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Research
Article
Quality
Control Tests on Andrographis paniculata Nees (Family:
Acanthaceae) – an Indian
‘Wonder’ Plant Grown in Nigeria
Sunday J
Ameh1*,
Obiageri O Obodozie1,
Uford S Inyang1, Mujitaba S Abubakar2
and
Magaji Garba3
1Department
of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control, National
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD),
PMB 21, Garki, Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, 2Department
of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, 3Department
of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author:
E-mail:
sjitodo@yahoo.com
Tel: +234-8053691277
Received: 12 January
2010
Revised accepted: 11 June 2010
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, August 2010;
9(4):
387- 394
Abstract
Purpose:
To characterize the aerial parts of Andrographis
paniculata, a bitter Indian herb grown in Nigeria, for
the purpose of quality control.
Methods:
The determination of bitterness value and of various
physicochemical characteristics; tests for key
phytochemicals; and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of
the air-dried herb, were carried out as prescribed in
standard texts.
Results:
The mean bitterness value of the herb for both men and
women was 2.86 ± 1.74 x 103 units per g. The
male value (2.07 ± 1.42 x 103) appeared to be
lower than the female’s (3.52 ± 1.82 x 103)
but the difference was not statistically significant.
The results (% w/w) of loss on drying (10.64 ± 0.36),
total ash (14.10 ± 4.49), water extractive value (30.37
± 2.63) and acid insoluble ash (1.00 ± 0.06) were
similar to those reported for the Asian plant. The
phytochemical tests revealed the presence of glycosides,
saponins, tannins and alkaloids, but not of
anthraquinones. Normal phase TLC of the drug yielded 5
spots as against 6 spots yielded by reverse TLC.
Conclusion:
The results provide useful quantitative and descriptive
data that are essential for identifying and
characterizing the Nigerian grown herb for the purpose
of quality control; and confirm key similarities between
the Nigerian and the Asian plant.
Keywords:
Andrographis paniculata, Quality control, Bitterness
value, Physicochemical, Phytochemical, Chromatography. |
