The Rakta has vital role in the maintenance of health. If Rakta is in proper quantity and having desirable qualities too, it promotes health, improves complexion, strength and vigor. Raktadushtihara Yoga was formulated to assess its role in the management of Raktadushti. The present study deals with the standardization of Raktadushtihara Yoga through the Pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical standards. Organoleptic features of coarse powder were within normal range. The pH value was 6.5, water soluble extract 46.9% w/w, methanol soluble extract 25.9%, ash value 8.73%, loss on drying 9.63% and average weight was 512 mg. HPTLC was carried out after organizing appropriate solvent system in which maximum 2 spots were distinguished at 254 nm.

1. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTO–CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF
RAKTADUSHTIHAR YOGA
Anil D. Avhad*, Vyas HA, Dwivedi RR, Harisha CR, Shukla VJ
*PhD
scholar, Dept. of Basic Principles, Institute for post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat
Ayurveda University, Jamnagar
Assi. Prof., Dept. of Basic Principles, Institute for post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat
Ayurveda University, Jamnagar
Prof. & Head, Dept. of Basic Principles, Institute for post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat
Ayurveda University, Jamnagar
Head, Pharmacognosy Lab, Institute for post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurveda
University, Jamnagar
Head, Pharmaceutical chemistry Lab, Institute for post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda, Gujarat
Ayurveda University, Jamnagar
ABSTRACT
The Rakta has vital role in the maintenance of health. If Rakta is in proper quantity and having desirable
qualities too, it promotes health, improves complexion, strength and vigor. Raktadushtihara Yoga was
formulated to assess its role in the management of Raktadushti. The present study deals with the
standardization of Raktadushtihara Yoga through the Pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical standards.
Organoleptic features of coarse powder were within normal range. The pH value was 6.5, water soluble
extract 46.9% w/w, methanol soluble extract 25.9%, ash value 8.73%, loss on drying 9.63% and average
weight was 512 mg. HPTLC was carried out after organizing appropriate solvent system in which maximum 2
spots were distinguished at 254 nm.
Keywords:Rakta, Raktadushtihara Yoga, Pharmacognosy, Physico-chemical analysis, HPTLC.
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2. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
INTRODUCTION
The Rakta (blood) has vital role in the maintenance of health. If Rakta is in proper quantity and
having desirable qualities too, it promotes health, improves complexion, strength and vigor. It conducts most
vital functions with harmony.1Rakta is a medium to transport and supply nourishment substances.
AcharyaVagbhata has stated the function of RaktaDhatu is to provide ‘Jivanam’ means life. 2
AcharyaCharaka has described the symptoms of Raktadushti (vitiation of blood) as Shirashula (headache),
Aruchi (anorexia), Daurbalya (Weakness), Krodhaprachurata (excessive anger), Tamodarshana (fainting)
etc.3 The formulation Raktadushtihara Yoga (tablet) contains Sariva (Decalepishemiltoni), Musta
(Cyperusrotundus), Katuki (Picrorhizakurroa), Patha (Cycleapeltata) and Patola (Trichosanthescucumaria)
which is mentioned by AcharyaCharaka in the context of Raktagata Jwara. 4 Among the individual drugs Sariva
is Raktaprasadaka (improves quality of blood) and Raktashodhaka (blood purifier), Musta is Raktakopahara
(alleviate blood vitiation)), Patola is Virechaka (purgative) and acts in Raktavikara (blood disorder), Patha is
Raktashodhaka while Katuki is Virechaka and Raktadoshahara (acts in blood disorders). 5,6
Ayurveda cannot remain confined to the use of conventional, conservative norms of medication. It has to
accept the new challenges and be prepared to answer the queries of the modern man who would have to right
to know about the drug he is consuming. To meet this new thrust of inquisitiveness, standardization of drugs
of Indian System of Medicine is mandatory.
To evaluate the quality of finished products it becomes necessary to subject the drug for different chemical
studies in the prospect of science. The drugs which are manufactured should be well understood in the light
of modern chemistry to provide proper scientific background. In the present study ‘Raktadushtihara Yoga’
was prepared by using appropriate drugs and the sample was analyzed for the first time pharmacognostically
and physico-chemically.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Procurement of raw material:
All the herbal parts of the formulation were procured from the Pharmacy, Gujarat Ayurved
University, Jamnagar. The ingredients and part used are mentioned in table1.
Pharmacognostical evaluation7:
Raw drugs were identified and authenticated by the Pharmacognosy Laboratory, I.P.G.T. & R.A.,
Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. The identification was carried out based on the morphological,
organoleptic and powder microscopy of the individual drug. Pharmacognostical evaluation of the tablet was
also carried out. Tablet was dissolved in small quantity of distilled water and filtered through filter paper. The
filtrate was studied under the Corlzeiss microscope attached with camera, with stain and without stain. The
microphotographs were taken under the microscope.
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Method of preparation of Raktadushtihara Yoga:
The ingredients mentioned in table 1 were cleaned, dried, powdered and pass through sieve
number 85. The powder was mixed properly and 5% gum acacia was mixed as a binding agent. The mixture
was converted in to granules with the help of granular machine and finally punched as tablets (500 mg) by
tablet making machine.
Drug
Botanical name
Part used
Quantity
Sariva
DecalepishemiltoniR. Br.
Root
5 part
Musta
CyperusrotundusLinn.
Tuber
4 part
Katuka
PicrorhizakurroaRoyle ex Benth
Rhizome
3 part
Patha
CycleapeltataLinn.
Whole drug
2 part
Patola
TrichosanthescucumariaRoxb.
Leaf
1 part
Table 1: Ingredients of Raktadushtihar yoga
Pharmaceutical Evaluation:
Physico-chemical parameters:
Raktadushtihara Yoga was analyzed by using standard qualitative and quantitative parameters
at the pharmaceutical chemistry Laboratory, I.P.G.T. & R.A., Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.
Parameters were selected on the basis of common parameters mentioned for compressed tablets in
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India8 and CCRAS guidelines.9The formulation was assessed for ash value, loss
on drying, pH, water and alcohol soluble extracts.
High performance Thin Layer Chromatography study (HPTLC) 10:
Methanol extract of Raktadushtihara Yoga was spotted on pre coated silica gel GF 254
aluminium plate as 5 mm bands, 5 mm apart and 1 cm from the edge of the plates, by means of a
CamagLinomate V sample applicator fitted with a 100 μL Hamilton syringe. Tolune (8ml), Ethyl acetate (2ml)
was used as the mobile phase. After development, Densitometric scanning was performed with a Camag TLC
scanner III in reflectance absorbance mode at 254nm and 366 nm under control of win CATS software. The
slit dimensions were 6 mm×0.45 mm and the scanning speed was 20 mm per second. All HPTLC plates were
scanned with filter fraction Savitsy-goloy 7, minimum slope 5, minimum height 10 AU, minimum area 50 AU,
maximum height 990 AU with absorption unit.
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4. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Pharmacognostical study:
Organoleptic evaluation:
Raktadushtihara Yoga was light brown in color, light astringent in smell, bitter-astringent in
taste and solid consistency with rough surface. Details are tabulated in Table 2.
Characters
Observed
Texture
Rough
Colour
Light brown
Odour
Light astringent
Taste
Bitter, astringent
Consistency
Solid
Table 2: Organoleptic characters of Raktadushtihar yoga
Microscopic evaluation:
The formulation showed the characters of all the five drugs present in it. Diagnostic characters of
Raktadushtihara Yoga were as - Latex cell, pitted scleroid with wide lumen, oil globules, rhomboidal crystal
(Sariva), irregular starch grains, annular vessels,parenchyma cells with starch grains, oleoresin content
(Musta), diamond shaped prismatic crystals,simple fibres with wide lumen, border pitted vessels (Patha)),
tannin content, oil globules, annular and sclelariform vessels (Katuki), cystolith, septatefibres, pitted vessels,
pear shaped starch grains (Patola).Microphotographs are shown in Figure 1.
Oil globules of Sariva
Latex cell of Sariva
Pitted scleroid with wide lumen
of Sariva
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5. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
Rhomboidal crystals of Sariva
Irregular starch grains of Musta
Oleoresin content of Musta
Annular vessels of Musta
Parenchyma cells with starch
Oil globules of Katuki
grains of musta
Annular and scalariform vessels
Tannin content of Katuki
of Katuki
Diamond shaped prismatic
crystals of patha
Simple fibres with wide lumen of
Border pitted vessels of Patha
Pitted vessels of Patola
Patha
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6. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
Pear shaped starch grains of
Cystolith of Patola
Septatefibres of Patola
Patola
Figure 1: Microphotographs of Raktadushtihar yoga
Physico-chemical parameters:
Physico-chemical characters are shown in Table 3 which was within the normal range. The
water soluble extract and methanol soluble extracts were found to be 46.9% w/w and 25.9 % w/w
respectively.
Hardness may be modified using some gumming material. Instructions were given about the
storage of the drug. Ash value reflects the inorganic load i.e. 8.73% w/w. Water soluble extract reflects higher
water soluble compound load. It indicates load of carbohydrate, acetic acid and glycosidic compound load. pH
is within normal limit.
Test
Result
Uniformity of tablets
Average Weight
512 mg
Highest Weight
527 mg
Lowest Weight
490 mg
Total Hardness
1.33 kg/cm2
Loss on Drying at 1100 C
9.63 %w/w
Ash Value
8.73 %w/w
Water soluble extract
46.9 %w/w
Methanol soluble extract
25.9 %w/w
pH (5% aqueous solution)
6.5
Table 3:Physico-chemical characters of Raktadushtihar yoga
High Performance Thin Layer Chromatogrphy:
Densitometric scanning of the HPTLC pattern showed 2 spots corresponding to hR f values 0.08
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7. Anil D. Avhad -et al., IJSIT, 2013, 2(5),382-389
and 0.92 in short wave UV 254 nm. (Table 4) (Fig. 2)
Conditions
No. of Spots
Max. Rf
Area
Short UV (254 nm)
02
0.08, 0.92
14.30%, 85.70%
Long UV (366 nm)
Nil
Nil
-
Table 4:Showing consolidated data of HPTLC profile of Ratadushtihar Yoga
Figure 2:Densitogram of Raktadushtihara Yoga at 254 nm
The compound shows high affinity towards Tolune: ethyl acetate (8:2) v/v i.e. around 10.72
polarity of solvent. Hence, poor separation was observed in HPTLC. No response was observed under long UV
light (366 nm)
CONCLUSION
Pharmacognostical findings confirm the ingredients present in Raktadushtihara Yoga. Raw
drugs were cross verified with API and no major change was observed. When the finished product was
analyzed under the microscope, all the ingredients were found present which were in the formulation. It is
inferred that the formulation meets the minimum qualitative standards as reported in the API at a
preliminary level. The results of this study may be used as the reference standard in further research
undertakings of its kind.
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REFERENCES
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Agnivesha, CharakaSamhita (Ayurveda Deepika commentary by Chakrapanidatta), edited by
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Vagbhata, AshtangaHriday (Sarvangasundara commentary of Arunadatta and Ayurvedarasayana
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Agnivesha, CharakaSamhita (Ayurveda Deepika commentary by Chakrapanidatta), edited by
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