Pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical analysis of “Medhya Rasayana”: A herbal nootropic Ayurveda formulation

Background: Medhya Rasayana (MR) is a widely used polyherbal formulation containing Brahmi (Bacopa monneri Linn.), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.), and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Wilsld Miers.). It is being used in psychological, neurological, and developmental disorders since long by Ayurveda practitioners. The pharmacopeial standards of this formulations is not available till date. Earlier few researchers had evaluated this formulation but generating consistent data of any drug is more important to reach the final quality control (QC) parameters. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate MR through pharmacognostical, physiochemical parameters and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting in the process of establishing QC data. Materials and Methods: Preauthenticated raw drugs were procured, and MR was prepared at pharmacy, ITRA, Jamnagar. Organoleptic parameters and microscopic analysis of Churna (powder) were done at pharmacognosy department, ITRA, Jamnagar. Physiochemical analysis and HPTLC of MR were done at pharmaceutical laboratory, ITRA, Jamnagar. Result: Microscopic features of MR Churna were cross-checked with Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) standards of individual ingredients, and it was found to have characteristics of all ingredients in it. In pharmaceutical parameters, pH value was 6.7, water-soluble extract was 9.8%w/w, methanol-soluble extract was 11.64%w/w, ash value was 8.20%w/w, and loss on drying was 4.01%w/w. HPTLC at 254 and 366 nm showed 6 and 13 spots, respectively. Conclusion: This study has generated preliminary data on pharmacognostical, pharmaceutical parameters and HPTLC in addition to reviewed available data of MR Churna. This fingerprinting along with data of previous researchers can be useful for future researchers to reproduce this formulation and to establish quality control parameters of MR Churna.