Quality control analysis of Khamira Abresham Hakim Arshad Wala and Khamira Marwareed

Background: Unani system of medicine is based on the principles proposed by Galen, a Greek practitioner. Since then, many Arab and Persian scholars have contributed to the system. Among them, Ibn-e-Sina, an Arab philosopher and Physicist, who wrote “Kitab-al-shifa” are worth mentioning. This system has an extensive and inspiring record in India. Khamira Abresham Hakim Arshad Wala (KAHAW) and Khamira Marwareed (KM) are semisolid sugar-based preparations with potent cardiac tonic and well-known antioxidant properties. It has been studied that therapeutic intervention of KAHAW may be used to prevent or to decrease the deterioration of cognitive function and neurobehavioral activities, often associated with the generation of a free radical. However, no considerable attempt has been made for quality evaluation of KAHAW. Materials and Methods: In the present investigations, KAHAW and KM were evaluated for their phytochemical screening, physicochemical standards, presence of minerals, contaminants such as aflatoxins, pesticide residues, thin layer chromatography, and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) as per WHO and AYUSH guidelines for development of quality standards, which can be used by Unani industries. Results: Physicochemical parameters of the prepared compound formulation KAHAW and KM were studied such as total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, solubility matter in alcohol and water, and loss on drying at 105°C, pH as per the methods described in WHO guidelines. The heavy metal, aflatoxins, and pesticide residues were also determined for safety evaluation. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated using catechin and quercetin as standard after preparing calibration plot, respectively. HPTLC fingerprinting of hydrolyzed chloroform extracts of KAHAW and KM was carried out to determined a number of spots present in them. Conclusions: This study on pharmacognostical standardization of KAHAW and KM will provide useful information for its identification and quality control and can be applied by different manufacturers of these formulations.