HPTLC METHOD DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ESTIMATION OF ASTERACANTHA LONGIFOLIA IN RASNAIRANDADI KASHAYAM – AN AYURVEDIC POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

The herbal products market in India is aggressively expanding. The standardisation of these herbal medications is necessary for the safety and effectiveness of herbal goods. There is a need for more sophisticated standardisation approaches because the conventional methodology is insufficient for the contemporary herbal industry. With this view the present study was undertaken to develop a standardisation procedure viz., Q-HPTLC profiling for a polyherbal formulation-rasnairandadi kashayam. Initially, the ingredients of rasnairandadi kashayam was procured. Among all the ingredients necessary for the preparation of rasnairandadi kashayam, the present study focussed on quantitative estimation of an ingredient, Asteracantha longifolia root composition. The selected ingredient was standardized according to WHO guidelines 1992 and IP, 1996. Simultaneously, extraction and phytochemical screening of the selected ingredient was done. Next, by using all the purchased ingredients, different concentration of rasnairandadi kashayam formulation was prepared as per the procedure in Sahasrayoga Kashaya Prakarna. 428. Meanwhile, two brands of rasnairandadi kashayam (Brand A & B) available in the market of Kerala was purchased. The samples from all the four different concentrations of rasnairandadi kashayam prepared and two brands (Brand A & B) purchased were analysed for the phytoconstituents. Finally, QHPTLC evaluation were done to confirm the presence of ingredient in the formulations as per the guidelines of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). From this study it was concluded that the sample from purchased brand A rasnairandadi kashayam contains A. longifolia as specified in API. But the Brand B contains only nearly half the amount of A. longifolia. Summarily, through this present study, it was able to develop a sophisticated method for quantification of individual ingredient present in poly-herbal Ayurvedic preparations.