigru patra choorna samples. Successive solvent extraction demonstrated variation in the extractive yield and qualitative phytochemical profile among the samples. Conclusion: The comparative analysis demonstrated measurable differences in physicochemical parameters, extractive values and qualitative phytochemical reactions between Sigru patra choorna and Varuna twak kwatha bhavitha Sigru patra choorna. These findings provide preliminary analytical data for the standardization of the Bhavitha preparation.