Abstract

A STUDY ON THE RETENTION OF PYRROLOQUINAZOLINE ALKALOID VASICINE IN NUTRACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS OF ADHATODA VASICA

K. Srinivasan* and C. Sivasubramanian

ABSTRACT

Vasicine, a quinazoline alkaloid is the major active compound of Adhatoda vasica, an Indian traditional herb which gives its antiasthma property in the treatment of asthma disorder. The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the retention of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloid vasicine in Adhatoda vasica raw herb and its formulations through microencapsulation and extrusion process using high performance liquid chromatography technique. The analysis result indicated that the higher retention i.e. 73.18% of vasicine in gum acacia encapsulated Adhatoda vasica leaf powder compared to initial vasicine content of hot air died powder (378 ppm). The retention percentage of vasicine was found to be 69.57%, 64.72%, 49.50% and 44.24% in maltodextrin encapsulated, gum acacia encapsulated and extruded, raw herb spray dried and raw herb extruded respectively. This study will help the functional food product developers to exploit the microencapsulated Adhatoda vasica leaf powder to resist high temperature and pressure in their formulations.

Keywords: Adhatoda vasica, vasicine, alkaloids, microencapsulation, extrusion.