Article: ANALYTICAL STANDARDIZATION OF BRAHMI TAILA USING PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.174138

Pages: 66-68

Author: Himanshu Soni *, Harish Kumar Singhal, Dinesh Kumar Rai

Abstract: Background: Brahmi Taila, a classical Ayurvedic medicated oil prepared from Bacopa monnieri, is widely employed in the management of neurological and dermatological disorders in pediatric practice. Despite its extensive therapeutic application, systematic physicochemical profiling of commercially prepared Brahmi Taila remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to establish the analytical fingerprint of a marketed Brahmi Taila sample using physicochemical evaluation and thin-layer chromatography. Methods: A 100 mL sample of Brahmi Taila, procured from the market and submitted to Cultivator Phyto Lab Private Limited, Jodhpur, was analyzed following the standard protocols outlined in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part II, Volume IV. Parameters assessed included moisture content, saponification value, acid value, iodine value, specific gravity, refractive index, rancidity (Kries test), and thin-layer chromatography profile. Results: The oil exhibited a moisture content below the limit of quantification (LOQ: 0.10% w/w). The saponification value was 205.58, the acid value was 4.73, and the iodine value was 94.45. Specific gravity at 25°C was recorded as 0.9202, refractive index as 1.4711, and the Kries test for rancidity was negative. Thin-layer chromatography revealed eight distinct spots under derivatized conditions at Rf values of 0.13, 0.23, 0.34, 0.49, 0.65, 0.69, 0.77, and 0.98. Conclusion: The tested Brahmi Taila sample demonstrated physicochemical parameters within acceptable pharmacopoeial ranges, suggesting good manufacturing quality. The TLC profile provides a characteristic chromatographic fingerprint that may serve as a reference for assessing identity and purity. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the standardization of Ayurvedic formulations.

Keyword: Brahmi Taila, Ayurvedic standardization, physicochemical analysis, thin-layer chromatography, medicated oil, Bacopa monnieri