Authentication of commercial samples of <i>Shankhpushpi</i> through physico-phytochemical analysis and TLC fingerprinting

Abstract

<i>Shankhpushpi</i> is one of the <i>Rasayana</i> drugs of <i>Ayurveda</i>. Several plant species are being reported as <i>Shankhpushpi,</i> viz. <i>Convolvulus pluricaulis</i> Choisy.<i>,</i> <i>Clitoria ternatea</i> L., <i>Evolvulus alsinoides</i> L.<i>, </i>and<i> Tephrosia purpurea </i>(L.) Pers. in different regions of India but in <i>Ayurvedic</i> Pharmacopoeia of India <i>Convolvulus pluricaulis</i> is official drug of <i>Shankhpushpi</i>. Present study dealt withdevelopment of physicochemical and phytochemical marker for plant species reported as <i>Shankhpushpi</i> and authentication of its commercial samples procured from herbal drug markets of India. The study included ash values, extractive values, estimation of sugar, starch and tannin content, preliminary phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography (TLC) profiling. The results indicated that Delhi, Jaipur and Hisar market samples consisted of <i>Convolvulus pluricaulis </i>only. However, Lucknow and Varanasi samples were the mixture of <i>Convolvulus pluricaulis </i>and<i> Evolvulus alsinoides. </i>Sample procured from Jalandhar seems to be the mixture of <i>Convolvulus pluricaulis </i>and<i> Tephrosia purpurea</i> while Dehradun sample resembled to <i>Evolvulus alsinoides</i> and<i> Tephrosia purpurea</i> in mixed form. Further, Mumbai commercial sample is altogether different from other samples and it may be the new plant species as <i>Shankhpushpi</i>.The developed physico-phytochemical parameters and TLC fingerprints for <i>Shankhpushpi</i> can help in authentication of its commercial crude drug samples by pharmaceutical industries.