Significance of Kuttana in the preparation of Guggulu vati processed in Triphala kwatha

 

Arun N.¹, Vinaykumar R. Kadibagil²

¹Technical Officer, Om Pharmaceuticals Limited 12^th Mile Old Madras Road Virgonagar Post, Bangalore – 560049.

²Professor and HOD, Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana,

Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Ayurveda College and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Since vedic period, much importance is given for guggulu (Commiphora wightii, (Arn) Bhandari). One can get reference of guggulu as early as 3000 to 10,000 years ago in the veda, for treating human illnesses. References are available regarding usage of guggulu externally as well as internally during the period of charaka, sushruta and vagbhata for the treatment of medoroga and vatavikara. Śhodhana is a preliminary procedure which assist in removing or modifying the possible physical or chemical impurities from raw material and making them suitable for therapeutic use. It has been found clinically that guggulu kalpa usually pass in the faeces un-disintegrated or partially absorbed. To overcome this the kuttana (pounding) method is mentioned to facilitate quick disintegration which in turn helps in quick absorption of guggulu in the body. So present study was taken to know the effect of kuttana on the physico chemical properties of guggulu. Methodology: Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) Shodhana (procedure) was done in Triphala Kwatha and Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) Vati (tablet) were prepared with and without Kuttana (pounding) method. The prepared samples were tested for analytical parameters like organoleptic character, pH, friability, hardness, disintegration time, uniformity of weight, total ash, loss on drying, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive, water soluble extractive and HPTLC was done. Result: The organoleptic characters of all the both samples were same. Triphala Shodhita Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) Vati (tablet) prepared with Kuttana (pounding) showed less disintegration time. Pharmaceutical result revealed that the yield was increased in Triphala Shodhita Guggulu (Commiphora wightii). Conclusion: There was a decrease in pH, acid insoluble ash value, water soluble ash value, water soluble extractive value, weight variation value, hardness, disintegration time and increase in Moisture content, Total ash value, Alcohol soluble ash value of Triphala Shodhita Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) Vati (tablet) after Kuttana (pounding). From chromatographical analysis it is observed that a greater number of components were detected.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Since vedic period, much importance is given for guggulu (Commiphora wightii, (Arn) Bhandari). One can get reference of guggulu as early as 3000 to 10,000 years ago in the veda, for treating human illnesses. In veda, guggulu is describing as agni sthana and used for dhupa¹. Guggulu is being used in many ayurvedic dosage forms as one of the main ingredients like vati (pill), gutika (pellet), rasakriya (semisolid), taila (oil) ghrita (ghee), avaleha, lepa, dhupa. Guggulu has its own therapeutic properties and it is also used as binding agent during the preparation of vati (pill)².

References are available regarding usage of guggulu externally as well as internally in the period of charaka, sushruta, vagbhata and from recent studies for the treatment of medoroga (hypolipidemic activity)³ and vatavikara (diseases due to vata dosha). Guggulu is a resin collected from bark of Commiphra wightii and being sticky in nature has higher chances of contamination by sand, soil, sticks etc⁴.

 

Consumption of raw guggulu may lead to a headache, diarrhoea, anorexia, abdominal pain, skin rashes, irregular menstruation, mild gastrointestinal discomfort and liver toxicity. It was reported that gastric irritancy was reduced with shodhita (processed) guggulu and increase of pharmacological action after shodhana (process) of guggulu⁵.

 

Śhodhana is a preliminary procedure which assist in removing or modifying the possible physical or chemical impurities from raw material and making them suitable for therapeutic use. In ayurvedic classics, four methods of guggulu shodhana using fourteen shodhana media like gomutra, godhugdha, triphala kwatha etc are mentioned and triphala kwatha is commonly used. Based on the desired therapeutic action, shodhana media can be used⁶.

 

Shodhana media used in the process has very significant role in either removing or modifying unwanted chemical constituents. The agni samskara (heat treatment) to the drug in a specific media for a specific duration has role in the alteration of the chemical constituents. Yield and disintegration of vati are also vary depend upon the shodhana drava dravya (liquid media) used. Researches done on the effect of different shodhana media in guggulu confirmed that triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu gets more yield than the gomutra (cow’s urine) shodhita guggulu.

 

The word triphala means a mixture of three fruits and thus the preparation is a composite mixture of fruits of three medicinal herbs, Fruits of amalaki (Emblica officinalis Linn.), bhibitaki (Terminalia belerica Roxb.) and haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) in equal proportions. It is an important medicine of the ‘rasayana’ group of Ayurveda and is believed to promote health, immunity and longevity. Since it contains enormous amount of tannins such as Ellagic acid and Gallic acid, it is required to maintain their quality and purity for safety and efficacy^7,8,9.

 

Guggulu being gummy material, usually it will not be disintegrated in the body quickly. It has been found clinically that guggulu kalpa usually pass in the faeces un-disintegrated or partially absorbed. To overcome this the kuttana (pounding) method is mentioned to facilitate quick disintegration which in turn helps in quick absorption of guggulu in the body. So present study was taken to know the effect of kuttana on the physico chemical properties of guggulu.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Raw drugs were collected from S.D.M Ayurveda pharmacy, udupi. The authentication of drugs was done in the dravyaguna department. Shodhana of guggulu by triphala kwatha and preparation of guggulu vati (pill) without and with kuttana was done at the department of bhaishajya kalpana.

 

Preparation of triphala kwatha:

1000g of triphala was taken and pounded in a khalva yantra. Total 30 minutes was required to make triphala into coarse powder form. Then it was transferred to vessel and 16 litres of water was added i.e., 16 parts to that of drug.

 

Then it was mixed well and boiled on mandaagni till the water gets reduced to 1/8 parts. After confirmation of reduction, it was filtered through a sieve and kept in a vessel.

 

Shodhana of guggulu:

A total 200g of guggulu was taken and pounded in a khalva yantra. Coarse powder of guggulu was tied in cloth and pottali was prepared. Pottali was immersed in a vessel containing 2200ml of triphala kashaya and was boiled on mandagni for a period of 3 hours. Later pottali was removed from the liquid and it is squeezed so as to remove all the guggulu present in it and to make all the guggulu to pass through the cloth to the liquid media i.e. triphala kwatha. Triphala kwatha containing guggulu was re-heated till only guggulu remains in the vessel and 538g of guggulu was obtained.

 

Preparation of guggulu vati from triphala shodhita guggulu:

538gm of triphala shodhita guggulu was taken and it was divided into two samples 269gm each. One sample was rolled into vati form with application of little quantity of ghee to avoid the sticking of guggulu to the hand and dried in sun light.

 

Kuttana of triphala shodhita guggulu:

Table.1 Dimension of instruments used

Method of kuttana:

269g of triphala shodhita guggulu was taken in a ulukala yantra and small amount of ghee was applied to the ulukala yantra and peshani to avoid sticking of guggulu. The pounding was done from a height of 25 centimeter and it was considered as one kuttana. Kuttana was done for 10000 times and rolled into vati form with applying little quantity of ghee.

 

ANALYTICAL STUDY:

The drugs used for preparation and samples of guggulu vati were analysed at SDM Research Centre, Udupi; using following parameters as per the references available in protocol for testing published by CCRAS.

1.   Organoleptic characters¹⁰

2.   Loss on drying¹¹

3.   Total ash¹²

4.   Acid-insoluble ash¹³

5.   Alcohol- soluble extractive¹⁴

6.   Water- soluble extractive¹⁵

7.   pH¹⁶

8.   Uniformity of weight¹⁷

9.   Hardness¹⁸

10. Disintegration time¹⁹

11. Friability²⁰

12. HPTLC²¹

 

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS:

Table 2. Analytical results of Vati (pill)

 

Table 3. R_f values of ethanolic extract of all the sample at 254nm

 

Table 4. R_f values of ethanolic extract of samples at 366nm

 

Table 5. R_f values of ethanolic extract of samples at post chromatographic derivatisation

 

Solvent system - Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid (4.5: 6.0: 0.1)

TLC photo documentation of ethanolic extract of guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhand), amalaki (Emblica officinalis), haritaki (Terminalia chebula), vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), triphala shodhita guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhand) vati (pill) with kuttana (pounding), triphala shodhita guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhand) vati (pill) without kuttana (pounding)

 

 

 

DISCUSSION:

Both samples were dark black in colour and have characteristic odour. The texture of both the samples where smooth to touch which was due to the addition of ghee in the preparation of vati.

 

pH of guggulu vati was decreased after kuttana procedure and acidic property of both samples was due to the presence of ascorbic acid, gallic acid and tannic acid.

 

Increased moisture content of triphala shodhita guggulu vati after kuttana is nearer to API standard and which is may be due to exposure to atmospheric condition for long time.

 

Total ash value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati was increased after kuttana procedure. Total ash value was more compare to API standards which was due to addition of inorganic substances during shodhana procedure.

 

Acid insoluble ash value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati was decreased after kuttana procedure. It indicates solubility of guggulu in acidic media is increased it is because of reduced pH and formation of inorganic substances after kuttana method.

 

Water soluble ash value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati was decreased after kuttana procedure. Decrease in solubility of triphala shodhita guggulu after kuttana due to decrease in solubility in water.

 

Alcohol soluble extractive of triphala shodhita guggulu vati was increased after kuttana procedure. Water soluble extractive value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati decreased after kuttana procedure. This was may be due to change in bonding of molecule which was indicated by reduction in hardness and disintegration time in kuttana method, Alcohol soluble extractive and water-soluble extractive value of triphala shodhita guggulu is more compare to API standards which may be to solubility of triphala. The water-soluble extractive value indicates the presence of polar substances like sugar, acids, gum and some inorganic compounds. The alcohol soluble extractive value indicates the presence of polar constituents like phenols, alkaloids, resinous materials, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids.

 

Weight variation value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati decreased after kuttana procedure. The weight variation is due to manual preparation and is within the limit i.e. 5 %. Hardness of triphala shodhita guggulu vati was decreased after kuttana which may be due to weakening of bond between the particles and decreasing the hardness.  Disintegration time of triphala shodhita guggulu vati after kuttana method was decreased which was may be due to reduction of hardness. Friability value of both the samples were zero which was may be due to the binding property of guggulu.

 

TLC:

Guggulu shodhana with triphala kwatha and vati prepared with and without kuttana

In the study, at 254nm: 11 spots in guggulu, 4 spots in amalaki, 1 spot in haritaki, 1 spot in vibhitaki, 1 spot in triphala shodhita guggulu vati without kuttana, 6 spots in triphala shodhita guggulu vati with kuttana, were detected.

 

More number of components were detected triphala shodhita guggulu vati after kuttana procedure.

At 366nm: 11 spots in guggulu, 3 spots in amalaki, 1 spot in haritaki, 1 spot in vibhitaki, 9 spots in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati with kuttana and in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati without kuttana were detected.

 

Post derivatisation: 6 spots in guggulu, 2 spots in amalaki, 1 spot in haritaki, 0 spot in vibhitaki, 9 spots in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati with kuttana and in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati without kuttana were detected.

 

Same number of components were detected in both samples at 366nm and post derivatisation.

 

HPTLC:

Triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati prepared with and without kuttana

In the study, at 254nm: 13 constituents in guggulu, 9 constituents in amalaki, 6 constituents in haritaki, 9 constituents in vibhitaki, 11 constituents in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati without kuttana, 12 constituents in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati with kuttana, were detected.

 

More number of components were detected triphala shodhita guggulu vati after kuttana procedure.

At 366nm: 13 constituents in guggulu, 7 constituents in amalaki, 3 constituents in haritaki, 6 constituents in vibhitaki, 11 constituents in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati without kuttana, 11 constituents in triphala kwatha shodhita guggulu vati with kuttana were detected.

 

Same number of components were detected in both samples at 366nm

From chromtographical analysis it is observed that a greater number of components were detected which was may be due to by kuttana procedure, complex compounds are formed.

 

Guggulu contains diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, long chain aliphatic tetrols, aliphatic esters, ferulates, lignans, carbohydrates, and a variety of inorganic ions besides minor amounts of sesamin and other unidentified constituents which were detected at shortwave (254nm).

 

CONCLUSION:

In this study, using triphala kwatha as shodhana media guggulu vati were prepared with and without kuttana. Organoleptic characters of all the both samples of guggulu were similar. There was a decrease in pH, acid insoluble ash value, water soluble ash value, water soluble extractive value, weight variation value, hardness, disintegration time and increase in moisture content, total ash value, alcohol soluble ash value of triphala shodhita guggulu vati after kuttana.  By kuttana method, hardness and disintegration time of triphala shodhita guggulu were decreased which due to loosening of bonds and reduction of particle size. This will help to quick absorption of guggulu in the body.   From chromatographical analysis it is observed that a greater number of components were detected which may be due to by kuttana procedure additional complex compounds are formed.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The author declare no conflict of interest.

 

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Accepted on 31.08.2021               © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm.and Tech 2022; 15(4):1779-1784.