Pharmacognostic evaluation of Vasa Ghrita.

Justicia adhtoda L. is a well-known plant in India traditionally used for treatment of cough and cold. Vasa ghrita formulation is prescribed in treatment of bronchial asthma. The main aim was to develop standardization protocol for the Vasa ghrita formulation and to establish the standard limits range by considering another two marketed formulations (RVG and KKVG). Preliminary morphological screening was performed to describe the leaf and the formulations, in which a range was observed especially in terms of their colour from orange-yellow (RVG), yellow (KKVG) to green-yellow (INVG). Microscopical, phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of the leaf was in support of the literature data of Justicia adhtoda L. A physicochemical study was performed for the formulations with pure ghee as the blank for comparison. The parameters included, specific gravity, rancidity, melting point, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, TLC and HPTLC, FTIR spectroscopy, total Phenolic Content and Total Flavonoid Content. All the three formulations showed values of similar range, however, KKVG formulation was found to be more rancid with high peroxide value (6.667±0.067) than RVG (3.4±0.116) and INVG (0.933±0.067). INVG formulation was found to contain the maximum TPC (72.521±0.113 mg GAE/g) and TFC (14.877±0.247 mg QUE/g) values. In vitro biological activity was carried out by studying the antioxidant potential using DPPH radical scavenging estimation; RVG was found to have the least IC50 value (348.000±0.01 µg/mL). Microbiological load and toxicity profile of INVG formulation were also determined to establish the safety profile of the formulation of Vasa Ghrita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]