Pharmacognostical and physico-chemical evaluation of Ativishadi churna - an ayurvedic formulation

Ativishadi churna is a traditional classical formulation pioneered by the science of Ayurveda. The very first reference regarding the formulation was documented in the Charka Samhita under title Ativishadi Yoga. The main indication of this formulation is to cure diarrhoea due to pitta dosha vitiation. It contains an equal part of powdered and dried Ativisha roots, Kutaj bark and Indrayava (dried Kutaj seeds). The polyherbal formulations comprise a wide range of bioactive compounds and the standardization of such formulations is a great concern these days. Hence, the present study evolves around standardizing Ativishadi Churna, for this purpose physicochemical parameters were performed of individual drugs by keeping the values of API as a standard. A complete pharmacognostic profile of ingredients has been validated to authenticate plant materials and to confirm the absence of any adulterants or impurities in the formulation. The preliminary phytochemical tests, Pharmacognostic and phytochemical standardization of the formulation were performed as a part of an SOP development. The formulation besides has been proven to possess antimicrobial properties against pathogens responsible for common infectious diseases in humans. The recent concern lies in the fact that some traditional medicines have been claimed to possess heavy metals. For this purpose, the heavy metal content has also been determined which shows that the formulation is devoid of heavy metals that may cause toxicity. The pharmacognostic and phytochemical study of this formulation would be very important for establishing standards in the future.