Quality Standards And Pharmacological Studies Of Sarasvata Churna A Polyherbal Formulation

Abstract

newlineRecent decades have witnessed an exponential increase in the demand for herbal newlineproducts like cosmetics, nutritional supplements, antioxidant preparations like herbal newlineand green teas etc, drugs for long term management of diseases like diabetes, blood newlinepressure etc. Irrespective of slow actions of herbal preparation they are becoming more newlinepopular among middle and high class population because their beneficial effects newlineoutweighs their negative aspects. The increased cases of adverse effects and toxicities newlineassociated with modern or allopathic medicines, increased patient compliance and in newlineterms of assurance of safety, quality and efficacy of herbal products have also newlinecontributed to the patients diversion towards herbal drug products. To ensure the newlinedevelopment of a quality herbal product, it is essential to use standardized raw material. newlineStandardization of herbs and formulations is necessary in order to establish and verify newlinetheir accurate identification, purity, quality, safety and efficacy. newline In the present study, quality control standards for a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulationSarasvata Churna have been developed along with its pharmacological screening for newlineantioxidant and antiepileptic potentials. Sarasvata Churna is mentioned in Ayurvedic newlinetext Bhavaprakasha Nighantu s Unmaadhikaara (Mental excitement treatment) section newlineand Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) as a compound preparation for epilepsy and newlineother maniac disorders. But lack of availability of quality standards and clinical safety newlinedata the prescription of classical Ayurvedic formulation is limited. In India, only newlineBaidyanath Ayurveda manufactures the Sarasvata churna but they do not follow the newlineformula as mentioned in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Baidyanath prepares the newlinechurna using their in-house Pharmacopoeial text Ayurveda Saar Sangrah (ASS).