Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Vasa Ghrita

Abstract

Adhatoda vasica is a well-known plant in India traditionally used for treatment of cough and cold. Vasa ghrita formulation is prescribed in treatment of bronchial asthma and rakta pitta (blood-bile). The main aim was to standardize the Vasa ghrita formulation which was prepared from Adhatoda vasica leaves and to establish the standard limits for all the parameters evaluated. In this study various parameters were evaluated for the crude vasaka leaves and Vasa ghritas formulation which include in-house Vasa ghritas and two marketed formulations brand RVG and brand KKVG. Morphological evaluation was performed by checking the organoleptic characters.

Microscopical study was done to authenticate the drug. Phytochemical screening was done to determine the presence of chemical constituents present in Adhatoda vasica. In physicochemical evaluation many parameters were determined including loss on drying, Ash values, extractive values, swelling index, foaming index, specific gravity, rancidity, melting point, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, thin layer chromatography and HPTLC, FTIR spectroscopy, TPC, TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Biological study was done to determine microbial load and toxicity profile. Parameters evaluated for crude powder and the Vasa ghritas formulations were within the standard limits. Study proved that the in-house Vasa ghrita was more enriched than branded formulations.