FORMULATION AND QUALITY CONTROL OF A POLYHERBAL POWDER FOR DIABETES: A PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Diwaker Dadrwal, Dipanwita Chaudhuri Sil, Swati Khandelwal, Raj Kumari, Seema Gupta, Fahim Ansari, Vivek Srivastava and Narendar Bhojak*

ABSTRACT

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus has prompted a global search for safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives. Traditional herbal medicine offers a rich source of bioactive compounds with antidiabetic potential. This study focuses on the formulation and quality control of a standardized polyherbal powder using selected medicinal plants traditionally known for their Momordica charantia; Gymnema slyvestre; Costus pictus; antidiabetic properties. The formulation was developed by incorporating powdered forms of among others, in scientifically validated proportions. Pharmacognostic evaluation, including macroscopic and microscopic analysis, was conducted to ensure the authenticity and purity of the individual plant components. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of key bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, which are known to contribute to glycemic control. Quality control parameters, including moisture content, ash values, and extractive values, were assessed according to WHO guidelines to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. The results suggest that the formulated polyherbal powder is pharmacognostically and phytochemically robust and holds promise as a natural, complementary approach to diabetes management. Further pharmacological and clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and safety.

Keywords: Standardization; Herbal medicines; Momordica charantia; Gymnema slyvestre; Costus pictus; Polyherbal formulation.