Pharmaceutico-Analytical Study of Karanjadi Lepa and its Modified Dusting Powder

Abstract

Skin diseases are among the most prevalent health problems worldwide and are influenced by lifestyle changes, environmental pollution, poor dietary habits, and inadequate personal hygiene. Lepa Kalpana, one of the Bahiparimarjana Chikitsa described in Ayurveda, involves the external application of medicated herbal pastes for the management of various dermatological conditions. Karanjadi Lepa, described in Charaka Samhita for the treatment of Kushta, has limitations such as inconvenience in preparation, difficulty in application, staining of clothes, and limited shelf life. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a modified dusting powder dosage form of Karanjadi Lepa and evaluate its pharmaceutical quality. Karanjadi Lepa dusting powder was prepared by modifying the classical formulation using suitable pharmaceutical techniques. Comparative evaluation of the conventional Lepa and the modified dusting powder was carried out through organoleptic assessment, physicochemical analysis, including bulk density, tap density, flow properties, pH, loss on drying, ash values, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) fingerprinting of alcohol-soluble and water-soluble extracts. The modified dusting powder exhibited improved organoleptic characteristics with a soft texture, very fine consistency, and pleasant odour. Physicochemical evaluation demonstrated acceptable pharmaceutical properties, while Thin Layer Chromatography analysis revealed comparable chromatographic profiles between the conventional Lepa and the dusting powder, indicating preservation of the major phytochemical constituents without significant alteration during formulation modification. The conversion of Karanjadi Lepa into a dusting powder successfully retained the physicochemical quality and phytochemical integrity of the classical formulation while improving convenience, portability, storage stability, and patient acceptability. The modified dosage form may serve as a promising alternative topical formulation for dermatological disorders, although further pharmacological and clinical studies are warranted to establish its therapeutic efficacy.