Betkeri Yashovarma’s scientific contributions

Introduction: Bhūnimbādi Kvātha cūrṇa (BKC) is a polyherbal formulation, compounded from parts of Swertia chirata Buch.Ham, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex. Royle, Symplocos racemosa Roxb., Cyperus rotundus Linn., Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall., Coleus vettiveroides K. C. Jacob, Coriandrum sativum Linn., and Aegle marmelos Corr. as per formula composition in Ayurvedic Formulary of India. It is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, fever due to pitta dosa, bleeding disorder and fever. It is a popular medicine for cure of digestive impairments in fevers of different types, and many other clinical conditions. Though herbal medicines are effective, becoming popular, but they lack standardization. Standardization of herbal formulation is essential in order to assess the quality, purity, safety and efficacy of the drug. Methods: In the present study BKC was subjected to organoleptic, macro-microscopic, physicochemical, HPTLC and 1H NMR characterization employing standard methodology mentioned in API and specified protocols. Results: Organoleptic characters, macro – microscopy, physico-chemical studies viz. total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water, alcohol and hydro – alcohol soluble extractive, loss on drying at 105°C, pH successive extractive values by Soxhlet extraction method and HPTLC and 1H NMR were recorded. Conclusion: A monograph on quality standards for BKC is proposed from the data obtained. The results of the present investigation would serve as a document to control the quality of the multi-herb formulation BKC.

Fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile syn. B. roxburghii Planch (Family Balanitaceae) is considered as source of Ingudi of Ayurveda. It is a thorny tree with ovoid pulpy drupe type of fruit. In Ayurveda, Ingudi bark, leaf and fruits are said to be beneficial as blood purifier, diuretic, in leprosy, poisoning, ulcers, worm infestation, leucoderma, anorexia and constipation. Seed extract is hypotensive and the seed oil is used for burns and freckles. The unripe fruits are cathartic and the ripe ones are used in whooping cough and skin troubles. The fruits are also reported to possess antihperglycemic activity. In the present study, systematic pharmacognostical evaluation of ripe fruits has been carried out as per standard methodologies used for drug standardisation. Macroscopical, microscopical and physico-chemical features of the fruit have been documented. Preliminary phytochemical investigations indicated presence of carbohydrates, coumarins, triterpenoids and saponins. HPTLC fingerprint profile has been developed for methanol extract of pulp using diosgenin as standard. The result obtained from standardization of fruit established set diagnostic tests to authenticate genuine fruits. These parameters can be utilized for rapid identification of the drug as whole and as powder. © 2016, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved.

Nowadays herbal medicines are popular all over the world. Drawback is consistency in the quality of the product over a range of time. Any considerable changes in the quality of the product over a time must be detectable. So stability testing is needed to ensure the quality of herbal products which is an evidence for the quality of the finished product. Present study reports the deviation in Pharmacopoeial constants of Hutabhugadi curna (HC) and Sitopaladi curna (SC) when stored at a recommended storage conditions and examined for a period of time. The variation in the Pharmacopoeial physico-chemical constants of the curna (fine powder) was observed during 0 (initial), 3 rd and 6 th month. Average shelf life is proposed for HC and SC based on 10% variation in physico-chemical tests specified in pharmacopoeia while compared to initial value. It was found that HC showed average ±10% variation in the values at 11.41 months while SC showed it at 22.58 months. This method of shelf life assessment can be used as routine shelf life check for polyherbal herbal formulations though this method is not bioavailability based assay applicable for single herb formulations.

In India, herbal medicines are mainly based on the Ayurvedic system. The main drawback of traditional medicines is a lack of standardized products. Standardization of any herbal formulation is essential in order to assess the quality, purity, safety, and efficacy of drugs based on the analysis of their active properties. Testing of Ayurvedic preparations using scientific methodologies will add to quality and authenticity of the product. This article reports standardization parameters for Hutabhugādi cūrṇa (HC) used traditionally in the treatment of Agnimāndya (digestive impairment), Pāndu (anemia), Sopha (edema), and Ārsa (piles). The formulation was prepared as per Ayurvedic Formulary of India, and it was standardized by organoleptic characterization, macro–microscopic evaluation, physicochemical testing, and thin-layer chromatography/high-performance thin-layer chromatography profiling employing a standard methodology. Results of the experiments conducted provided diagnostic characteristics to identify and standardize the formulation prepared using official ingredients of HC. Based on the data obtained, a monograph on quality standards for HC is proposed. The monograph based on the present investigation results would serve as a document to control the quality of HC.