FORMULATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF AVALEHA PREPARATION FROM BENINCASA HISPIDA

Standardization of Ayurvedic formulation is essential in order to assess the quality of drugs. Avaleha is “a semisolid preparation which is prepared by reboiling of decoction etc., till it solidifies and attains signs of proper cooking and consistency. The present study deals with standardization of Avaleha from Benincasa hispida , known to be effective in caugh and chronic respiratory diseases. Avaleha formulation was prepared by reported traditional method of Ayurveda. Formulation was standardized by modern scientific quality control procedure for the finished products. Standardization of Avaleha was achieved by organoleptic study and by studing physicochemical parameters such as pH, TLC, Loss on drying, Extractive values, ash value, total reducing sugars and stability study. The results showed that the physicochemical parameters were well within the standard limits and the values could be used to establish and formulate procedures for standardization and quality controll of these ayurvedic formulations. The study revealed that the standardization parameters could be used at commercial level for such formulations. Also comparison with the marketed formulation with satisfactory evaluation parameters justifies the stability of the method.