Menuka Arawwawala

• Director-Pharmaceutical Laboratory at Industrial Technology Institute

Decoction is a liquid dosage form which used commonly in Ayurveda and Traditional medicinal system of Sri Lanka. Tamalakyadi decoction is a poly herbal formulation used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, Asthma and cough conditions. Standardization and quality control are essential procedures to ensure the safety and efficacy of quality herbal...

Standardization of Sharbat e Gudhal

Single drugs used in Anaemia

Background: Balabilvashunti decoction (BD) is an ayurvedic polyherbal formulation comprised of three plant ingredients: rhizome of Zingiber officinale, whole plant of Sida alnifolia, and root bark of Aegle marmelos. BD is widely utilized within clinical practice, particularly for addressing geriatric diseases. However, despite its prevalence, patie...

Context: Liver diseases, particularly Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), represent a significant worldwide public health challenge due to their prevalence and severe complications. It represents a spectrum of liver conditions ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), leading to the development of liver fibrosis...

The plant species of the family Solanaceae contain trees, shrubs and herbs with natural compounds. The Solanum genus of this family accommodates diverse groups of flowering plants, which include medicinal plants and food crops. Among medicinal plants, Solanum melongena L., Solanum xanthocarpum L. and Solanum trilobatum L. are commonly used in the S...

Herbal dietary supplements are widely used throughout the world with reports of their use among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present work aimed to provide a comprehensive depiction of the dietary supplement Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (in the form of aqueous extract of freeze-dried powder), and to determine its antioxidant and...

Freeze-dried powders obtained from aqueous extracts of plant materials possess a significant drawback in herbal-based pharmaceutical formulations as they tend to absorb water vapors from the atmosphere. In the present study, the hygroscopicity of a mixture of freeze-dried powder consisting of Desmodium triflorum and Pogostemon heyneanus aqueous ext...

Present study was aimed to investigate the antacid potential of Desmodium triflorum Linn whole plant and Pogostemon heyneanus Benth leaves and to establish their diagnostic characteristics. Powder microscopy, detailed anatomical characteristics, analysis of phytochemicals and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography were done. In addition, neutraliz...

Purpose: This study investigated the in vitro antacid activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. plant and formulated an antacid dosage form subsequently. Method: Extracts were prepared by refluxing whole plant of E. alsinoides. The activity of the extracts was evaluated by in vitro neutralising of artificial gastric a...

Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (family: Cucurbitaceae) is a popular leafy vegetable in Sri Lankan diet. C. grandis is high in phenolics and flavonoids. The present work attempted to determine a suitable extraction technique, and further optimise it to obtain phenolic-and flavonoid-rich extract from C. grandis leaves, with an aim at developing a nutrac...

Decoction prepared from N. sativa, and S. indicum can be used to treat oligo/anovulation, a primary sign of PCOS. Up to date no scientific experiments were carried out to access the quality of this decoction. Therefore, an attempt was made to evaluate the quality of the decoction made from N. sativa seeds and S. indicum seeds in terms of (a) phytoc...

Low solubility and degradation under unfavorable conditions limit the bioactivities of herbal extracts. Previous literature supports that herbal extract encapsulated nanoformulations exhibit remarkable inhibitory potential on carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes. This study aimed to characterize the aqueous extract of Catharanthus roseus L. (Family: Ap...

Purpose: Various parts of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) are used in traditional systems of medicine. This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of the crude aqueous extract and polyphenol enriched fractions of M. oleifera leaves at the flowering stage against microbial strains causing oral and wound infections. Methods: Polyphenol enr...

Snake bite is considered as a major occupational health problem in Sri Lanka. A traditional decoction consists of nine medicinal plants clinically proven its efficacy for snake bites. In the present study, an attempt was done to carry out chemical analysis of the decoction. Chemical analyses were carried out for the decoction in terms of (a) phytoc...

Introduction and objectives: Development of phytotherapeutics using nanoencapsulation is a timely approach to enhance the antidiabetic activity. Aegle marmelos L. (Bael, Family: Rutaceae) has been used in complementary medicine with proven antidiabetic activity. A previous study confirmed that the 1 mg/mL concentration of A. marmelos showed the opt...

Evolvulus alsinoides (family Convolvulaceae) is commonly known as "Nil Vishnukranthi" or "Shankhpushpi" in Sri Lanka and is used in the treatment of gastric ulceration. In our previous studies, we have investigated the in-vitro antacid potential of aqueous extract (aqE), ethanolic extract (EE) and hexane extract (HE) of E. alsinoides by neutralizat...

The nephroprotective effect of standardized aqueous root extract of Vetiveria ziza�nioides (L.) Nash (Family: Poaceae) was investigated in doxorubicin-induced (20 mg/ kg, ip) experimental nephrotoxicity model of Wistar rats. The freeze-dried aqueous refluxed (4 hr) root extract of V. zizanioides (25, 50; equivalent human therapeutic dose and 100...

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of polyphenol rich fraction of Moringa oleifera.Lam at flowering stage against bacterial strains causing wound infections Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is a medicinally important plant found in tropical countries. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of polyphenols of M. oleifera have been rep...

Background: Development of alginate nanoparticles loaded with extract of Coccinia grandis L. (Ivy Gourd, Family: Cucurbitaceae) is a prospective approach to enhance the antidiabetic activity of the aqueous leaf extract of C. grandis. Objective: To assess in vitro antidiabetic activity of aqueous leaf extract of C. grandis encapsulated alginate nan...

Background: Diabetes mellitus, remains a metabolic disorder which is alarmingly rising in the world. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, and associates relative or absolute insulin deficiency or resistance. Disruption of the metabolism may cause lot of micro and macro vascular complications mostly affecting vital organs like kidneys, heart, eyes,...

Background: Sri Lanka is one of the Asian countries mainly rely on herbal medicines for snake bites. A herbal paste consist of nine medicinal plants have been using for snake bites and clinically proven its efficacy. In the present study, an attempt was done to carry out chemical analysis of the paste. Methods: Chemical analysis were carried out fo...

Sarpagandha Churna is a herbal medicine given to patients suffering from hypertension, psychosis and insomnia. It consists of pericarp of T. chebula fruits and R. serpentine roots at a ratio of 1:2 (w/w). In the present study, an attempt was made towards standardizingSarpagandha Churna in terms of phytochemical and physico-chemical analysis and det...

Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) is a small, branched annual herb, commonly known as 'Trailing Eclipta' in English, 'Keekirindiya' in Sinhala and 'Karippan' in Tamil. E. prostrata is used as a remedy for many ailments in traditional medicine. This study evaluates the neutralizing effects of different extracts of whole plant of E. prostrata using in vitro...

Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a twining herbal plant belonging to family Fabaceae. The C. ternatea has potential medicinal values, therefore, traditionally, used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure stress, infertility, gonorrhoea, and as a food colouring agent. The modern science reported a variety of phytochemicals present in C. ternatea, and...

Background: Nanoencapsulated herbal extracts have gained significant interest in the management of diabetes mellitus. Determination of polyphenol, flavonoid contents and alpha amylase inhibition activity is a substantial approach to screen herbal extracts and to develop commercially viable nanoencapsulated herbal formulations. Objectives: To deter...

Nanoencapsulation is an innovative approach to overcome the limitations of conventional herbal extracts that are used as therapeutic agents. The optimization of conditions in the preparation of nanoparticles is critical in the development of nanonutraceutical formulations from edible plant extracts. The objective of the present study was to optimiz...

Tinospora cordifolia (wild) Hook.f. (Thomas) is an important medicinal plant distributed throughout in Sri Lanka and commonly known as Rasakinda in Sinhala and Giloy in English. It is widely used in Sri Lankan traditional medical system and Ayurveda for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, fever, arthritis, skin diseases and for Rasayana (rejuvenati...

Background: Herbo-mineral therapies are very popular in traditional medical systems and formulations consisting of specific minerals or metals or mixture of both and mixed with organic components derived from plants. Purification/detoxification or incineration procedures play an important role to detoxify these and metals and minerals. Objective:...

Plants have been utilized as medicines to treat various ailments since ancient times. Formulations made by plant materials have been used in traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine and remain widespread in both developing and developed countries. In developing countries, traditional medicines are widely practiced due to its accessibili...

Introduction: Polyphenols and flavonoids have an array of health-promoting benefits; they are of current interest due to their vital biological and pharmacological properties including the possible role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The geographical location is an important determinant in the collection of plants for preparation...

Background and objectives: Tragia involucrata L. (Family: Euphorbiaceae, S. Wel Kahambiliya) is a highly used medicinal plant in both systems of Sri Lankan traditional medicine and Ayurveda medicine. This plant is used for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, wounds, dysuria, and epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy a...

Clopidogrel is the most common and widely used antiplatelet agent for patients with coronary artery disease following confirmation by electrocardiographic studies. The nonresponsiveness of patients to clopidogrel and the possibility of testing for clopidogrel resistance by platelet function assays (PFA) are contentious issues. Light transmission ag...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals found in crude oil. Phytoremediation, which involves the use of plants to absorb and remove pollutants from crude oil spill sites has emerged as a cheap and eco-friendly alternative to chemical remediation. We hypothesized that Eichhornia crassipes, a free-floating aquatic plant known...

poster presentation of 13th Internationa Conference of General Sir Jhone Kotalawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. Titled Standardization of two herbal powdered drugs used in the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Nigella sativa Linn (Family: Ranunculaceae) and Anethum sowa Linn (Family: Apiaceae) are commonly used herbs in Ayurveda medicine from ancient times highlighting its’ use in the treatment of uterine fibroids throughout the island in Sri Lanka. Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumor of the female reproductive tract and occur in about 25%...

Nephrotoxicity is a major limitation of adriamycin (ADR) chemotherapy. We hypothesized that administration of standardized aqueous bark extract of Gmelina arborea Roxb. (GA) (Family; Verbenaceae), a traditional therapeutic agent, may reduce the nephrotoxicity caused by ADR in Wistar rats. The dose-dependent nephroprotective activity of the standard...

Phyllanthus niruri Linn belongs to plant family Euphorbiaceae and is found in tropical and subtropical countries of the world including some regions of Sri Lanka and India. The extract of P. niruri Linn is the most commonly used medicine in Ayurveda system of medicine and has especially been recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, anaemia, ski...

Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell. Arg. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinally important common perennial tree used in indigenous systems of medicine. It is distributed chiefly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Though, it is a drug of herbal origin it has been categorized as one among eight Sadharana rasa in Rasa-shastra (A...

Background: In Sri Lanka, a Polyherbal Ayurvedic Formulation (PHAF), which consists of powders of seven medicinal plants, is being trialed for use as an anti-inflammatory drug. In general, anti-inflammatory drugs have good antioxidant properties. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to assess the quality and evaluate the antioxidan...

Asparagus racemosus Willd is one of the well-known plants which has abundant medicinal effects. The present study aimed to standardize the roots of Sri Lankan grown A. racemosus for the first time by the determination of physicochemical, phytochemical and nutritional profiles using WHO guidelines and standard protocols. The analysis of physicochemi...

Nishatipal decoction is a traditional polyherbal formulation which is used extensively by Sri Lankan Ayurvedic and Traditional medical practitioners to treat Diabetes Mellitus. Eight different medicinal plants are present in this decoction. The aim of the present study was to establish phytochemical, chromatographic analysis of the decoction and it...

Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. (family: Malvaceae) has a long history of being used as a folk medicine in Sri Lanka. Despite the therapeutic use of this plant in traditional medicine, leaves of A. moschatus have not been subjected to scientific evaluation of toxicity/adverse effects in vivo. Thus, the present study was aimed to assess the acute and 2...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. (family: Malvaceae), Asparagus falcatus (family: Asparagaceae) and Barleria prionitis Linn. (family: Acanthaceae) have been used in the treatment of kidney diseases in Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Besides the traditional use, scientific scrutinisation of safe therapeutic use of these m...

Madhyama Rasnadi decoction, one of the poly-herbal decoctions used in Ayurveda medicine is especially indicated for inflammatory conditions. The literature provides three different preparation methods of this decoction viz; Sri Lankan Traditional method (Method 1) and methods described in the texts Sharangadhara Samhita (Method 2) and Bhaishajya Ra...

Objective: Snake-bite is one of the important public health problems of tropical countries including Sri Lanka. The risk of snake-bites is higher in rural areas of the country and people mainly rely on herbal medicines. Antiserum is the only therapeutic agent in Western medicine available throughout the world. A major drawback of serum therapy is i...

Aim: The present study aimed to compare the Sharibadi decoction which was prepared in two different ways. Sharibadi decoction A: All the ingredients are available including a local variety of H. indicus and Indian variety of H. indicus. Sharibadi decoction B: All the ingredients are available except the local variety of H. indicus and double the am...

Antioxidant rich food provides protection from multiple diseases. The plants selected have many health benefits and this study focused to evaluate the antioxidants, antioxidant properties and nutritional value on the leafy vegetables to develop an instant herbal porridge (kolakenda) containing, Cassia auriculata (Ca), Coccinia grandis (Cg), Murraya...

A comparative study on the pharmacognostical, phytochemical and physico-chemical studies of Solanum melongena L., Solanum xanthocarpum L. and Solanum trilobatum L. (Solanaceae), J. M. Dahanayake1, P. K. Perera1, P. Galappaththy2, L. D. A. M. Arawwawala3 1 Department of Dravyaguna Vignana, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Ra...

Background: Ayurveda is a medicinal system which has a long history which goes back to 5000 B.C. Most of the time plant based formulations are used in Ayurveda system of medicine. Chronic kidney disease has been recognized as one of the non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka. Thoravature Taila is a traditional formulation which is mentioned under t...

Background: Ayurveda is a medicinal system which has a long history which goes back to 5000 B.C. Most of the time plant based formulations are used in Ayurveda system of medicine. Chronic kidney disease has been recognized as one of the non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka. Thoravature Taila is a traditional formulation which is mentioned under t...

The plant species of the family Piperaceae contain valuable natural compounds. Among the genera of Piperaceae family the Piper is an important genus which consists of 700 plant species growing in the different parts of the world. Many plants of this piper genus are the essential medicinal plants used in various traditional systems of medicine. Amon...

Background and objective: Tamalakyadi decoction (TD) is a classical formulation mentioned in authentic traditional medicine text Sarasankshepaya under nasal diseases and used as a remedy for allergic rhinitis. It consists of 12 plant ingredients. Decoction preparations are widely used in Sri Lankan traditional system and considered effective and s...

Traditional plant based medicines are presently in great demand and their acceptance is increasing progressively in developing countries for health care needs. In fact, the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases dates back to the history of human life. Two different varieties of H. indicus are available in Sri Lankan markets as local...

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (AL) has received considerable attention as a herbal medicine for its applications in ethnopharmacology with heath benefits. This study aimed to investigate antioxidant activities and A549 growth inhibitory capacity from its root extract (RE) and aerial parts extract (AE). The 50% ethanol extracts were used for the tests. The...

Abstract Aim: The present study aimed to compare the Sharibadi decoction which was prepared in two different ways. Sharibadi decoction A: All the ingredients are available including a local variety of H. indicus and Indian variety of H. indicus. Sharibadi decoction B: All the ingredients are available except the local variety of H. indicus and dou...

Tamalakyadi decoction (TD) is a classical formulation used in Sri Lankan traditional system of medicine for asthma, cough and allergic rhinitis. It consists of 12 plant ingredients. This decoction was modified as an instant dissolving powder form because decoction has a shorter shelf life and inconvenience of preparing fresh decoction every time wh...

Background: Standardization is necessary in order to assess the quality of herbal formulations. Palakalyana Ghrita (PKG) is an herbal formula used in Ayurveda medical system to enhance fertility and immunity in both genders which consists nineteen medicinal plants with cow's ghee and milk. As per available literature PKG formula has not been standa...

Abstract Cyathula prostrata Linn (Family:Amaranthaceae) is widely used to stop the bleeding of patients suffering from piles (hemorrhoids). C. prostrata cannot be found universally and it grows only in areas which has wet climatic condition. Achyranthes aspera Linn is also belonging to plant family Amaranthaceae and Sri Lankan Ayurvedic physicians...

Background: Standardization is necessary in order to assess the quality of herbal formulations. Palakalyana Ghrita (PKG) is an herbal formula used in Ayurveda medical system to enhance fertility and immunity in both genders which consists nineteen medicinal plants with cow's ghee and milk. As per available literature PKG formula has not been standa...

Physico-chemical and Proximate Analysis of Poly Herbal Formula- Palakalyana Ghrita Kariyakeranage Chandi Perera1 , Menuka Arawwawala2 , Sumeda Wijeratne3 , Deepal Mathew4 1 Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka 2 Industrial Technology Institute, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka 3 Department of Obstetrics &Gyn...

Background: Medicinal plants have become a significant source of diuretics due to the increased side effects of diuretic drugs used in modern medicine practice. Tragia involucrata Linn. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) is such a source as it is being used as a diuretic in traditional medicine. Objective: To evaluate the diuretic activity of hot water extrac...