A Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical study of Sookshma Eladi Choornam

Introduction: Sookshma Eladi choornam is one of the Ayurvedic formulations specially mentioned for Kaphaja Hridroga in Hridroga prakarana of Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Dhamani pratichaya (Atherosclerosis) is one of the diseases of Kaphaja nanatmaja vaydhi which is the more important cause for Ischemic Heart Disease. The cause for Atherosclerosis could be Hyperlipidemias. Eladi choornam is a compound preparation which contains powders of Sookshma ela (Elettaria cardamomum Maton.) and Pippali moolam (root of Piper longum L.,). As these drugs are Katu vipaka in nature they can be used in Hyerlipidemia. To know the efficacy of the drugs their quality parameters are highly essential to manufacture in the large scale. Method: The present study deals with the Pharmacognostical and phyto-chemical study of Sookshma eladi choornam including Thin Layer chromatography study (TLC) as per the standard literature. Result: Consistency of Sookshma eladi choornam is fine powder. Colour was brown, odour was aromatic spicy smell, Taste was pungent, touch was smooth powder form, Qualitative study showed that pH is 4.9, total ash value 12 %, loss on drying is 4.5%, Water soluble matter17%, Alcohol soluble matter 8%, Acid insoluble ash 8.5%. Thin Layer chromatography (TLC) revealed one yellow spot. Dissolution time is 4 minutes and Moisture content was 8%. Phytochemicals as Alkaloids, Glycosides, Tannins, Flavonoids and Phenols were found. Conclusion: Pharmacognostical, phyto-chemical and TLC studies inferred that the formulation meets the minimum quality standards. The study may be used as reference standard in the further quality control researches.