Abstract:
Medicinal plants have been considered as a promising drug for the management of
diverse health implication due to its pharmacological effects. Amurthashtaka kwatha
(AK) is an ayurvedic polyherbal formulation used in the treatment of fever associated
with inflammation. Tannins are polyphenols commonly found in many plants product
of secondary metabolism. This study aims to determine total tannin content
quantitatively in AK and its eight raw plant materials using a titrimetric method. Plant
parts of Azadirachta indica (bark), Cyperus rotundus (rhizome), Holarrhena
antidysenterica (seeds), Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (rhizome), Santalum album
(heartwood), Tinospora cordifolia (stem), Trichosanthes cucumerina (whole plant) and
Zingiber officinale (rhizome) were purchased from the three different Ayurvedic shops
and two natural habitats. According to the place of collection, five samples of AK were
prepared from the authenticated eight different plant materials as per the guidelines of
Ayurveda pharmacopeia of Sri Lanka. Total tannin content was estimated by titrimetric
method as recommended by the API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) from
individual raw powders and AK. The tannin contents of five different samples of bark
of Azadirachta indica have exhibited the range of 9.28±0.28 - 17.74±0.28%. The range
of rhizome of Cyperus rotundus samples were 2.49±0.48 - 4.85±0.14%. The percentage
tannin contents of seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica samples were given the range of
6.10±0.14 - 11.36± 0.28 %. The range 12.89±0.24 - 14.69±0.28% has been recorded for
the rhizome of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora samples. The ranges for the heartwood of
Santalum album, stem of Tinospora cordifolia, whole plant of Trichosanthes
cucumerina and rhizome of Zingiber officinale were 5.27±0.28- 7.21±0.14%,
5.82±0.24- 8.18±0.37%, 7.34±0.14- 8.31±0.24% and 8.18±0.14-8.59±0.37%
respectively, while the powders of AK samples were given tannin percentage rage as
8.31±0.24- 9.01±0.28%. According to the findings, the Amurthashtaka kwatha and its
raw plant materials are rich sources for tannins. This phytochemical could make various
pharmacological activities and useful in food and medicine applications.
