The primary objective of the current investigation was to standardize the formulation GH Pain Nil Powder, marketed for management of joint pain according to the WHO guidelines for establishing scientific evidence for applicability of the formulation for human use. The procured pouches of GHPN were yellowish-brown in color, with characteristic odor and bitter taste. They were available as granular powder (Churna). GHPN exhibited 8.9% total ash with 2.65% acid insoluble ash and 5.1% water soluble ash. The water soluble and alcohol soluble extractives were 1.48% and 1.4% respectively suggesting the formulation to be suitable for human use.The results of preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening revealed that except proteins and amino acids all the classes of phytochemicals were present in GHPN. TLC analysis of GHPN was done using Allicin as the marker using ethylacetate: chloroform: water (5:3:1) as the solvent system. Allicin appeared at Rf value of 0.61 on the TLC plate as bluish-green spot. The quantitation of the Allicin was done by HPLC method and it was found that GHPN contained 4.12 µg Allicin per 5 g of GHPN. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method and it was seen that GHPN was able to inhibit only 28.27% edema formation in rat paws. The analgesic action of GHPN was evaluated using tail flick method and the response time pain stimulus (thermal) was observed. The highest reaction time for GHPN was 6.26 ± 0.053 sec at 60 min post administration while it was 3.48 ± 0.079 sec and 7.23 ± 0.151 sec for saline and Ibuprofen respectively at the same time duration.

Standardization, herbal, Allicin, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, extractives

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