Powder Microscopic, Physicochemical, HPTLC and Antioxidant Studies on Noccik Kudinir Chooranam - A Polyherbal Siddha Formulation

Objectives: To study pharmacognostical, physico-chemical, high performance thin layer chromatography and anti-oxidant activity potential of a Siddha drug "Noccik Kudinir Chooranam" (NKC). Methods: The raw drugs were collected, authenticated and the Kudinir Chooranam was prepared. Then the drug was subjected to powder microscopic diagnosis, physicochemical parameters, Thin Layer Chromatographic photo documentation (TLC), High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic (HPTLC) finger print profile of successive hexane, successive chloroform, successive ethanol, hydro alcohol (1:1) extract, ethyl acetate solubles of water extract, alkaloid fraction and direct ethanol along with ingredients. The methanol and aqueous extracts were evaluated for total phenol and flavonoid, DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide scavenging activities. Results: Different extracts of the drug showed distinct TLC and HPTLC finger print patterns which will be unique to this drug. The antioxidant activity showed significant results which are comparable to standards. Conclusion: The identified powder microscopic characters and the evolved physicochemical parameters would serve as reference tool for quality control and the antioxidant activity would find the much wider therapeutic importance of the drug.