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

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.

Conservation and cultivation of important Unani medicinal plants available in hyderabad forest division [A.P.] India

Hyderabad Forest Division contains a rich flora of medicinal value and it has been found that the demand for the medicinal plants has been increasing year after year. A number of minor forest produce was not fully harvested for the lack of funds in the past. At the same time it has also been observed that many of the important plant species are fast disappearing due to various biotic factors such as fires, grazing, illicit removal etc.In addition to systematic study for the identification and quantification regarding the availability, conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants has been made. Therefore, there is a need to take up regeneration of important medicinal plants in the forests, wastelands etc. and a systematic coordination approach by the State Government and private agencies in this direction is necessary with the following considerations: setting up of research cum production centres for the medicinal plants in forests, wastelands, farms and herbal gardens for conserving the rare medicinal plants.Training of personnel in their proper identification and collection. Creation of infrastructure for storage, transport etc.development of the market for such products of forest produce

Important folk-medicinal plants and traditional knowledge of tribals of aurangabad and nasik forest divisions of maharashtra [India]

The aim of this study is to analyse the pharmacognosy of the folk medicines and assessment of their efficacy in various diseases. The present study deals with the relation of folk-medicinal plants and traditional knowledge of tribals for the welfare of mankind and medicare. During the medico-ethno-botanical survey 2000 plant specimens of medicinal importance comprising 400 taxa, were collected from various survey sites e.g. Kuldabad. Ajanta, Forest and Buldana [Aurangabad]; Harsul, Trimbak and Jarahar [Nasik forest division]. The present survey sites lie between 73.5 ° to 75.6 ° E longitude and 19.6 ° to 20.5 ° N latitude. Beside 100 folk medicinal claims were also collected from the tribals at various survey sites for the treatment of a number of disease e.g. rabies, leucoderma, jaundice, leucorrhoea, diarrhea, contraception, removing wrinkles from the face, excess menstrual flow and improving vision of the eyes. The important folk medicinal plants are mentioned in the paper

Experimental cultivation and conservation of babchi [psoralea corylifolia linn.] seeds

The present paper deals with the experimental cultivation of Babchi [Psoralea corylifolia linn.] in the herbal garden at Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabad. Seeds were treated with Gibberellic acid, Potassium Nitrate and Thio-urea at different concentrations [250 ppm-500 ppm and 0.5 and 1% respectively]. Compost manure and NPK was also given to the seedlings at different intervals. A complete phonological data and rates of production were also recorded for the said plant with different treatment