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Background and Objective. Tamalakyadi decoction (TD) is a classical formulation mentioned in authentic traditional medicine text Sarasankshepaya under nasal diseases and used as a remedy for allergic rhinitis. It consists of 12 plant ingredients. Decoction preparations are widely used in Sri Lankan traditional system and considered effective and safe for treating many disorders. However, decoctions have to be used only in fresh state due to shorter shelf life and loss of stability. This decoction preparation method leads to decreasing the patient compliance and is also time consuming. Hence, the objective of the present study was to convert TD to consumer friendly novel dosage form, namely, freeze dried, spray dried, and traditional ganasara forms. Methodology. Therefore, we compared the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of TD with its modified dosage forms. The chemical comparison of four dosage forms comprises phytochemical screening, TLC and HPTLC fingerprint profiles and the antioxidant activities by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total polyphenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). Results. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids in all dosage forms. However, the saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids were more prominent in TD and freeze dried preparation than the other two preparations. HPTLC fingerprint pattern of freeze dried dosage was more similar with HPTLC fingerprint pattern of TD in terms of number of peaks and their intensity compared to that of spray dried and ganasara dosage forms. Antioxidant activities such as DPPH, FRAP, TPC, and TFC were higher in decoction and freeze dried preparation than in spray dried and ganasara preparation. Conclusion. Freeze dried TD is the most suitable ready to use preparation having similar chemical properties and antioxidant activities to TD.

Background:Piper betle Linn. (Piperaceae) is used as a remedy for gastric ulcers in traditional medicinal systems in Sri Lanka. However, the gastroprotective activity has never been proven scientifically using betel leaves grown in Sri Lanka.Objective:To evaluate the gastroprotective activity of hot aqueous extract (HAE) and cold ethanolic extract (CEE) of P. betle in rats as the experimental model.Materials and Methods:Three doses (200, 300, and 500 mg/kg/bw) of both extracts were evaluated for the gastroprotective activity against ethanol induced gastric ulcers in rats. The parameters evaluated were (a) effects of HAE on mucus content adhering to the wall of the gastric mucosa, (b) acidity (total and free), (c) volume and (d) pH of the gastric juice.Results:Oral administration of HAE and CEE provided marked dose dependent (HAE: r2 = 0.97; CEE: r2 = 0.96) and significant (P ≤ 0.05) protection against gastric damage caused by absolute ethanol. The gastroprotective effect of CEE was comparable with that of HAE. Further, gastroprotective activity of the highest dose of both extracts were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than that of misoprostol, the reference drug. The HAE significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the mucus content adhering to the wall of the gastric mucosa and inhibited the volume of gastric acid. However, acidity (total and free) and pH of the gastric juice remained unaltered.Conclusion:It is concluded that both HAE and CEE of P. betle leaves have a strong gastroprotective activity.

Cyathula prostrata Linn (Family:Amaranthaceae) is widely used to stop the bleeding of patients suffering from piles (hemorrhoids). C. prostrata cannot be found universally and it grows only in areas which has wet climatic condition. Achyranthes aspera Linn is also belonging to plant family Amaranthaceae and Sri Lankan Ayurvedic physicians are used this plant as a substitute for C. prostrata. Not like C. prostrata, A. aspera is found on road sides, field boundaries and waste places as a weed throughout the country. As Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics properties are similar in both C. prostrata and A. aspera an attempt was made to evaluate the suitability of using A. aspera as a substitute for C. prostrata in terms of (a) phytochemical screening and (b) in vitro antioxidant activities. Results revealed that saponins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and alkaloids were present in both plants. Antioxidant activities of ABTS [2,2-azino-bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) diammonium salt], DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) are almost similar in both C. prostrata and A. aspera. However, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and ORAC (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity) activities were higher in C. prostrata hot water extract than that of A. aspera. In conclusion, considering the similarities of phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of two plants, A. aspera can be used as a substitute for C. prostrata.

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