PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF TRIKARSHIKA CHURNA: A POPULAR POLYHERBAL ANTIOXIDANT

Abstract

Ancient Ayurvedic lexicon highlights a polyherbal formulation Trikarshika for appetite enhancing, digestive, febiruge actions. Trikarshika is made of equal quantity of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe., Root of Aconitum heterophyllum wall. and rhizome of Cyperus pangorei Linn. In present study polyherbal formulation Trikarshika in standardization context with in vitro antioxidant activity. Pharmacognostical study has been incorporated as qualitative standardization of raw materials used. Trikarshika stands with the 4.25% w/w of total ash and acid insoluble ash 3% may be due to its inorganic content. Trikarshika contains 15.9% w/w water soluble extractives, which indicate that it is easily soluble in water. Methanol extract of Trikarshika gives 9 and 7 spot on short long UV respectively when separated on planer chromatographic method, which indicate that its chemical components easily separable. Total phenolic content was given satisfactory linearity against gallic acid equivalents (R² = 0.99). Total flavonoids content was given satisfactory linearity against quercetin equivalent (R² = 0.98). Total tannin was estimated 2.11% w/w. These pharmacognostical, physicochemical and analytical parameter will help to establish further standards of Ayurvedic drugs assure their safety, purity and efficacy.