Source-Dependent Variations in the Quality Attributes of Amurthashtaka Kwatha: A Comprehensive Pharmacognostic Evaluation

Abstract

Amurthashtaka Kwatha is a classic Ayurvedic polyherbal remedy used to treat inflammatory diseases and fever. Comprehensive standardization is crucial as raw materials sources may affect formulation quality and consistency. The study evaluated the effect of raw material sourcing on the pharmacognostic characteristics of Amurthashtaka Kwatha. Five distinct sources, including natural habitats and Ayurvedic retail outlets, provided the constituent plant materials. Traditional Ayurvedic methods were used to prepare the formulations. Pharmacognostic evaluation comprised organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, powder microscopic, physicochemical, phytochemical, and chromatographic analyses. Physicochemical parameters included moisture content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, water-soluble extractive value, and ethanol-soluble extractive value. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to identify major classes of secondary metabolites, while High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting was used to evaluate chromatographic profiles. Pharmacognostic testings confirmed the authenticity of all constituent plants and their diagnostic characteristics in the final formulation. Moisture percentages of the formulations varied from 11.25% to 13.07%, according to the physicochemical examination. Variability in phytochemical composition and inorganic content was shown by variations in ash and extractive values. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, phytosterols, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, and proteins were found in all formulations, according to qualitative phytochemical screening. While variations in band intensity, peak area, and chromatographic complexity were noted, HPTLC analysis showed common marker bands among batches. Amurthashtaka Kwatha prepared using raw materials from different sources retained comparable pharmacognostic characteristics and qualitative phytochemical composition despite variations in physicochemical properties and chromatographic fingerprints. The findings provide baseline quality parameters and emphasize the importance of raw material sourcing in Ayurvedic standardization.