Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

Devika Krishnan*, Ashly Jose, Chinchu Sara George, Honey Haridas, Jayachandran T. P.

Abstract

In Ayurveda, single or multiple herbs (polyherbal) are used for the treatment. The Ayurvedic literature Sarangdhar Samhita’ highlighted the concept of polyherbalism to achieve greater therapeutic efficacy. The active phytochemical constituents of individual plants are insufficient to achieve the desirable therapeutic effects. When combining the multiple herbs in a particular ratio, it will give a better therapeutic effect and reduce the toxicity. In this study a combination of Tinospora cordifolia, Terminalia chebula and Zingiber officinale are used for evaluation. This combination have a number of pharmacological activity like immunomodulatory digestive, antioxidative, hepatoprotective activities etc.So it is necessary to find out the pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of the formulation. For the first time the above mentioned herbal compound in the powder form was subjected to pharmacognostical evaluation, phytochemical screening and physico-chemical analysis. The results of the phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, glycosides and saponin glycosides which is necessary for the pharmacological activity. Physico chemical evaluation shows it has low moisture content, high water soluble extractive value and low ash content indicating better stability, active constituents are more soluble in water. Microscopical evaluation of the powder showed the presence of tannin content from haritaki collapsed epicarp cells of haritaki, pitted stone cells of haritaki, annular scalariform vessels and simple starch of ginger, border pitted vessels and simple and compound starch grains of guduchi, disturbed collenchyma cells of guduchi, disturbed cork cells of guduchi.

Keywords: Polyherbal Tinospora cordifolia, Terminalia chebula, Zingiber officinale, phytochemical, pharmacognostic evaluation.