STANDARDIZATION OF KHULANJAN (ALPINIA GALANGA): AN IMPORTANT HERBAL UNANI DRUG

Mokarram Ali*, Naeem A. Khan and Sawood Ahmad

ABSTRACT

Khulanjan is the (rhizome of Alpinia galanga (L) wildly used in Traditional Medicine in various diseases and as one of the constituents of many preparations. It belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. It is one of the most potent drugs that have been used since long time in Unani System of Medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus. This drug has been described in Unani Classical literatures having astringent property and used in the management of renal colic and other ailments. Khulanjan also produces hypoglycaemic effect when used in different animal species. It also has aphrodisiac, nervine tonic and stomachic properties. Due to different place of cultivation and Environmental condition i.e natural variations a number of natural products have significantly different biological activity and varied clinical efficacy. Therefore, it becomes imperative to standardize the herbal drugs to ensure their identity, quality and purity so as to ascertain their therapeutic efficacy. In the present study an attempt has been made to determine the physicochemical characters helpful in identification, standardization and quality control of Khulanjan. It includes the parameters used in Unani Pharmacopeia of India i.e. Ash values (Total ash, acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash), successive extractive values , loss on drying, pH at 1% & 10%, bulk density (poured & tapped density) and moisture content. Qualitative analysis and Chromatographic study (TLC) were also performed.

Keywords: Standardization, Khulanjan, safety of Alpinia galanga, TLC.