Marker based Chemo-profiling of a traditional formulation: Pushyanuga Churna

Objectives: Standardization of traditional medicine is a multidimensional approach that ensures the quality and concentration of chemical constituents for their bio-potency. Pushyanuga churna is a traditional ayurvedic formulation prescribed for the treatment of various female reproductive disorders leucorrhoea, menorrhagia etc. As per AFI, the formulation consists of twenty five plants and one mineral. Owing to its therapeutic efficacy, it is prepared and marketed by various manufacturers and vaidyas. Hence, there is an increasing demand but uncertainty about the authenticity of ingredients.

Method: Chemo profiling-assisted characterization of the formulation using HPTLC can help in assuring the quality of the formulation which in turn decides its safety and efficacy. Quantitation of therapeutically reported biomarkers under set optimized chromatographic conditions can be used as a quality control tool.

Results: Fingerprints and quantitation of biomarkers have been used as tools for identification of Pushyanuga Churna. Hence in the present study, an HPTLC method was developed and validated following ICH guidelines for the simultaneous estimation of ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol from formulation prepared in-house along with its different manufacturers. Average content of markers was found to be 1.37±0.108, 0.73±0.025 and 1.24±0.136 mg/g in the in-house formulation and 1.57±0.027, 0.58±0.024 and 0.88±0.089 mg/g in marketed formulation respectively.