A validated spectro densitometric regulatory compliant USP-HP-TLC protocol for quantification of polyphenols and antioxidants from polyherbal formulations containing Terminalia species.

The phytochemical profiles of ethno-medicinal plants from Southern Asia have been extensively studied, due to their wide utilization in various traditional systems of India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and China. Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Terminalia chebula Retz. are the two most important and widely utilized medicinal plants across the traditional system in India. The herbal products comprising the fruits of these two plants, example Triphala, Vyoshadi-Gulgulu Gulika and also marketed Ayurvedic products like Pilonil Tablet are proven to have high medicinal value and biotherapeutic efficacy. The current study is an effort to develop highly precise, sensitive and reproducible HP-TLC protocol for the standardization herbal preparations comprising of hydro-alcoholic extract of selected Terminalia species as their major ingredients. The selected herbal products were assessed through HP-TLC for quantifying gallic acid and quercetin, followed by their visualization using DPPH*, Anisaldehyde and Vanillin as derivatizing reagent. The USP official protocol was followed for the method development using digitally optimized HP-TLC system. The results demonstrated good sensitivity and regression value of 99.999% for proposed method with optimized chromatographic analysis. The developed protocol was validated in accordance with ICH guidelines and all the parameters were found to be within the specified limits. Thus, the proposed HP-TLC method would surely serve as a classical tool for analysis and standardization of Terminalia species and their traditional products.

Ethnomedicinal plants used to treat bone fracture from North-Central Western Ghats of India.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: North Central Western Ghats in India comprises rich bio-cultural diversity and is also home to varied ethnomedicinal practices. The study was taken up for documentation and analysis of traditional knowledge regarding the practice and use of plants in the treatment of bone fracture. This is an effort to preserve the vanishing wealth of traditional knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Key informants identified in a preliminary survey and collection of information was through semi structured, open ended interviews. The details on age, place of practice, experience of key informants and learning of practice, disease they treat and mode of diagnosis, storage and usage of plants were collected. The identity of plants and their information was confirmed through repeated guided transect walks in different seasons with the informants and focus group discussions. Identified plants were deposited at the herbaria of Regional Medical Research Centre, Belgaum. RESULTS: Forty four key informants providing treatment for bone fracture in this region were identified. Thirty eight plant species belonging to 24 families have been documented in the present study. Highest number of species representation is found in families Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. The habit of the species showed that 45% of the herbal drugs were obtained from trees, followed by herbs, shrubs and climbers and majority of plants used were collected from wild (76%). The stem or stem bark (33%) was most commonly used plant part to prepare medicine. Twenty six formulations of 30 plant species were directly used in treating bone fracture, where Cissus quadrangularis has the highest use-value (0.14). Eleven plants were found to be administered for bone strengthening, pain relieving, inflammation reduction and speedy recovery and Gmelina arborea has the highest use value (0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated the importance of traditional herbal practices in community for their health needs. Both conservational strategies and further validation studies are the need of the hour for better utilization and sustenance of the documented knowledge.