Phytochemical screening and standardization of Chiruvilwadi Kashayam: An Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation

Chiruvilwadi Kashayam is a polyherbal Classical formulation mentioned in the text book ‘Sahasrayoga’, commonly used for the management of piles, it also cures the associated symptoms like constipation, indigestion, flatulence and anorexia. It is prepared out of six medicinal plants namely Chiruvilwa (Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch.) Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa L.) Pippali (Piper longum L.) Sunti (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Citraka (Plumbago zeylanica L.) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.). Inadequate standardization of polyherbal formulations causes difficulty in validation of the efficacy and maintaining quality of the product. Hence an attempt has been made to standardize the quality parameters of Chiruvilwadi Kashayam by determining the primary qualitative phytochemical, physiochemical parameters and to develop TLC fingerprints. The primary phytochemicals like carbohydrates, sugar, reducing sugar, glycoside, flavonoid, phenol, saponin, alkaloid, tannin and coumarin were found in the kashayam. The data obtained in the present study will help as a reference document to maintain the quality standards of the formulation.