Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SHATAVARYADI KSHEERAPAKA -A POLYHERBAL MILK-BASED FORMULATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MENOPAUSAL SYNDROME

Dr. Anagha Sivanandan*, Prof. Laxmipriya Dei, C. R. Harisha and V. J. Shukla

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Abstract

Background: Rasayana(rejuvenating) therapy is the treatment of choice in Ayurveda for management of menopausal syndrome. Various combinations of Rasayana drugs are being used for this purpose. But there is a need for proper standardization of these formulations. Shatavaryadi Ksheerapaka is such a formulation widely used by the Ayurvedic practitioners for treating the menopausal syndrome. Materials and Methods: The process of standardization included identification and authentication of raw drugs, standardizing the method of preparation of Ksheerapaka(milk based formulation), pharmacognostical, physico-chemical analysis of the drug in powder form, and HPTLC analysis as per the standard protocols. Results: The pharmacognostical evaluation revealed acicular crystals, scalariform vessels, and starch grains of Shatavari, cluster crystal, cork cells, stone cells, lignified fibres, Rosette crystals etc. of Arjuna, compound Starch grains, pitted vessels, pollen grains, rhomboidal crystals, stellate trichome etc. of Atibala. Pharmaceutical analysis showed loss on drying 7.10% w/w, ash value 9.23% w/w, water soluble extract 0.132g w/w, alcohol soluble extract 0.272 g w/w and pH value as 6.425. HPTLC revealed 5 peaks in 254nm and 2 peaks in 366 nm. Discussion and Conclusion: The pharmacognostical and physico-cheminal analysis of the formulation meet the minimum qualitative standards as per the API at the preliminary level. So, the results can be considered as a guideline for further studies.

Keywords: Shatavaryadi Ksheerapaka, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical analysis, Menopausal syndrome, Rajonivrutti.