Development of quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna with its ingredients through HPTLC and mass spectroscopy

In recent years there has been rapid growth in the field of herbal medicine. Drugs belonging to Asian traditional systems of medicine are accepted universally only after standardisation. It is therefore, very important to develop essential techniques for standardisation of herbal drugs. The present study has focused on development of quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna under WHO/API guidelines along with HPTLC and mass spectroscopy. This polyherbal Kwatha churna is used to treat constipation and other gastric disorders. In this study, an in-house prepared Triphala Kwatha churna was botanically and chemically standardised by HPTLC and mass spectroscopic studies with the reference standard gallic acid. The botanical standardisation of the above formulation was done by evaluation of macroscopic and microscopic studies of the powder formulation along with its ingredients. Physicochemical parameters like LOD, ash value, acid insoluble ash, water and alcohol extractives were determined. Safety parameters, viz., heavy metals, microbial content, specific pathogens, pesticide residue and aflatoxins detection have been also estimated. The results obtained in the present study defining quality control parameters help to develop the quality standards of Triphala Kwatha churna formulation. The HPTLC fingerprint profiling of the formulation along with its ingredients complies with the reference standards gallic acid. This observation is also found in Mass Spectroscopic study of the methanolic extract of the formulation with this reference standard. Preliminary phytochemical screening test revealed the presence of bioactive constituents including phenols, flavonoids, tannins and carbohydrates.