Pharmaceutical And Analytical Study Of Shunthyadi Churna: Quality Assessment And Standardization

Abstract

Shunthyadi Churna is a classical Ayurvedic polyherbal powder formulation traditionally employed for digestive, respiratory, and inflammatory disorders. This study aimed to establish comprehensive quality standards through pharmaceutical and analytical evaluation. A batch prepared according to classical methodology was analyzed at Qualichem Laboratories, Nagpur (May 25–June 1, 2024). Physicochemical parameters included loss on drying (8.45% w/w), total ash (6.82% w/w), acid-insoluble ash (1.24% w/w), water-soluble extractive (18.76% w/w), alcohol-soluble extractive (12.43% w/w), and pH (5.12). Heavy metal content was within safe limits: lead (0.284 mg/kg), arsenic (0.142 mg/kg), mercury (0.098 mg/kg), cadmium (<0.1 mg/kg). Total phenolic content measured 1.24% w/w (gallic acid equivalent). Aflatoxins were below detection limits. Microbiological analysis revealed total bacterial count of 180 cfu/g, yeast and mold <10 cfu/g, with absence of pathogens including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) established characteristic fingerprints with eight peaks at 254 nm and five fluorescent zones at 366 nm, confirming chemical consistency. These comprehensive findings validate Shunthyadi Churna as a safe, standardized formulation conforming to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia requirements, suitable for therapeutic applications and warranting further pharmacological investigation.