Analytical characterization and quality assessment of Tayir cuntic curanam using chemical markers

In Indian traditional medicine systems metals and minerals along with herbs or herbal juices are included in some formulations, viz., parpam, centuram, chunnam, kulampu, ilagam, curanam, tailam, etc., in Siddha and bhasma, racayana, etc., in Ayurveda. The quality control of these drugs involved chemical analysis techniques to determine their identity, purity, potency and safety. The main purpose of this study is to authenticate the mineral ingredients of Tayir cuntc curanam (TCC) viz., Induppu (Rock salt), Valaiyaluppu (Sandevere/Glass salt), Punir (Alkaline salt), Corruppu (Common salt) and Kalluppu (sochal salt/rock salt) through powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD) and to assess the quality of TCC using the phytomarkers 6-gingerol and stigmasterol. Proximate analysis and mineral identification test were carried out using standard methods. Herbal drug was identified by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and the quantification of bioactive compounds 6-gingerol and stigmasterol was completed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mineral drugs were analysed by powder X-ray diffractometer analysis (PXRD). Results revealed the composition, purity, crystal phases of the minerals identified by PXRD method and physico-chemical parameters. High performance thin layer chromatography was run to check the presence of the chemical markers of the herbal ingredient (Zingiber officinale rhizome) in TCC and quantified them by HPLC. The PXRD identified the minerals as halite, sylvine, trona, etc. The results of this study positively can be used as base for the identification of above salts and physicochemical standards for the quality assessment of TCC.