A Review on Phytochemical Characterization of Kwatha–Ayurvedic Polyherbal Formulation

A paradigm shifts from the conventional approach of a single drug-based system to polyherbal formulations is recently observed in the modern pharmaceutical industry. The rising demand has led to a decrease in the quality and efficacy of herbal medicines. In order to ensure the sustained demand and therapeutic efficacy, it is vitally important to devise proper methods of standardization from the raw drugs to finished polyherbal formulations. However, there is no consensus regarding how these herbal medicines should be standardized. The phytochemical standardization by multiple markerbased fingerprint profiling along with preliminary screening and quantification of marker compounds can assure the reproducibility of the activity of the polyherbal formulations to an extent. The clinically pertinent scientific data to support the asserted synergistic therapeutic effects of Ayurvedic poylyherbal formulations is inadequate. In this review, we discuss the phytochemical standardization and pharmacological studies of kwatha, a major form of herbal remedies in Ayurvedic pharmacology, and the underlying concept of synergism. Kwatha (decoction) is the backbone of self-administered herbal preparations in India. Since the majority of the active principles of plants are water-soluble, herbal decoctions that are usually prepared in water formulate the potent and effective Ayurvedic medicines.