Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology.

8(1): January- March, 2018

ISSN 2231–5705 (Print) Available online at

2231–5713 (Online) www.anvpublication.org
DOI: 10.5958/2231-5713.2018.00002.8
www.asianpharmaonline.org
Vol. 08| Issue-01|
January- March 2018 Asian Journal of Pharmacy and
Technology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development and Evaluation of Dashmula plants of Ayurveda.

Yogita. Chowdhary
Dr. K.N. Modi, Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh 201204
*Corresponding Author E-mail: Yogitachowdhary85@gmail.com.

ABSTRACT
Dashmool tablet is made with various ingredients in the formulation composition.It is a versatile indigenous
drug, claimed by Ayurvedic system of medicine to be highly efficacious in the treatment of Rheumatism
arthritis, inflammation. The two important Pharmacological properties of Dashmool are immunomodulator and
febrifugal properties. Dashmool which is used traditionally for treatment of number of diseases like jaundice,
rheumatism, puerperal forever ,paralysis, oedema, filarial and post natal care to avoid secondary complications.
It provides general support to the body during period of Influenza, cough, cold, neuralgia and headaches. It is
used as dietary supplement .It combines synergistic benefit of dashmool with other herbs. The present study
involved the preparation of dashmool herbal tablet. Tablets were prepared by direct compression Dashmool
tablet each weighing 1160 mg containing 250 mg of active ingredient of drug formulated. Tablets were evaluated
for Disintegration, Hardness, Friability, Description, Uniformity of weight, Quantitative Standards,
Physicochemical parameters (e.g Total ash %), Acid Insoluble ash, Alcohol soluble extract,water soluble extract.

KEYWORDS: Total Ash, Alcohol Soluble extractive, Disintegration.

INTRODUCTION: This is a tonic made from different herbs. It helps in

Dashmoola’ which is used traditionally for treatment of a
number of diseases like jaundice, rheumatism, puerperal
fever, paralysis, oedema, filaria and. It provides general
support to the body during periods of influenza, cough,
cold, neuralgia and headaches. It is also used as a dietary
supplement [1, 2]. ‘Dashmoola’ is used in different
traditional Ayurvedic preparations like
‘Dashmoolarishta’, ‘Dashmoola ghritam’ and
‘Chyavanprash’ [3]. It is rejuvenator and revitalizer and
commonly known as restorative tonic. It relives post
delivery weakness. This syrup promotes vitality and
strength [4]. It improves milk production in women’s.
This is very useful in menopause [5].Dashmularishta
restores energy in women after delivery.
Received on 18.12.2017 Modified on 15.01.2018
Accepted on 16.02.2018 © A&V Publications All right reserved
Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 2018; 8(1):08-12.
DOI: 10.5958/2231-5713.2018.00002.8
removing toxins from body and nourishes body tissues
[6].. It maintains healthy female reproductive system. It
is also a curative for general weakness. It combines
synergistic benefit of Dashmool with other herbs. It
strengthens the myometrial muscles in uterus, which
enables to achieve adequate uterine contraction too expel
menstrual discharge. Dashmularishta is useful in reliving
mild to moderate pain in cases of dysmenorrheal [7].
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Ten Plants namely Aegle Marmelos, Clerodendrum
phlomidis,Desmodium Gangeticum, Stereospermum
Suavaveolens, Oroxylum Indicum, Gmelina Arborea,
Solanum Xanthocarpum, Solanum Indicum,Tribulus
Terrestris,Uraria Picta were collected. The plant Material
of dashmool was collected from wild sources in the
vicinity of area of University Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences ,Panjab University ,Haryana (District /Village

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 Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 8(1): January- March, 2018

Rewari). The identity of the plants was established by Dashmool blend, dicalcium phosphate and
studying Taxonomic and morphological characters and polyvinylpyrollidone were then mixed geometrically.The
compairing them with those described in standard above mixture was passed through a sieve with a
texts.The final confirmation was done by compairing the nominal mesh aperture of 1 mm (sieve no. 18) to obtain
samples with herabarium specimens available at Survey granules.The granules were dried in a hot air oven for 6
of Medicinal plants, Collection and Cultivation unit, h at 60 C [22,23]. The ingredients from serial number 4
Tamil Nadu. to 7 in above table were weighed and passed through a
sieve with a nominal mesh aperture of 250 μm (sieve no.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS: 60) and mixed well.The mixture obtained was then
 Preparation of Dashmool blend blended together with the granules so obtained after
 Preparation of Dashmool granules drying [24,25].
 Compressing the tablets
Compressing the tablets:
Table 1: Composition of Dashmool blend
Name of the plant Part used Qty taken (Part)
The granules were finally compressed into tablets using
Aegle marmelos Root 1 single-punch tablet machine fitted with the suitable
Clerodendrum phlomidis Root 1 punch and die (either 9.8 mm convex punch) depending
Desmodium gangeticum Root 1 upon the formulation [26,27,28]. The above tablet was
Gmelina arborea Stem bark 1 then evaluated for disintegration time and hardness
Oroxylum indicum Stem bark 1
Solanum xanthocarpum Root 1
which revealed the non-compliance of these parameters
Solanum indicum Root 1 with the pharmacopoeial limits for tablets. Therefore,
Stereospermum suavaveolnes Stem bark 1 some more formulations having dashmool blend as an
Tribulus terrestris Root 1 active ingredient were designed and prepared with the
Uraria picta leaf 1 aid of excipients. The different combinations were tried
by varying the quantity of one or more than one
Preparation of Dashmool blend: ingredients as follows:
Crude drug were powdered and passed through a sieve
with a nominal mesh aperture of 710 μm (sieve no. 22) Table 3: Composition of Formulation II
depending on the formulation [8,9,10]. All other S.NO Ingredient Quantity per tablet (mg)
ingredients of crude drug were also powdered and passed 1 Dashmool blend 125.0
through a sieve with a nominal mesh aperture of 180 μm 2 Starch 167.1875
3 Gelatin 25.0
(sieve no. 85) depending on the formulation (excipients)
4 Calpax 167.1875
[11,12,13]. The powder of dashmool and other 5 Methyl paraben Sodium 0.50
ingredients were then thoroughly mixed together in a 6 Propyl paraben Sodium 0.125
pestle mortar to uniformity [14, 15]. The uniformly 7 Talc 7.5
mixed powder was then passed through a sieve with a 8 Magnesium stearate 7.5
nominal mesh aperture of 710 μm (sieve no. 22).This Average weight of tablet is 500.0 mg containing125.0 mg of the active
ingredient
mixture was called dashmool blend [16, 17, 18, 19].
Table 2: Composition of Formulation1 Table 4: Composition of Formulation III
S.No Ingredients Quantity per tablet (mg) S.No Ingredients Quantity per tablet
1 Dashmool blend 250.0 (mg)
2 Dicalcium phosphate 828.55 1 Dashmool blend 125.0
3 Polyvinylpyrollidone 50.0 2 Starch I.P. 300.425
4 Talc 15.0 3 Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose 20.0
5 Magnesium stearate 15.0 4 Methyl paraben sodium 0.46
6 Methyl paraben Sodium 1.16 5 Propyl paraben sodium 0.115
7 Propyl paraben sodium 0.29 6 Talc 7.0
Average weight of tablet 1160 mg containing 250 mg of the active 7 Magnesium stearate 7.0
ingredient. Average weight of tablet is 460.0 mg containing 125.0 mg of the active
Preparation of Dashmool granules: ingredient.
The quantities required for dashmool blend and other Table 5: Composition of Formulation IV
pharmaceutical grade excipients from the above table S.No Ingredients Quantity per tablet (mg)
were calculated depending upon the number of tablets 1 Dashmool blend 250.0
(250 tablets were prepared each time) to be prepared. 2 Starch (as paste)I.P. 852.5
3 Starch I.P. 60.0
The dashmool blend was passed through a sieve with a 4 Methyl paraben sodium 1.20
nominal mesh aperture of 1 mm (sieve no. 18). 5 Propyl paraben sodium 0.30
6 Talc 18.0
Polyvinylpyrollidone and dicalcium phosphate were 7 Magnesium stearate 18.0
passed through a sieve with a nominal mesh aperture of Average weight of tablet is 1200.0 mg containing 250.0 mg of the
active ingredient.
250 μm (sieve no. 60) and mixed well [20, 21].
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 Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 8(1): January- March, 2018

Table 6: Composition of Formulation V Finally, the formulation (V) (table 6) was selected for
S.No Ingredient Quantity per tablet (mg) further studies as it successfully complied with the
1 Dashmool blend 250.0
2 Starch I.P. 394.3
pharmacopoeial limits. Using the same combination and
3 Gelatin 50.0 proportion of excipients three other dashmool blend
4 Calpax 394.3 formulations were designed and prepared.
5 Methyl paraben sodium 1.12
6 Propyl paraben sodium 0.28 FINISHED PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:
7 Talc 15.0
8 Magnesium stearate 15.0
Description [26]:
Average weight of tablet is 1120.0 mg containing 250.0 mg of the The tablets were round, biconcex, grey with diameter 9.8
active ingredient. ± 0.05 mm and thickness 5.8 ± 0.2 mm. They had a bitter
taste with an agreeable odour.
Table 7: Composition of Formulation VI
S.No Ingredients Quantity per tablet (mg) Uniformity of weight:
1 Dashmool blend 125.0
2 Starch (as paste)I.P. 257.482
The weight of 20 tablets which were selected at random
3 Starch I.P. 20.0 from a batch had the average weight of 1160 mg for
4 Methyl paraben sodium 0.415 formulation (I), 500 mg for formulation (II), 460 mg for
5 Propyl paraben sodium 0.103 formulation (III), 1200 mg for formulation (IV), 1120
6 Talc 6.0 mg for formulation (V), 0.4194 g for formulation (VI).
7 Magnesium stearate 6.0
The weight of tablets (in mg) is given below.
Average weight of tablet is 415 mg containing 125 mg of the active
ingredient.
Table 9: Uniformity of Formulation 1
1143.2 1157.7 1190.0 1126.7 1164.7
The above formulations (II) to (VI) (table 3 -7) were 1157.5 1157.7 1176.1 1196.1 1138.7
prepared by the same two steps (1-2) as described under 1189.9 1129.9 1174.6 1194.2 1180.5
the formulation (I). In formulations (II) to (VI) (table 3 - 1184.5 1184.5 1110.4 1170.4 1206.4
7), the dashmool blend was first mixed with binder and
disintegrant [ingredient 3 and 4] in formulation (II); Table 10: Uniformity of Formulation 2
[ingredient 3] in formulation (III); [ingredient 2] in 500 507 510 490 510
515 505 508 504 504
formulation IV; [ingredient 3] in formulation V (table 6); 502 516 500 510 500
[ingredients 2] in formulation VI (table 7) and then 495 501 516 507 507
moistened to proper wetness. Granulation was done by
passing through a sieve with a nominal mesh aperture of Table 11: Uniformity of Formulation 3
1 mm (sieve no. 18). The granules were dried in a hot air 470 472 462 470 472
oven for 6 h at 60°C. The remaining excipients 474 470 470 464 464
460 468 465 475 469
[ingredients from 2, 5 to 8 for formulation (II); 479 478 470 473 474
[ingredients from 2, 4 to 7 till formulation (III);
[ingredients from 3 to 7 in formulation (IV) (table 3-5); Table 12: Uniformity of Formulation 4
[ingredients 2, 4 to 8] in formulation (V) (table 6); 1245 1247 1244 1224 1223
ingredients 3 to 7 in formulation (VI) (table 7)] were 1243 1260 1240 1200 1180
passed through a sieve with a nominal mesh aperture of 1230 1210 1220 1233 1253
1183 1173 1230 1230 1230
250 μm (sieve no. 60) and mixed well. The granules
were mixed with the excipients to uniformity. The
Table 13: Uniformity of Formulation 5
mixture so obtained was compressed using single punch 1700.0 1139.0 1139.0 1129.0 1122.0
tablet machine fitted with a suitable punch. 1153.0 1154.0 1160.0 1156.0 1120.0
1320.0 1133.0 1140.0 1130.0 1115.0
The above formulations were evaluated for 1125.0 1105.0 1085.0 1105.0 1320.0
disintegration time and hardness which showed the
following results (table 8): Table 14 : Uniformity of Formulation 6
4270.0 4173.0 4173.0 4318.0 4018.0
Table 8: Disintegration time and hardness of formulation no. I to 4118.0 4218.0 4246.0 4369.0 4169.0
VI 4216.0 42460. 4200.0 4300.0 4236.0
S.No Formulation Disintegration Hardness 4036.0 4036.0 4236.0 4277.0 4032.0
(Minutes) (Kg/cm3)
1 I 6 min(16 sec) 5 Disintegration time:
2 II 5 min(21 sec) 6 6 min (16 sec) for formulation (I), 5 min (21 sec) for
3 III 10 min(53 sec) 3
4 IV 3 min(12 sec) 3
formulation (II), 10 min (53 sec) for formulation (III), 3
5 V 5 min(10 sec) 3 min (12 sec) for formulation (IV), 5 min (10 sec) for
6 VI 3 min(12 sec) 2 formulation (V), 3 min (12 sec) for formulation (VI).

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 Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 8(1): January- March, 2018
Hardness:
5.0 kg/cm3 for formulation (I), 6.0 kg/cm3 for
formulation (II), 3.0 kg/cm3 for formulation (III), 3.0
kg/cm3 for formulation (IV), 3.0 kg/cm3 for formulation
(V), 2.0 kg/cm3 for formulation (VI).
Friability:
0.15 % for formulation (I), 0.62 % for formulation (II),
0.68 % for formulation (III), 0.45 % for formulation
(IV), 0.22 % for formulation (V), 0.42 % for formulation
(VI).
Description:
The tablets of dashmool formulations (I) and (III) were
round, biconvex, brown to dark brown with diameter 9.8
± 0.05 mm and thickness 5.8 ± 0.2 mm. They had a bitter
taste with an agreeable odour.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Dashmool, chosen for the present study, is a preparation
which is generally recommended for inflammation of
joints and rheumatoid arthritis. The composition of the
herbal ingredients of dashmool was taken from the
Ayurvedic Formulary of India. The excipients used to
formulate the dashmool tablet were selected from the list
published by the Government of India under rule 169 of
Drugs and Cosmetics (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2005.
The excipients mentioned in this list are allowed to be
used in Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic
medicine.The excipients were tried at different
concentrations so as to prepare a tablet dosage form
which complies with the pharmacopoeial limits. The first
attempt included PVP K - 30 as a binder and dicalcium
phosphate as filler (Formulation I). These two excipients
were used along with the dashmool blend for granulation
using the method of wet granulation. For wet
granulation, purified water was used. The concentration
of dicalcium phosphate was at the higher end among the
two excipients used. The granules so formed were mixed
with the rest of the excipients viz magnesium stearate as
antiadherent and talc as glidant and lubricant, methyl
paraben sodium and propyl paraben sodium as
preservative. The granules were compressed into tablets
and the parameters were analyzed. The tablets of first
formulation (Formulation I) so prepared showed
hardness of 5 kg/cm3 and disintegration time of (6 min
16 sec). In the second formulation (Formulation II)
starch was used as filler, gelatin as binder, calpax as
filler, methyl paraben sodium, propyl paraben sodium as
preservative, talc and magnesium stearate as lubricant.
The tablet of second formulation (Formulation II) so
prepared showed hardness 6 kg/cm3 and disintegration
time of ( 5 min 21 sec). In third formulation
(Formulation III) starch was used as filler, hydroxy
propyl methyl cellulose as binder, methyl propyl sodium
and propyl paraben sodium as preservative, talc and
magensium stearate as lubricant. The disintegration time
11
was (10 min 53 sec) but there was also a negligible
decrease in hardness 3 kg/cm3. In fourth formulation
(Formulation IV) starch was used as filler and again as
binder, methyl paraben sodium, propyl paraben sodium
as preservative, talc and magnesium stearate as lubricant.
The (Formulation IV) showed disintegration time as (3
min 12 sec) min and hardness as 3 kg/cm3. In fifth
formulation (FormulationV) starch was used as filler,
gelatin as binder, calpax as filler, methyl paraben
sodium, propyl paraben sodium as preservative, talc and
magnesium stearate as lubricant. The disintegration time
was (5 min 10 sec) and hardness was 3 kg/cm3 of fifth
formulation (Formulation V). In this attempt, calpax was
added along with starch as filler. In formulation six
(Formulation VI) starch was used as filler and again as
binder, methyl paraben sodium, propyl paraben sodium
as preservative, talc and magnesium stearate as lubricant.
The analysis of the tablet in formulation six
(Formulation VI) so formed showed a disintegration
time of (3 min 12 sec) and hardness of the tablet was 2.0
kg/cm3.
CONCLUSION:
Formulation of Dashmool tablet and the effect of
concentration and binder using direct compression
technique. Powder and excipient used were found to be
compatible .Evaluation was done by the tablet were
found to be within limits with respect to Hardness,
Average weight, % Friability and thickness.The result
obtained from all experimental analysis showed tablet of
Dashmool plants of Ayurved have good physical
characterstics. The study altogether indicated that the
Dashmula tablets were successfully prepared and
evaluated.
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