High-performance thin-layer chromatographic standardization and quantification of marker compounds in an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation: Krishnadi Churna

The present era is witnessed by the increasing demand for herbal medicine. Therefore, the preparation of herbal drugs is warranted with quality, safety, and efficacy assurance. This study was aimed to prepare Krishnadi Churna (KC-a polyherbal ayurvedic formulation) and quantitatively determine its phytochemicals which are used to treat Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma), Kasa (cough), and Jwara (fever) particularly in children. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to determine phytochemicals of KC qualitatively and quantitatively. The study reflects its simplicity, flexibility, reliability, and cost-efficient separation and identification of phytochemicals in KC formulation. The major bioactive compounds: gallic acid (phenol), piperine (alkaloid), resveratrol (phenol), quercetin (flavonol), and beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) were found in the methanolic extract of KC in the concentration of 752.6 mu g/mL, 1.716 mg/mL, 147.8 mu g/mL, 164.0 mu g/mL, and 616.9 mu g/mL, respectively. The mobile phase toluene-chloroform-methanol (4:4:1, V/V) showed better separation for piperine, and toluene-ethyl acetate-ethanol-methanol-formic acid (4:3:2:1:0.2, V/V) showed better separation for gallic acid. The mobile phase toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol-formic acid (5:4:1:0.2, V/V) was found to be the fittest for quercetin, and the mobile phase consisting of toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol-formic acid (6:3:1:0.3, V/V) showed clear resolution of resveratrol and beta-sitosterol. From the obtained results, we can conclude that the polyherbal formulation of KC is a good source of the reported phytochemicals which is accountable for its significant therapeutic potential in children and that further justifies its traditional use.