Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CERTAIN UNANI (HERBAL) DRUGS IN THE FORM OF JOSHANDA (DECOCTION) AND KHAISANDA (INFUSION)

Touheed Ahmed S.*, Najeeb Khan M., Waheed M.A., Viquar Uzma, Yousuf Ali Mir, Saleem A., Mohsin M., Banu Noorain N., Zebunnisa, Shaffin Azra, Naseeb Fouzia, Rasheed N.M.A

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study was aimed at investigating the phytochemicals present in two drugs Abresham Muqarraz (silk cocoon) and Gul-e-Babuna (Matricaria chamomile). Methods: Two drugs were chosen viz., Abresham muqarraz and Gul-e-Babuna to test the presence of phytochemicals responsible for their therapeutic properties and their two different compound forms were chosen i.e, decoction and infusion. The Decoction process starts with soaking 5 gm of Abresham Muqarraz and 3 gms of Gul-e-Babuna separately in 200 ml of distilled water for 12 hrs and boiling them each under different degrees of temperatures ranging from 40o–100oC for 15 mins then sieved to get the resultant liquid called as Decoction. The Infusion process starts with soaking 5 gm of Abresham Muqarraz and 3 gms of Gul-e-Babuna separately in 200 ml of distilled water for 12 hrs then sieved to get the resultant liquid called as Infusion. The qualitative chemical examinations of Silk cocoon (Abresham Muqarraz) and Matricaria chamomilla (Gul-e-Babuna) in Decoction and Infusion forms to check the presence of chemicals (Carbohydrates, Glycosoids, Saponins, Protiens, Amino Acids, phenols, Tanins, Flavonoinds) were carried out separately and the results were documented. Results: The Abresham decoction showed the presence of Protiens and Amino Acids {Arginine, Aliphatic amino groups (Threonine, Valine, Leucin, Iso-leucine, Lycine), Aromatic amino group (Methionine and Phenylealanine)} and its infusion showed the presence of Gelatin only. There was no other chemical (from the above list) found in either solutions. Both the Gul-e- Babuna decoction and infusion showed the presence of Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Saponins, Proteins, Amino Acids, Phenols, Tannins except the abcence of Flavonoids in its infusion. Conclusion: It was observed that Decoction of Abresham is superior to its Infusion. Decoction and Infusion of Gul-e-Babuna were found to be almost same in the presence of phytochemicals except the presence of Flavonoids in its Decoction making it superior to its Infusion form.

Keywords: Decoction, Infusion, Abresham Muqarraz, Gul-e-Babuna, Phytochemicals.