Development of HPLC fingerprinting method via estimation of piperine for Unani formulation Hab-e-Azarakhi

Hab-e-Azarakhi is an important Unani formulation, is official in Unani Pharmacopoeia. The formulation is dispensed for the tone up the nervous system and liver. It is also useful for increase the appetite. Fingerprinting of active principles through modern analytical tools is essential for establishing the authenticity, creditability, prescription and usage of Traditional medicines/herbal formulations. Selective and efficient analytical methods are required not only for quality assurance but also for authentication of herbal formulations. The present study is an attempt to develop Fingerprint method for Hab-e-Azarakhi with High Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) using piperine as a standard was developed. The estimation was carried out with three laboratory batches and one marketed formulation of Hab-e-Azarakhi. The concentration of piperine content of Hab-e-Azarakhi (three laboratory batches) and powdered Piper nigrum and Piper longum was carried out separately. The concentration of piperine present in raw material was found to be 2.9876±0.837%w/w in Piper nigrum and 0.9363±0.167% w/w in Piper longum and in three identical laboratory batches of Hab-e- Azarakhi HA-I, HA-II and HA-III 1.8121±0.739%, 1.8806±0.439%, 1.8901±0.779% w/w respectively, while in M-I it was 1.2108 ± 0.182%. The developed HPLC method is simple, rapid, precise and accurate for routine estimation piperine in Hab-e- Azarakhi.