DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY PARAMETERS OF TALISADI CHURNA AND ITS MARKET FORMULATIONS

DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY PARAMETERS OF TALISADI CHURNA AND ITS MARKET FORMULATIONS

Sanskruti Rathod, Hetal Joshi, Mamta Shah and Karuna Modi *

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

ABSTRACT: Talisadi Churna is a classical Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation traditionally used in cough, bronchitis, fever, dyspepsia, anaemia and cardiac disorders. The present study was carried out for pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical evaluation of standard laboratory-prepared and marketed formulations in accordance with WHO guidelines. Diagnostic microscopical features of each crude drug such as lignified fibres, stone cells, starch grains, oleo-resinous parenchyma, silicate crystals and epidermal characters were confirmed in all the formulations, ensuring its identity and authenticity. Phytochemical screening detected alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, carbohydrates, steroids and triterpenoids. Comparative TLC fingerprinting confirmed the presence of all crude drugs in prepared and marketed formulations. HPTLC quantification using piperine as a marker revealed highest content in P. nigrum (4.86%w/w), followed by P. longum (4.809% w/w). Among formulations, laboratory prepared contained 4.88% w/w, with comparatively lower amounts in marketed formulations. The findings provide a comprehensive standardization profile for Talisadi Churna, ensuring quality of both laboratory-prepared and marketed formulations.

Keywords: Ayurvedic formulation, HPTLC, Piperine, Standardization, Talisadi Churna

INTRODUCTION: Ayurveda has been an integral part of Indian medicine since ancient times, with a wide range of formulations such as Asava, Arka, Avaleha, Ghrita, Taila, Churna, and others. Ayurvedic formulations play a key role in enhancing immunity and disease resistance. One of the formulation, churnas are fine powdered preparations that may be simple (single ingredient) or compound (multiple ingredients). Their therapeutic effectiveness increases with finer particle size, and they are easy to administer, especially for children who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules ¹.

To meet modern challenges and achieve global acceptance, Ayurveda requires appropriate scientific adaptations while preserving its fundamental principles ¹. Talisadi Churna is well known Ayurvedic formulation used in cough, cold, respiratory diseases, bronchitis, vomiting, heart diseases, chronic fever, anorexia, stimulant, dyspepsia and anaemia. Talisadi Churna chiefly contains P. longum and P. nigrum, with piperine alkaloid as the major constituent. To ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of such herbal formulations, standardization in accordance with WHO guidelines is essential.

Therefore, the present study evaluates Talisadi Churna using modern analytical techniques, including marker-based analysis, to establish quality-control and standardization parameters for ensuring its authenticity, consistency, and therapeutic reliability ².

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection and Authentication of Plant Material: All the crude drugs were collected from the local market of Ahmedabad. Their identification and authentication were done by taxonomist of Department of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.

Preparation of Standard Churnas: Plant materials (as per Table 1) were taken together in mentioned quantity, powdered (60#), mixed properly and stored in airtight containers.

TABLE 1: CONTENT OF STANDARD FORMULATION

Collection of Market Samples of the Formulation: Two market samples of Talisadi Churna were collected from the various Ayurvedic pharmacies of Ahmedabad.

1. Shri Narnarayan Ayurvedic Pharmacy (NAR)
2. Shri Baidyanath (BDN)

Pharmacognostical Studies: All the plant material were studied individually for morphological and microscopical characters. Powder study and quantitative microscopy were done for standard (STD) and market formulation (NAR and BDN) of Talisadi Churna. Physico- chemical parameters like ash values, extractive values and volatile oil content were performed for standard and market formulation ^{3 ,4}.

Standard and market formulations were subjected to the following tests separately for the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, sterols and terpenoids, anthraquinone glycosides, coumarins, tannins and phenolic compounds ^5-10.

The content of alkaloids ^{11, 12}, flavonoids ^{11, 13}, carbohydrates ^{11, 14} and tannins ⁶ were also determined. Sodium and potassium ions were estimated by flame photometric method ⁶. Fluorescence analysis was carried out using various solvents like water, methanol, ethanol, 1N HCI and 1N methanolic NaOH separately at short UV, long UV and visible wave length ⁶.

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) Analysis: TLC profiling of key ingredients in Talisadi Churna was performed using co-TLC with standard drugs and market formulations (NAR, BDN).

Sample Preparation: Powdered crude drugs (1 g) and formulations (2 g) were refluxed with suitable solvents (20 mL) for 30 min. Extracts were filtered, concentrated, and used for TLC.

Chromatographic Conditions:

1. Cinnamomum zeylanicum: Petroleum ether extract; mobile phase Toluene: Ethyl acetate (9:1); detection under UV.
2. Zingiber officinale: Chloroform extract; mobile phase n-Hexane: Ether (4:6); derivatized with vanillin–H₂SO₄; detection in visible light.
3. Elettaria cardamomum: Acetone extract; mobile phase Toluene: Ethyl acetate (9:1); detection under UV.
4. Taxus wallichiana: Chloroform extract; mobile phase Toluene: Ethyl acetate (9:1); derivatized with vanillin–H₂SO₄; detection under UV and visible light.
5. Piper longum & Piper nigrum: Methanolic extract; mobile phase Toluene: Acetone: Formic acid (5:2:1); detection under UV.
6. Stationary Phase: Precoated silica gel G 60 F254 plates (E. Merck).

HPTLC Analysis: HPTLC analysis of crude drugs and standard and market formulations of Talisadi Churna was carried out using silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ plates (Merck) with Toluene:Acetone:Formic acid (5:2:1) as mobile phase. Methanolic extracts of samples were prepared by maceration. Samples were applied as bands (2–10 µL) and developed up to 8 cm after chamber saturation (45 min) at 25 ± 2°C. Densitometric scanning was performed at 337 nm under UV light. Piperine (1 mg/mL) was used as standard to construct calibration curve (1000–6000 ng/spot), and quantification in samples was carried out by comparing peak areas with the standard curve.

Validation of HPTLC Method: The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for linearity (1000–6000 ng/spot), precision (%RSD for intra- and interday), accuracy (recovery by standard addition), and specificity. Repeatability was confirmed (RSD <1% for peak area; <3% for application, n=7). LOD and LOQ were calculated as 3.3σ/S and 10σ/S, respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Pharmacognostical Studies: Standard Talisadi Churna and its market formulations (NAR and BDN) were evaluated for morphological characters. Their findings are shown in Table 2. Microscopic features are presented in Fig. 1. Results of quantitative microscopy and physico-chemical parameters, including ash values, extractive values, and volatile oil content, were given in Table 3 and 4.

Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenoids, phenolics, tannins, and carbohydrates. Higher levels of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and sugars were observed in the standard formulation, while tannins were higher in NAR and starch content in BDN (Table 5).

Table 6 shows that sodium and potassium ion content was higher in NAR formulation. Fluorescence analysis results are presented in Table 7.

TABLE 2: MACROSCOPICAL CHARACTERS

FIG. 1: POWDER STUDY OF STANDARD Talisadi Churna

TABLE 3: QUANTITATIVE MICROSCOPY OF Talisadi Churna

(±SD); Standard deviation, Number of readings = 3)

TABLE 4: PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF Talisadi Churna

Standard deviation (±SD); Number of readings (n) =3

TABLE 5: ESTIMATION OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS OF Talisadi Churna

Standard deviation (±SD); Number of readings (n) =3

TABLE 6: ESTIMATION OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IONS IN Talisadi Churna

TABLE 7: FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF Talisadi Churna

Visible wave length - 400-800nm, Short UV wave length - 254nm, Long UV wave length - 366nm

Comparative TLC Study of Talisadi Churna:

TLC of C. zeylanicum with Standard and Market Formulations: TLC of C. zeylanicum showed prominent spots at R_f 0.42 and 0.25 under short UV, which were also observed in standard and both marketed formulations, indicating the presence of similar phytoconstituents. Additional spots at lower R_f values (0.19 and 0.10) in formulations suggest the presence of other co-existing components Fig. 2.

FIG. 2: TLC OF C. ZEYLANICUM AND TALISADI CHURNA

TLC of Z. officinale with Standard and Market Formulations: In Z. officinale, after derivatization with vanillin–H₂SO₄, characteristic spots at R_f 0.92, 0.68, 0.50, and 0.38 were observed in both standard and formulations, confirming the presence of gingerol-related compounds Fig. 3.

FIG. 3: TLC OF Z. OFFICINALE AND TALISADI CHURNA

TLC of E. cardomomum with Standard and Market Formulations: TLC profile of E. cardamomum exhibited multiple spots under both short and long UV. Common R_f values (0.58, 0.49, 0.31, and 0.27) in standard and formulations indicated good correlation, while minor variations suggest formulation complexity Fig. 4.

FIG. 4: TLC OF E. CARDOMOMUM MATON AND TALISADI CHURNA

TLC of T. wallichiana with Standard and Market Formulations: T. wallichiana showed spots at Rf0.58, 0.52, and 0.37 across crude drug, standard, and formulations under UV and after derivatization, confirming its presence Fig. 5.

FIG. 5: TLC OF T. WALLICHIANAAND TALISADI CHURNA

TLC of P. longum and P. nigrum with Standard and Market Formulations: For P. longum and P. nigrum, major spots at R_f 0.77, 0.68, 0.59, and 0.55 were observed in all samples under short UV, indicating piperine-like constituents Fig. 6.

FIG. 6: TLC OF P. LONGUM, P. NIGRUM AND TALISADI CHURNA

HPTLC Study of Crude drugs, Standard and Market Formulations: Densitometric analysis confirmed the presence of piperine in all samples, with comparable peak areas, indicating uniform distribution of the bioactive marker as shown in Fig. 7.

FIG. 7: CHROMATOGRAM OF PIPERINE AND TLC FINGERPRINTING OF TALISADI CHURNA

1. Std piperine (1000 ng)
2. Std piperine (2000 ng)
3. Std piperine (3000 ng)
4. Std piperine (4000 ng)
5. Std piperine (5000 ng)
6. Std piperine (6000 ng)
7. longum
8. nigrum
9. STD formulation
10. NAR formulation
11. BDN formulation
12. wallichiana
13. zeylanicum
14. officinale
15. cardamomum

Calibration curve of Piperine: HPTLC analysis was performed using piperine as a marker compound. The calibration curve of piperine showed good linearity in the range of 1000–6000 ng/spot with a correlation coefficient (R² = 0.96), indicating reliable quantification Fig. 8.

FIG. 8: HPTLC STUDY OF PIPERINE

Estimation of Piperine in P. longum, P. nigrum and all the three Formulations: The chromatographic profiles confirmed the presence of piperine in all samples without interference. Table 8 shows a decrease in piperine content was observed in marketed formulations compared to the standard formulation.

TABLE 8: ESTIMATION OF PIPERINE IN P. LONGUM, P. NIGRUM AND TALISADI

(± SD); Standard deviation, Number of readings S=3

Validation of HPTLC Method: The developed HPTLC method was validated as per standard guidelines and showed acceptable linearity, precision, accuracy, and specificity. The method was found to be reliable and suitable for routine estimation of piperine Table 9.

TABLE 9: SUMMARY OF VALIDATION PARA-METERS

CONCLUSION: The study established standardization of Talisadi Churna using pharmacognostical, physicochemical, phytochemical, TLC, and HPTLC analysis. Macroscopic and microscopic characters confirmed the identity of all ingredients in standard and marketed formulations. Physicochemical parameters and extractive values were comparable, indicating acceptable quality. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of major bioactive constituents. TLC fingerprinting showed similar R_f values across crude drugs and formulations, confirming ingredient consistency. HPTLC analysis using piperine as a marker demonstrated good linearity and confirmed its presence in all samples with minor variation. These findings provide reliable parameters for quality control and authentication of Talisadi Churna.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil

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    How to cite this article:

    Rathod S, Joshi H, Shah M and Modi K: Development of quality parameters of Talisadi Churna and its market formulations. Int J Pharmacognosy 2026; 13(9): 972-79. doi link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.13(9).972-79.

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