Abstract

PHARMACEUTICO-ANALYTICAL STUDY OF DHĀNVAÑTARA GHṚTA

L. K. Virajitha* and K. Harshavardhana Appaji

.

Abstract

Analytical study of Ayurvedic preparations is the need of present scientific era. Though the Ayurvedic drugs are time tested and have been used successfully in the management of various ailments, it is now necessary to prove their quality, efficacy and safety to the scientific world through various modern analytical parameters. Dhānvañtara ghṛta, mentioned in Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdaya Pramēha Cikitsa is a poly herbal formulation containing 37 ingredients and is indicated for Snēhapāna in Madhumēha. Madhumēha (Diabetes Mellitus) is a disease in which the urine excreted possesses the quality similar to that of Madhu (honey) in its colour, taste, smell and consistency. In the pathogenesis of Madhumēha, Bahu drava śleṣma (Kapha with excess fluid component) and Bahu abaddha dūṣyās (excess abaddha mēda, māmsa, vasā, majja, klēda, śukra, rakta, lasika, rasa and ojas) play an important role. So, in its management such drugs have to be selected which are against Kapha, Meda and Kleda. Dhānvañtara Ghṛta is one such formulation, which has Kaṭu, Tikta, Kaśāya Rasa; Laghu, Rūkṣa Guṇa producing Rūkṣaṇa effect as it has opposite qualities to that of Kapha and Medas, which are the main entities in the pathogenesis of Madhumēha. In the present study, an attempt has been made to prepare Dhānvañtara ghṛta and standardise it through analytical parameters like organoleptic properties, Moisture content, Specific gravity, Refractive index, Rancidity test, Acid value, Saponification value, Iodine value, Peroxide value, Richert Meissl value, Polenske value, Viscosity and High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). All the parameters were found to be good and within the standards.

Keywords: Analytical standardization, Dh?nvañtara gh?ta, Pram?ha, Diabetes Mellitus, HPTLC.