78 Article Info Article history Received 4 April 2020 Revised 27 May 2020 Accepted 29 May 2020 Published online 30 June 2020 Keywords HPTLC Antimicrobial Mahamanjisthadi kadha Skin infections Lupeol Gallic acid Ellagic acid Original article: Open access Physicochemical characterization and antimicrobial properties of Mahamanjishthadi kadha: An Ayurvedic formulation Kapil Thakur  *, P. Mini Mol, Madhuree Gawhankar**, Himanshu Gupta, Priyanka Patil** and Mansee Thakur MGM School of Biomedical Sciences, MGMIHS, Kamothe-410206, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India *Shree Dhootapapeshwar Limited, Panvel-410206, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India **Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ayurvedic Research Foundation, Panvel-410206, Maharashtra, India Abstract Skin infections are common throughout the world. With high infectivity amongst skin pathogens, approximately 300 million people are affected worldwide. The increasing rate of failure of chemotherapeutics and antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic microbial infectious agents, has increased the use of Ayurvedic medicines. This study aims to standardize an Ayurvedic formulation, Mahamanjisthadi kadha and to evaluate its antimicrobial properties against skin infection, causing pathogens. Physicochemical analysis such as organoleptic tests, pH, alcohol content, Brix and Specific gravity was done. Phytochemical screening was performed for various bioactive compounds. Heavy metals, aflatoxins and microbial load were checked for contaminants. Chromatographic analysis was performed to estimate lupeol, ellagic acid and gallic acid, using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Antimicrobial activity was determined against five common pathogens causing skin infections, using well-diffusion method. Organoleptic tests confirmed brown color and characteristic odor of self generated alcohol with bitter and astringent taste. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins and flavonoids. HPTLC analysis confirmed the presence of lupeol, ellagic acid and gallic acid. Heavy metals, aflatoxins and microbial load were found within the permissible limit. Antimicrobial study showed the formulation could inhibit growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The study presented has completely characterized the formulation will serve as reference to develop quality control profile of Mahamnjishtadi kadha and help in validating therapeutic efficacy of this formulation. Copyright © 2020 Ukaaz Publications. All rights reserved. Email: ukaaz@yahoo.com; Website: www.ukaazpublications.com Annals of Phytomedicine 9(1): 78-90, 2020 Annals of Phytomedicine: An International Journal http://www.ukaazpublications.com/publications/index.php Print ISSN : 2278-9839 Online ISSN : 2393-9885 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21276/ap.2020.9.1.9 Corresponding author: Dr. Kapil Thakur Shree Dhootapapeshwar Limited, Panvel-410206, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India E-mail: ksthakur123@gmail.com; kst@sdlindia.com Tel.: +91-9867199737 1. Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the 80% of the world’s population depend on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs because of significant economic benefits in the development of indigenous medicines and in the use of medicinal plants for the cure of various diseases (Taid et al., 2014). Usage of herbal and natural products has seen an upsurge across the globe (Vaidya and Devasagaya, 2007). This increased interest in botanical drugs has necessitated the need of standardization of quality and manufacturing. In order to ensure consistency in manufacturing process, the drugs need to be characterized scientifically. Standardization is a process of making a drug conforms to a type or standards in order to deliver a safe, efficacious and quality product. It is an important process in defining a quality program for production of herbal drug (Bhope et al., 2011). The primary focus of Ayurvedic medicine is to prevent illness, promote good health. It has been known since ancient in Ayurveda that a connection exists between the skin and mind. The negative impact on mind leads to stress which in turn directly or indirectly plays a major role in the manifestation and aggravation of skin diseases (Singh et al., 2014). Human skin, the outermost layer of the body is known to act as the first line of defense. Human skin is constituted of three specialized layers, i.e., epidermis, dermis and hypodermis whereby each layer has their defined role in the function of the skin. Skin acts as an interface of body with the environment, has a vital role in protecting the body against pathogens (Proksch et al., 2008) and acts as an barrier for water loss from body (Kathi and Madison, 2003). Besides this, skin helps in body temperature regulation, vit D synthesis through UV sun rays, absorption of oxygen and plays significant role in drug absorption (Grice et al., 2009). However, our first line of defense is prone to various bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections and all age groups, covering the neonate to the elderly get affected by skin ailments in number of ways (Marks and Miller, 2006). Approximately 300 million people