European Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015; 3(2): 17-21 Published online February 14, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ejpm) doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.11 ISSN: 2330-8222 (Print); ISSN: 2330-8230 (Online) Evaluation of some physicochemical properties as quality control parameters of an ayurvedic preparation “Khadirarishta” Kamrun Nahar 1 , Most. Shammi Rahman 1 , Shahana Jahan 1 , Md. Zakir Sultan 2 , Md. Musfaqur Rahman Sajjad 3 , Md. Taimuzzaman Sharif 3 , Nur Jaharat Lubna 4 , Abu Asad Chowdhury 3 , Shaila Kabir 3 , Mohammad Shah Amran 3, * 1 Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, Dhanmondhi, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2 Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 3 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 4 Department of Pharmacy, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh Email address: amranms@du.ac.bd (M. S. Amran) To cite this article: Kamrun Nahar, Most. Shammi Rahman, Shahana Jahan, Md. Zakir Sultan, Md. Musfaqur Rahman Sajjad, Md. Taimuzzaman Sharif, Nur Jaharat Lubna, Abu Asad Chowdhury, Shaila Kabir, Mohammad Shah Amran. Evaluation of Some Physicochemical Properties as Quality Control Parameters of an Ayurvedic Preparation “Khadirarishta”. European Journal of Preventive Medicine. Vol. 3, No. 2, 2015, pp. 17-21. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.11 Abstract: Traditional or alternative medicines such as Ayurvedic drugs are getting importance and reputation day by day in the treatment of various diseases. This is because it has fewer side effects and gives necessary pharmacological action. But prolonged and excess usage may lead to harmful effects such as damage of the heart muscle leading to various types of arrhythmia and coronary artery diseases. “Khadirarista”, an Ayurvedic drug, was traditionally used for heart diseases along with jaundice, anemia, abdominal tumor and leprosy. The physicochemical properties such as pH, density, viscosity, conductivity, loss on drying (LOD), chromatographic and spectral study, and presence of metal ions the drug “Khadirarista” were studied. It was found that pH values were 4.53, 4.21 and 4.31 at 1%, 5% and 10% of test solution, respectively. It indicated that "Khadirarishta" was an acidic preparation. Density, average viscosity and residue (LOD) of the drug was 1.0076 g/mL, 25.22 pascal/second and 9.33 g/100 mL, respectively. The spectral study of the test sample was performed and peaks were obtained at the wavelengths of 275, 254, 274.80, 254.60, 275.60, 273.60, 211, 253.60 nm in UV spectrophotometer with 276.60 nm being the λ max . HPLC analysis of the sample was performed and retention time (R t ) of the possible active components were found to be 4.12, 4.22 and 4.83 min. R t at 4.12 min was the most sharp peak. Applying TLC, the R f values of the active compounds were found to be 0.6 and 0.7. The level of various metal ions in the sample was measured by Flame Photometry and Na, K, Ca levels were found to be 75 ppm, 5 ppm, 12 ppm, respectively. Keywords: Khadirarishta, HPLC, Flame Photometry, Physicochemical Parameters 1. Introduction Plant and man are, were and will be inseparable, because plants not only provide us with food, shelter and medicine but also the life sustaining oxygen gas. Since, disease, decay and death have always co-existed with human civilization; the early man had to think about disease and its treatment at the dawn of intellect. Thus the race started using plants as a means of treatment of diseases and injuries. Human race has successfully used plants and products thereof as effective therapeutic tools for fighting against disease and various health hazards 1 . Medicinal plants are the principal healthcare resources for the majority of people all over the world. Pharmaceutical importance of plants has led to the discovery and adoption of plant extracts which were commonly used in traditional medicine as alternative source of remedy 2 . Herbal medicines refer to the use of any plant seed, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flower for medicinal purpose 3 . The economic significance of medicinal plants stems from the fact that the number of patients suffering from chronic ailments is on the rise and drugs from medicinal plants are proving to be more