OA01.22. Quality aspect and variability observed in physico-chemical characteristics and mineral content of ayurvedic herbo mineral formulations from Indian market

PURPOSE: Quality aspect and variability observed in physico-chemical characteristics and mineral content of ayurvedic herbomineral formulations from indian market w.r.t brihat vat chintamani rasa. METHOD: Each of the selected herbomineral formulation was thoroughly investigated for the variation in packaging material, label information, analytical parameters like moisture, pH, ash and mineral content such as Iron, Mercury, Gold, Copper and Zinc which play a crucial role in increasing the bioavailability of the drug to the cell. RESULT: Brand A has maximum iron content of about 8.93 % w/w; Brand B has iron content of about 8.37 % w/w; Brand C has iron content of about 6.86 % w/w and Brand D has low iron content of about 3.54 % w/w. Similar is the case with other parameters. CONCLUSION: There are variations in quality of the drug from one brand to other. This has to be addressed through development of adequate standards for drug content, process control, monitoring misuse of label requirements. A vast majority of our country population is using indigenous herbomineral drugs for treatment and cure. If we claim that these drugs relieve patients from pain and said indications, then manufacturing and marketing of ineffective medicines is a crime in disguise. It is therefore necessary that standardisation of Ayurvedic mineral medicines should be taken up as a priority programme.