Scientific validation of an ayurvedic herbal preparation chandraprabha vatika
Abstract
Background
Chandraprabha Vatika (CV) is a widely used polyherbal Ayurvedic drug known for its therapeutic applications in urinary and metabolic disorders. This study investigates the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm assay, SEM analysis, cytotoxicity, and HR-LCMS analysis of CV.
Methods Ethanolic extract of CV(ECV) was prepared using the Soxhlet extraction method, followed by rotary evaporation and lyophilization. Preliminary phytochemical screening, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm studies were conducted, and the antioxidant activity was analyzed using DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The further cytotoxicity of ECV was tested against L929 and HEK293 cell lines, and SEM analysis was conducted, which led to the choice of HR-LCMS analysis for identifying its bioactive constituents. Results Phytochemical analysis confirmed the existence of flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, proteins, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acids, and steroids. The phenolic content was 13.74 mg GAE/g extract, and the flavonoid content was 36.57 mg QE/g extract. The ethanolic extract exhibited antioxidant assay with IC₅₀ values of 37.346 µg/ml (DPPH), 25.452 µg/ml (FRAP), and 48.05 µg/ml (ABTS). CV extract proved to be a potent antimicrobial agent, inhibiting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It displayed varying MIC and MBC values, also showing excellent antibiofilm activity when cultured with MDR strains. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed that ECV was non-toxic to L929 and HEK-293 cells at all tested concentrations. SEM analysis confirmed significant cellular damage in gram positive and gram negative bacteria. HR-LCMS analysis revealed bioactive compounds that could be linked to the therapeutic properties of CV. Conclusion The findings validate ECV as a good ayurvedic preparation having myriad therapeutic applications, including antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activity without cytotoxity
