Profiling and determination of phenolic compounds in Indian marketed hepatoprotective polyherbal formulations and their comparative evaluation

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, plants have been considered as powerful agents for treatment of disorders due to their traditional use. Plants have a special role in the treatment of various diseases in Ayurveda. Liver disorders with their devastating outcomes have been discussed in Ayurveda as well. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, polyherbal products (L52 and L38) were retrieved from Ayurveda and its pharmacognostic standardization was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quality control test for the Ayurveda tablets were performed as per Indian Pharmacopoeia. Dissolution studies of polyherbal Ayurveda marketed formulations were assessed based on the phenolic content. Fingerprinting of phytochemical constituents of L52 and L38 was performed using spectroscopical (like IR and UV) and chromatographic techniques like HPLC, HPTLC and TLC. RESULTS: The results showed that L52 and L38 successfully passed quality control tests. Moreover, L52 and L38 exhibited different pharmacognostic behavior of all herbs present in the product. In addition, TLC, IR, HPTLC and HPLC fingerprinting of L52 and L38 demonstrated the presence of several phenolic constituents corresponding to the polyherbs. CONCLUSION: Regarding the role of phenolic compounds in the treatment of hepatitis, L52 and L38 could be appropriate candidates for hepatitis with respect to their traditional use in Ayurveda formulation. Moreover, HPTLC and HPLC fingerprinting could be utilized as an applicable method for quality control of the prepared formulation.