Preliminary Phytochemical screening of selected Siddha

Herbal medicines.

Thomas M.Walter* Pauline Vincent,C**

Abstract:

Siddha and Ayurveda are the two major Traditional Indian systems of Medicine.

Siddha is widely practiced in the Tamil speaking areas of South India. Five frequently

prescribed Siddha medicines (base powders – Chooranams) of herbal origin were

selected and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. Steroids, reducing

sugars, sugars, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthroquinones and amino acids were tested

qualitatively in the selected medicines. All the five medicines showed the presence of

Tannins. Anthroquinones and steroids are not observed in any of the herbal medicines

examined. Since the study was conducted in a controlled and authenticated manner, the

phytochemical results can be used for the standardization of the above said medicines.

*
Asst. Lecturer, P.G. Department of Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Govt. Siddha Medical College
Hospital, Palayakottai, Tamilnadu, India. dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com
**
Ph.D scholar, Center of Bio diversity and Bio technology, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai,
Tamilnadu, India. dr.paulinevincent@yahoo.co.in
Introduction:

Among the Traditional Indian Systems of Medicine, Siddha is widely practiced in

the Tamil speaking areas of South India. Siddha which is largely therapeutic in nature

has a rich heritage and history. The word ‘Siddha’ means ‘Perfection’ and those who

attained perfection were known as ‘Siddhars’, the pioneers of the system.

The Siddhars were great scientists in anc ient times. The Siddha was flouriest in

south and Ayurveda prevalent in the north. According to tradition, the origin of Siddha

system of medicine is attributed to the great Siddha Agastiyar. Some of his works are

still standard books of medicine and surgery in daily use among the Siddha Medical

practitioners and Traditional healers.

Siddha Materia Medica:

The resources of Siddha Materia Medica are classified into three major divisions

namely Herbal, Metals & Mineral and Animal kingdoms. According to Siddha

literatures, there are 64 dosage forms of which 32 are meant for Oral (enteral) route and

32 for parentral and external (including topical) applications.

Siddha prescriptions usually consist of:

?? Base (fine powder – chooranam of herbal origin),

?? Pills (mathirai of herbal and herbo- mineral origin),

?? Calx (parpam and chenthooram - oxidixed and reduced form of purified Metals

and minerals),

?? Decoctions (infusions – Kudineer usually of herbal origin)

?? Medicated oil (Thylam, Ennai – for external/Topical application)

Materials and Methods:

There is a very clear note in the Ancient Siddha literatures that the patient should be

first treated with herbal products only (Kudineer, Chooranam, pills etc) and if the desired

effect is not attained, then only metals, minerals and animal products should be used. In

accordance to this, five frequently prescribed Siddha medicines (base powders –

Chooranams) of herbal origin were selected and subjected to preliminary phytochemical

screening. The selected medicines are:

1. Thirikadugu Chooranam, (T.K)

2. Panchakalpa Chooranam, (P.K)

3. Thalisathi Vadaga Chooranam, (T.S.V)

4. Nindrar Churingi Chooranam (N.C) and

5. Vembu, Nilavembu Chooranam. (V.N.V)

 These medicines have literary evidence and are in regular therapeutic use in Siddha

practice. The major ingredients, dosage, vehicle, therapeutic properties and literary

evidence of the selected drugs are mentioned in Table no: 2. In order to conduct

authenticated screening, market samples of all the five medicines were avoided and they

were prepared in the Gunapadam (Materia Medica) lab of Govt. Siddha Medical College

(for Traditional Indian Medicine), Palayamkottai, T.N., India.

The ingredients were collected from the Raw Drug Store (R.D.S) of the Pharmacy,

attached to Govt. Siddha Medical College (G.S.M.C), Palayamkottai. After

authentication from the Professor and Head of the P.G. Department of Materia Medica,

G.S.M.C, they were subjected to purification methods as found in the Traditional Siddha

literatures. The medicines were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening by

authors themselves. The phytochemical screening was done at the Center of Bio-

diversity and Bio-technology, St. Xavier’s College (XCH), Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu.

Since the common vehicle for all Chooranams are water, the same was used as solvent

for all the five medicines. These extracts were concentrated and used for preliminary

phytochemical screening following the procedure given by Brindha et al. (1981).

Results and Discussion:

In the present investigation, preliminary phytochemical screening has been done

in distilled water extract for the presence of phytochemical constituents namely Steroids,

Reducing sugars, Sugars, Alkaloids, Saponins, Tannins, Anthroquinones and Amino

acids. The presence of Tannins is found in all the five medicines. Absence of

Anthroquinones and Steroids in all the selected medicines is also observed.

Conclusion:

Out of the five Siddha drugs screened for Phytochemical properties, Pancha

Kalpa Chooranam (P.K.), a drug used in Traditional Indian systems of Medicine to treat

constipation, urinary tract infection and hypertension, is found to have the highest

number of phytochemicals (except Steroids and Anthroquinones). Since the study was

conducted in a controlled manner, the phytochemical results can be used for the

standardization of the above mentioned drugs.

This is only a preliminary screening and more research has to be undertaken to

explore the wonderful therapeutic properties of these medicines.

 Table: 1. Phytochemical Screening of Selected Traditional Indian Herbal Medicines

Serial Phyto- T.K. P.K. T.S.V. N.C. V.N.V.

No: Chemical Chooranam Chooranam Chooranam Chooranam Chooranam

1 Steroids - - - - -

2 Reducing - + - + -
Sugars

3 Sugars + + + - -

4 Alkaloids + + + - -

5 Saponins + + + - -

6 Tannins + + + + +

7 Anthroquinones - - - - -

8 Amino acids. - + - - +

Abbreviations:

- Absent

+ Present

1. Thirikadugu Chooranam, (T.K)

2. Panchakalpa Chooranam, (P.K)

3. Thalisathi Vadaga Chooranam, (T.S.V)

4. Nindrar Churingi Chooranam (N.C) and

5. Vembu, Nilavembu Chooranam. (V.N.V)

Table: 2. Information regarding the screened Indian Herbal Medicines.

Serial Name of the Major Dosage & Indications Literary

No Medicine Ingredients Vehicle evidence

1 T.K. Zingiber 1 to 2 Flatulence, The Siddha

officinalis, grams Indigestion. Formulary of
Chooranam
Piper nigrum, Honey. India, Part I.
Piper longum.
2 P.K. Three 1 gram Constipation, T.V.

Chooranam Myrobalans, Hot water. Urinary tract Sambasivam

Curcuma longa, infections, Pillai Agarathi.

Santalum album. Hypertension.

3 T.S.V. Taxus buccatta, 1 to 2 Cough, Siddha

Piper nigrum,
Chooranam grams Peptic ulcer, Vaithiya
Piper longum,
Water Dysentry, Thirattu. Page
Zingiber
officinalis, Vomiting, No: 230
Elatoria
fever,dysuria
cardamomum.
4 N.C. Biophytum 1 gram Anti-dote, Siddha Materia
Philter (for Medica
Chooranam sensitivum. Water.
Mesmerizing (Vegetable),
or Page no: 463
hypnotizing)
5 Vembu + Azadirachta Up to 1 Fever, Body Siddha Materia
pain, Medica
Nilavembu indica, gram with
Jaundice, (Vegetable
Chooranam Andrographis water.
Night division),
paniculata. blindness. Page no: 461
Reference:

1. Formulary (1992) - The Siddha Formulary of India, Part I, Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.

2. Formulary (1972) - Formulary of Siddha medicines, published by the Indian

Medical Practitioners' Cooperative Pharmacy and Stores Ltd., Adyar, Madras; ed.

1989.

3. Formulary (1994) - Vaidya Yoga Ratnavali (Formulary of Ayurvedic medicines),

IMPCOPS, Madras.

4. T.V. Sambasivam Pillai, Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry,

Botany and Allied Sciences, Volume V, publisher: The Research Institute of

Siddhar’s Science, Mount Road, Madras, India. 1931.

5. Dr. Murugesa Muthaliar, Siddha Materia Medica (Vegetable section), Volume I,

Fourth edition 1988, Publisher; Tamilnadu Siddha Medical Council, Chennai.

6. Kuppusamy Muthaliar, Uthamarayan, Siddha vaithiya thirattu, 1998, Publisher:

Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Chennai, India.

7. Dr. K.M. Nadkarani, Indian Materia Medica Vol: 1 Publisher: Popular Prakash,

Mumbai, India.

8. The Wealth of India Vol 1- 12, Publisher Council for Scientific and Industrial

Research (C.S.I.R), New Delhi, India.