Comparative quality evaluation on branded Triphala tablets in Ayurveda drug market of Sri Lanka

Nallaperuma D.M.*, Silva H.H.S.S., Fernando H.D.R., Wijesekara P.M. and Jayasiri A.P.A.

Abstract

At present standardization is essential to guarantee the quality of products as the market of all commodities has become global. The objective of this study was to comparatively evaluate the quality of four different branded Triphala tablets and one capsule (sample A, B, C, D, and E) available in Ayurveda drug market of Sri Lanka. All the brands were purchased from Ayurveda drug market and assessed for organoleptic, physical, chemical and pharmaceutical parameters. According to the results, total ash values (5.4%, 5%, 3.3%, 5.7%, 4.9% respectively) were above the standard limit of 2%. Water-soluble ash (0.9%, 2.4%, 1.6%, 2.7%, 1.2%) and acid-insoluble ash (2.5%, 2%, 1.9%, 2%, 1%) values were <3%. Water-soluble extractive values (7.35%, 13.08%, 20.03%, 11.28%, 8.18%) were higher than alcohol-soluble extractive values (7.25%, 12.23%, 13.48%, 9.7%, 8.15%) in all brands. Loss on drying at 1050C of all were below 12%. Ethanolic extracts of all were positive for tannins, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, glycosides and carbohydrates and negative for alkaloids, terpenoids and proteins. Only C was positive for saponins. TLC (Toluene: Ethyl-acetate: Formic acid/3:5:1) showed similar patterns for all brands. HPTLC fingerprints of all were alike in terms of number of peaks and their intensity, except tablet C with four additional peaks. A, C and E passed the weight variation test. Friability of A, B and C were below standard limit of 1%. Disintegration time of A was below the standard limit of 15minutes. Hardness ranged from 172N to 503N. As there is a considerable variation in physical and pharmaceutical parameters of all brands, it is urgent to maintain common standardization parameters in Ayurveda drug market.