PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS OF LASHUNADI TAILA - AN AYURVEDIC HERBAL FORMULATION FOR VANDHYATVA (FEMALE INFERTILITY) DUE TO ANOVULATORY FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY

Background: Infertility is a major global health concern affecting nearly 10–15% of reproductive-age couples. According to Ayurveda, infertility (Vandhyatva) is primarily caused by vitiation of Vata, and classical texts emphasize the profound physical and psychosocial impact of childlessness. Acharya Kashyapa specifically recommends Lashunadi Taila for the management of Vandhyatva mentioned as Veerya-praja-pradam. This formulation comprises 36 drugs, including Lashuna (Allium sativum L.) as the prime ingredient, along with Deepaniya, Vrishya, Jeevaniya Gana, and Dashamoola, making it therapeutically significant in gynecological disorders. So, for initialization of standardization and assurance of the quality of herbal compounds, pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical analysis should be done. Methods: Lashunadi Taila was subjected to microscopic evaluation for pharmacognostical and physicochemical analysis such as acid value, Specific gravity, Saponification value and Iodine value. Results: Pharmacognostical study showed the presence of certain identifying characters of all the ingredients of Lashunadi Taila like Lashuna, Dravyas of Deepaniya, Mahakashaya, Jeevaniya Mahakashaya, Vrishya Dravyas and Dashamoola Dravyas. As per the preliminary physico-chemical analysis, Acid value of the Lashunadi Taila was 12.04, Specific gravity value was 0.91, Saponification value was 386.46 and Iodine value was 649.13. Conclusions: Pharmacognostical and physico-chemical observations revealed the specific characteristics of all active constituents of Lashunadi Taila confirmed the purity and genuineness of the drug.