Digestive Activity of Pancha Harithakadi Churna

The traditional systems of medicine are really effective but the problem with them is they lack in quality assurance. Standardizationis the need of the hour in ayurvedic system of medicine. PanchaHarithakadi Churna (PHC) is a traditional polyherbal formulation whichconsists of five household ingredients used for indigestion. It is mainly used for Constipation and Bloating. Churna’s will play a majorrole in gastro intestinal problems and they have greater bioavailability because of smaller particle size. It consists of fine powder(sieve 100 size) of ginger rhizomes, fennel fruits, myrobalan fruits, senna leaflets and pink rock salt in equal proportions (1:1:1:1:1)are mixed well. PHC was formulated by standard procedures and evaluated by microscopic characterization, inorganic analysis anddigestive studies. Microscopical characters indicate the presence of genuine crude drugs used in the formulation. Inorganic analysisshows the presence of calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and phosphate. The PHC showed pronounced amylolytic activity andtrypsin activity whereas moderate lipolytic activity, proteolytic activity and pepsin activity, mild chymotrypsin activity in treatingindigestion. In future we will carry out in vivo digestive studies.