Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF POLYHERBAL CHURNA FOR MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION

Charan Goyal, *Nimisha Solanki, Dr. Satyaendra Shrivastava

Abstract

Depression is a widely observed mental health condition that affects emotional stability, thinking ability, and daily activities of an individual. In recent years, herbal medicines have gained significant attention as a safer alternative to synthetic drugs due to their fewer side effects and better patient acceptability. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek seeds), and Piper nigrum (Black pepper) are well-known medicinal plants reported to possess antidepressant, adaptogenic, and neuroprotective properties. The present work was carried out to formulate and evaluate a herbal churna containing powdered forms of Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Fenugreek seeds, and Black pepper for the management of depression. The raw materials were cleaned, dried, and finely powdered using standard procedures. The powders were then mixed in suitable proportions to obtain a uniform herbal formulation. The prepared formulation was evaluated for various parameters such as organoleptic properties (color, odor, taste), particle size, bulk density, and flow properties. The results indicated that the churna had acceptable characteristics and good stability under normal storage conditions. Hence, it can be suggested that the prepared herbal churna may be useful in the supportive management of depression.

Keywords: Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Fenugreek seeds, Black pepper, herbal churna, depression, antidepressant activity.