Systemic validation of mono-herbal Siddha formulation Kanduparangi chooranam through ICP-OES, GC-MS and microbial contamination analysis

Introduction: Standardization of the Siddha drugs is the process that enhances the quality of the drug before entering into industrial purposes in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences. The reports from the instrumental analysis give adequate details to claim the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs without any hazardous effects which are already quoted in the Siddha classical textbooks.

Materials and methods: The drug Kanduparangi chooranam was analyzed by the following methods, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), total and specific microbial contamination test and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS).

Results and discussion: ICP-OES results of Kanduparangi chooranam showed that the toxic heavy metals like As, Cd, Hg and Pb were Below Detection Limit (BDL). The total viable aerobic bacterial count and total viable fungal count of Kanduparangi chooranam showed that 9.2x 102 and 12.3 x 102 respectively detected level contamination were under the limits value of safety as per WHO guidelines. Specific microbial contamination test of Kanduparangi chooranam showed that there was no growth of the following microorganisms, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. GC-MS analysis revealed that there was no trace of chemical compounds of Organo-pesticide residues (Chlorine, Phophorus & Pyrithroids) and Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2.

Conclusion: Kanduparangi chooranam which was prepared from purified roots of Pygmaeopremna herbacea in a proper way as per the Siddha classical method, is useful for treatment purposes devoid of toxic heavy metals, microbes, pesticides and aflatoxins.