Ayurvedic Drugs
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Date
2002
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Publisher
University of Sri Jayawardenepura: USJ (Main).
Abstract
Ayurveda plays a significant role in the health care in Sri Lanka. Within the social context in which Ayrveda is practiced in the present day, the standardization and quality assurance of Ayurvedic drugs is urgent and imperative.Dasamoolarista (DMA) is a complex drug containing over 60 ingredients. Test for identify in complex herbal drugs such as DMA can be devised through chromatographic methods to identify specific marker compounds which can be correlated with specific plant ingredients and representative compounds for groups of plants ingredients. A strategy for identifying such marker compounds by comparing the thin layer chromatograms of drugs (Arista) having closely related formulae, was developed. Thin layer chromatographic systems to detected the following plant ingredients through the marker compounds and representative compounds shown in parenthesis were developed; Aegle marmelos Correa. (Umbelliferone); Plumbago indica L. (Isoshinanolone and Epiisohinanolone); Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke. (Dehydrocostus lactone and Dihydrodehydrocostus lactone); Glycyrrhiza glabra L. , Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., and Myroxylum balsamum (L.) Harms. (Isoliquiritigenin); Rubia cordifolia L. (Alizarin and Purpurin); Eugenia caryophyllata Thumb, and Cinnamomum verun Presl (Eugenol);Woodfordia fruticosa (Linn.) Kurz., Vitis vinifera L. and bees honey (Quercetin and Kaempferol). It is proposed that tests for strength (potency) of drugs such as DMA of unknown pharmacological action, can consist of quantitative measurements of compounds of high biological activity found in the drug and specific marker compounds irrespective of their biological activity. Analytical methods based on TLC densitometry, HPLC and GLC were used to quantify gallic acid, isoliquiritigenin, umbelliferone, dehydrocostus lactone, dhydrodehydrocostus lactone, 5-hydroxymethylfurfral, isoshinanolone and epiisoshinanolone in DMA. The analytical methods were shown to be precise and accurate. These methods were then used to study the variability in composition of different commercial brands of DMA, and of different manufacturing batches of DMA of the same brand. Inter batch and inter brand variability was high, indicating a significant variation in the quality of crude drugs used in the manufacture of the drug. Changes in the level of dehydrocostus lactone, gallic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural during the different stages of manufacture were monitored. It was concluded that levels of gallic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were more suitable as parameters for process control than those of dhydrocostus lactoen.
Description
Dissertation: M.Phil., University of Sri Jayawardenepura: USJ (Main), 2002.
Keywords
Medicine, ayurvedic
Citation
TENNAKOON, MSG, Ayurvedic Drugs, University of Sri Jayawardenepura USJ (Main), 2002: xviii,223p.