Standardization and Safety Evaluation of A Polyherbal Formulation Kabideen (Syrup)

Standardization is of growing concern for establishment of a consistent biological activity, chemical profile, safety and quality assurance of traditional drugs. In the present study a polyherbal Unani formulation “Kabideen”, manufactured by Dawakhana Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, was taken to establish its physicochemical standardization and to evaluate its safety profile. The various parameters studied in this communication include ash values (total, acid insoluble and water soluble), extractive values (aqueous and alcoholic extract), pH values of 1% and 10% solution, viscosity, specific gravity, refractive index and sugar percentage of the formulation. The qualitative and quantitative estimation of various constituents’ i.e. alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, proteins, resin and sterols /terpenes and thin layer chromatographic studies were performed. In addition to these parameters, the safety profile of Kabideen was done to evaluate the presence of heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium). The microbial loads (total bacterial, total yeast and mould count), pesticidal residues and aflatoxins were also determined in Kabideen syrup.