HPLC analysis of Pathyashadangam kwath, a classical Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation

Abstract

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine based on the healing potential of plants. The formulation of drugs in Ayurveda is generally based on the use of more than one drug. Polyherbal Ayurveda formulations are effective at low dose, harmless at high dose and have less side effects. Pathyashadangam kwath is a classical Ayurveda polyherbal formulation prepared from the fruit pericarps of Terminalia chebula Retz., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Phyllanthus emblica L., aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees., rhizome of Curcuma longa L., stem bark of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and stem of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. as per kwatha vidhi of Sarngadhara Samhita. The formulation finds therapeutic application in the treatment of diseases of eye, ear and tooth, migraine, cluster head ache and upper respiratory diseases. It is also prescribed by Ayurveda physicians for diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study was designed to analyze the phytoconstituents of Pathyashadangam kwath by HPLC. Methanol extracts of three batches of the kwath, PS 15, PS 23 and PS 25 were employed for the analysis. HPLC fingerprinting of Pathyashadangam kwath was carried out by gradient elution using mobile phase consisting of solvent A, H2O with 1% orthophosphoric acid and solvent B: 90% acetonitrile and 10% A. Gradient elution using mobile phase consisting of Acetonitrile and 0.1% Phosphoric acid in water as per standard procedure was used for quantifying Gallic acid in the formulation. From the analysis it was revealed that the fingerprint pattern was similar for the three batches of Pathyashadangam kwath, indicating similarity in phytoconstituents. Comparison of absorption spectra of peaks revealed that peak with RT 3.129 of PS 15, 3.771 of PS 23 and 3.887 of PS 25 had similar spectra indicating that they are identical compounds. The absorption spectra of peak with RT 14.162 of PS 15, 13.975 of PS 23 and 15.081 of PS 25 were also similar. The peaks with retention time 21.912 of PS 15, 21.599 of PS 23 and 23.251 of PS 25 also had similar absorption spectra suggesting identical compound. HPLC analysis of methanol extract of the kwath along with standard confirmed the presence of Gallic acid in the formulation. The concentration of Gallic acid in three batches was found to be 16.14 mg/ml, 23.22 mg/ml and 19.29 mg/ml of kwath respectively for PS 15, PS 23 and PS 25.