PREFORMULATION STUDIES FOR AYURVEDA DRUGS: A REVIEW

Abstract

The vast treasures of drugs included in Ayurveda are obtained from various sources including plants, metals, minerals and animal products. These may further be classified into single drug and multi drug formulation compositions. Advancements in pharmaceutical industry have led to emergence of new class of drugs known as phytopharmaceuticals, where a single molecule or the principle metabolite of a botanical is extracted and used as a single drug. However, this concept does not collate with the treatment principles mentioned in Ayurveda texts. The industry should develop new compositions keeping the basic principles of Bhaishajya Kalpana (Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics) and chikitsa (therapeutics) in foresight. It is where the preformulation plays a major role in developing rational, safe and efficacious Ayurveda drugs. The conventional techniques of preformulation R&D may not be effective for Ayurveda drugs and there is a need to modify its structure in order to formulate new drugs. A lot is known about the properties of single drugs as well as multi ingredient formulations from the ancient texts and this knowledge can be effectively utilized by the industry during the preformulation R&D. Studies on solubility, dispersibility, hygroscopic nature, bulk forming, interaction of ingredients and binding properties must be conducted. The combinations of Ayurveda drugs should be studied and modified pharmaceutically to generate an effective single pill. The paper deliberates on this issue so that a technology friendly and scientifically advanced research and development of new Ayurveda products may be undertaken and exploited commercially for the benefit of ailing mankind.