Standardization of a Compound Unani Herbal Formulation with Modern Techniques

With global realization that use of synthetic drugs is not safe in the long run, the medical fraternity at large is looking at alternatives from natural sources to combat diseases particularly those in which conventional modern system of medicine has little to offer. This realization on the one hand has increased demand for herbal drugs and on the other hand need for quality standardization of these drugs has increased. Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabad being engaged in multidisciplinary research in Unani Medicine, has taken up standardization of herbo-mineral drugs used in this system of medicine. One such drug Qurs-e-Luk which is widely used by the practitioners of this system in mobilizing and reducing body fat has been taken up for standardization by modern techniques, so as to ascertain its quality. The parameters which were carried out are pharmacognostic studies, physico-chemical parameters, High performance thin layer chromatography [HPTLC], microbial load, aflatoxins, heavy metals, and pesticidal residues revealing specific identities for the particular drug and to evaluate pharmacopoeial standards. Results suggest that the drug is safe for therapeutic use and its batch to batch identification for quality control is possible on the basis of these studies.

Role of chromatography in identification and quality control of herbal drugs 1.HPTLC fingerprints of -Qurs-e-Kundur- a Unani compound formulation

The impending world is reliant on traditional medicine, and its recognition escalating at present as essential. In regulating the therapeutic efficacy of herbal drugs, standardization and quality control are the key factors. Organoleptic parameters are not much consistent in establishing the standards of herbal drugs, for which instrumental analysis of the drugs provides a more accurate picture regarding the qualitative and quantitative aspects of bioactive molecules, which are held liable for therapeutic action and is widely accepted in the quality assessment of herbal drugs. However, such work is lacking or at infantile stage. In this study, a comparative account of the HPTLC fingerprints of the ingredients and compound Unani formulation, Qurs-e-Kundur in methanolic extract as well as petroleum ether extract are given and discussed in detail