PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION, PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND IN VITRO HEPATOPROTECTIVE EVALUATION OF ARKA YAVA SAINDHAVA KSHARA IN HEPG2 CELLS

Background: Arka Yava Saindhava Kshara is a classical Ayurvedic alkaline formulation described in Rasatarangini. Its pharmaceutical characteristics and biological activity require experimental evaluation. Objective: To prepare and characterize Arka Yava Saindhava Kshara and evaluate its protective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells. Methods: The formulation was prepared using Arka Kshara, Yava Kshara, and Saindhava Lavana according to the classical method. Organoleptic and physicochemical parameters were assessed. In vitro protective activity was evaluated using the MTT assay in CCl₄-exposed HepG2 cells at formulation concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL, with silymarin as the reference treatment. Results: The formulation exhibited a pH of 9.75, loss on drying of 3.51%, total ash content of 98.22%, and water-soluble extractive value of 91.16%. Cell viability in the CCl₄-exposed group was 33.64% relative to the untreated control. Treatment with the formulation increased cell viability to 42.68%, 56.92%, and 61.24% at 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL, respectively. Corresponding viability values for silymarin were 53.16%, 65.47%, and 82.70%. Thus, the formulation showed a concentration-dependent increase in cell viability, with a smaller protective response than silymarin. Conclusion: Arka Yava Saindhava Kshara demonstrated preliminary in vitro protective activity against CCl₄-induced injury in HepG2 cells. Further studies using additional cellular assays, normal-cell controls, and in vivo models are required to clarify its mechanism and safety. These findings do not establish anticancer efficacy.