Chemical fingerprints for Panchavalkala Kvatha Curna

Introduction: Herbal medicines in recent times gained popularity and glory because of lesser known side effects/adverse effects and palatable and indispensable in its own way. Standardization as a benchmark to ascertain the quality, purity, safety and efficacy of the individual drug. Panchavalkala kvatha curna (PKC) is a polyherbal formulation, compounded from parts of Nyagrodha (Ficus benghalensis – stem bark), Udumbara (Ficus racemosa – stem bark), Asvattha (Ficus religiosa – stem bark), Parisa (Thespesia populnea – stem bark) and Plaksa (Ficus lacor – stem bark) as per formula composition in Ayurvedic Formulary of India. It is used in the treatment of inflammation due to wound, ulcer, syphilis, leucorrhoea and conjunctivitis. It can be used as lepa or in the form of decoction. In the current study chemical analysis and fingerprinting techniques have been employed to standardise PKC. Methods: PKC was subjected to organoleptic, macro-microscopic, physicochemical, HPTLC and LC-MS characterization employing standard methodology mentioned in pharmacopoeia and other herbal analysis protocols. Results: Physico-chemical studies viz. total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water, alcohol and hydro – alcohol soluble extractive, loss on drying at 105°C, pH, HPTLC and LC-MS were performed. Conclusion: A monograph on quality standards for PKC is proposed from the data obtained. The results of the present investigation would serve as a document to control the quality of an important poly-herbal formulation of Ayurveda.