Int J Curr Pharm Res, Vol 10, Issue 4, 75-78Original Article


PRITHVI MAHABHUTA DOMINANT CHARACTERS IN PUGAPHALA (ARECA CATECHU LINN.) SCIENTIFICALLY ASSESSED THROUGH PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

KAMLA MOOND1*, HITESH VYAS2, HARISHA C. R.3, V. J. SHUKLA4

1,2Department of Basic Principles, 3Department of Pharmacognosy, 4Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, I. P. G. T and R. A., GAU, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Email: prateek.jain246@gmail.com

Received: 21 Apr 2018, Revised and Accepted: 10 Jun 2018

ABSTRACT

Objective: The Areca catechu L. is a tropical fruit, which is also called betel nut and is widely distributed in different parts of the world. Areca catechu L is used for various treatment aliments in the form of various preparations especially in powdered form and it used extensively in Ayurveda to treat Mukhavikara, Aruchi, Yonishaithilya, Shvetapradara etc. Areca nut is commonly used as betel nut or supari, as it is often chewed wrapped in betel leaves (Paan). The aim is to assessment of Mahabhautika dominance in Pugaphala by pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical study.

Methods: Microscopic, macroscopic study and phsico-chemical analysis of Pugaphala Churna.

Results: In present study Pugaphala was selected as a Parthiva dominant drug according to its Rasa Panchaka, after that its Mahabhautika dominancy was assessed by pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical study and results also support that in Pharmaceutical study loss on drying is 4.4%w/w, in Pharmacognostical study Rhomboidal crystal, Lignified scleroid etc. were found these characters also showed that Pugaphala is having dominancy of Prithvi Mahabhuta.

Conclusion: Prithvi dominancy in Pugaphala is scientifically assessed by Pharmacognostical and Pharmaceutical study.

Keywords: Pugaphala, Prithvi Mahabhuta, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical study

© 2018 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2018v10i4.28473

INTRODUCTION

The Areca Nut is the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. Areca nut (Areca catechu) is commonly used as an ingredient of betel quid, which also includes leaf of the creeping vine piper betel and lime with or without tobacco. The plant is tall, slender, unbranched palm with a crown of leaves.

In Ayurvedic medicine, betel nut is used as a Diuretic, Digestive, Anthelmintic, Astringent, cardiotonic and used extensively in Ayurveda to treat Mukhavikara, Aruchi, Yonishaithilya, Shvetapradara etc.

Areca nut forms an essential requisite for several religious and social ceremonies and its use dates back to Vedic period with high antiquities. People in India and many parts of Asia are using areca nut. Reference to areca nut is in Rig-Veda (2000 BC). Dhanwantari Nighantu an ancient text of Indian system of medicine mentions the use of areca nut (Puga) as one of the five natural aromatics (Panchasugandhikam) with pepper, clove, nutmeg and camphor.

The use of betel nut, as a masticator by humans has been known since the 4th century AD in different parts of the world. In old Indian scripts, such as Vagbhatta (4th century) and Bhavamishra (13th century), betel nut has been described as a therapeutic agent for leucoderma, leprosy, anemia obesity and de-worming properties. It has been used as vermifuge. Arecanut finds place in religious, social and cultural functions of India. The presence of the betel nut is a must in the ceremonial plate, as betel nuts are believed to increase prosperity. The nut is offered to guests, along with a betel leaf, as a mark of respect. Betel quid chewing (betel leaf, arecanut and lime) in India is at least 2,000 y old.

The chemical entities of this plant has been used as an anti-diabetic, blood pressure regulating activity, anti ulceogenic, antioxidant activity, anticonvulsant activity, C. N. S. stimulant activity, oxytocic activity, anti fertility, anthelmintic and antiviral activity etc [1]. To justify the classical assessed Mahabhautika dominancy in Pugaphala for the first time Puga is scientifically evaluated pharma-cognostically and pharmaceutical study.

Ayurvedic properties [2]

Rasa: Kashaya

Guna: Ruksha, Guru

Veerya: Sheeta

Vipaka: Katu

Parts used: Fruit, Bark, Root

Chemical constituents

Alkaloids (Arecoline, Arecaidine, Guvacoline and Guvacine), tannin, lipids, volatile oils and gums.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection of raw drugs

Raw drug was collected from the pharmacy department, I. P. G. T. and R. A., Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar. The botanical name and part used are given in table 1.

Table 1: Botanical name and part used

Sanskrit name Botanical name Part used
Puga Areca catechu Fruit

Pharmacognostical evaluation

The raw drug was identified and authenticated by the Pharmacognosy laboratory, I. P. G. T. and R. A., Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar. The identification was carried out based on morphological features, organoleptic characters and powder microscopy of the drug.

The initial purpose of study was to confirm the authenticity of the drug. First studied the dried powered under the Corl Zeiss Trinoculor microscope attached with camera with and without staining. Microphotographs were also taken under the microscope [3].

Physicochemical parameters

The drug was analyzed by using qualitative and quantitative parameters at Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of I. P. G. T. and R. A., Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar [4].

HPTLC

Extract of Pugaphala was spotted on pre-coated silica gel GF 60254 aluminium plates as 5 mm bands, 5 mm apartand 1 cm from the edge of the plates, by means of a Camag Linomate V sample applicator fitted with a 100 μL Hamilton syringe. Toluene (7 ml), Ethyl acetate (2 ml), Acetic acid (1 ml) were used as the mobile phase. After development, Densitometric scanning was performed with a Camag T. L. C. scanner III in reflectance absorbance mode at 254 nm and 366 nm under control of win CATS software (V 1.2.1 Camag). The slit dimensions were 6 mm x 0.45 mm and the scanning speed was 20 mm s-1.

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS

Pharmacognostical evaluation

Organoleptic characters

The colour, odour, taste etc. of the powder was recorded and placed in table 2.

Microscopic evaluation of Pugaphala powder

The diagnostic characters observed under the microscope are Rhomboidal crystal, Epicarp cells, Iodine stained Simple Starch grain, Starch grain with hilum, Bordered pitted vessels, Group of Simple fiber, Bright yellowish content, Brown content, Oil globule, Lignified scleroids, Parenchyma cells with starch grain and Parenchyma cells (Microphotographs Plate 1. 1-12)

Physico-chemical parameters

Drug was evaluated for various physicochemical parameters like loss on drying, water-soluble extract, alcohol soluble extract, total ash value, pH value. The results are placed at table 3.

HPTLC

Methanol extracts of drugs were spotted on pre-coated silica gel at 254 nm and 366 nm Results are depicted in the table 4 and Plate 2.

Table 2: Organoleptic features of fruit powder

S. No. Organoleptic parameter Result
1 Texture Course fine
2 Colour Chocolate Brown
3 Odour Slightly Aromatic
4 Taste Astringent

Table 3: Physicochemical parameters of Pugaphala

S. No. Physico-chemical parameter Result
1 Loss on drying 4.4 % w/w
2 Ash value 3.8 % w/w
3 Water soluble extract 18% w/w
4 Methanol soluble extract 16.4% w/w
5 pH value 6

Table 4: Results of HPTLC of Pugaphala Churna

Track Solvent system Observation under UV radiation
254 nm
No. of spots
Pugaphala Churna

Toluene (7 ml):

Ethyl acetate (2 ml):

Acetic acid (1 ml)

 7

DISCUSSION

Acharya Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhatta all had described the properties of Pancha Bhautika Dravyas by their Guna and Karma, out of them the Dravyas (drugs), which are predominant in properties of Guru, Sthoola, Kathina, Sthira, Sandra, Khara, Vishada etc. are Parthiva in Mahabhautika dominancy. They exert actions like Upachaya, Gaurava, Sanghaata, and Sthairya. Acharya Sushruta also described that Parthiva Dravyas are mostly Madhura and Kashaya in Rasa and are having downward movement instinctively due to their heaviness [5]. Ayurveda Sutra also mentioned that Kashaya Rasa is originates from Prithvi Mahabhuta [6].

Pugaphala also possess Kashaya Rasa, Guru, Ruksha Guna and Sheeta Veerya. So, by seeing its Rasa Panchaka, Pugaphala was selected as a Parthiva dominant Dravya and after that, pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical study were also supported the Prithvi dominance of Pugaphala. In powder microscopy of Pugaphala, there are many structures which are hard, dense, compactly packed and gives physical strength like Rhomboidal crystal, Epicarp cells, Iodine stained Simple Starch grain, Starch grain with hilum, Group of Simple fiber, Lignified scleroid, etc. these characters are strongly dominated by Prithvi Mahabhuta.

Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. The presence of numerous sclereids produces the gritty texture [7]. Sclereids are roughly isodiametric, and clumps of these “stone cells” give its distinctive grittiness.

Epicarp is a botanical term for the outermost layer of the pericarp (or fruit). The epicarp forms the tough outer skin of the fruit [8]. These features of Pugaphala can be correlated with Kathina, Sthira, Murta and Sthoola Swaroop of Prithvi Mahabhuta.

In physico-chemical parameters loss on drying in Puga is 4.4%w/w, this shows that on drying, loss is less because of dryness due to Khara, Vishada and Kathina Guna of Prithvi Mahabhuta. HPTLC also shows 7 spots on 254 nm while only 5 spots on 366 nm, this shows that due to Sthira Guna of Prithvi Mahabhuta, drug was not spreads more.

Plate 1: Microscopic characters of Pugaphala Churna

1. Rhomboidal crystal

2. Epicarp cell

3. Stained Simple Starch grain

4. Starch grain with hilum

5. Bordered pitted vessel

6. Group of Simple fiber

7. Bright yellowish cotent

8. Brown content

9. Oil globule

10. Lignified scleroid

11. Parenchyma with starch grain

12. Parenchyma cells

Plate 2: Densitogram of Pugaphala Churna

CONCLUSION

Any Panchabhautika molecule has some shape (Akara). This shape is obtained because of compact and dense (Kathinya) of the elementary particles. This compactness and density (Kathinya) is also because of the material form (Murti) of that substance, obtained due to the generic principle Prithvi. Thus, Prithvi Mahabhuta is responsible for giving structure, shape and strength by their Sthoola, Sthira, Kathina, Sandra etc Guna and Sanghaata, Upachaya, Sthairya etc Karma. These Guna and Karma also assessed in Pugaphala by Pharmacognostical and Pharmaceutical study thus, dominance of Prithvi Mahabhuta in Pugaphala was assessed scientifically.

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

All the author have contributed equally

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Declared none

REFERENCES

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