Title: Standardisation Studies of Homoeopathic Drug Ammi Majus Linn: Physico-Chemical Profile

Objective: To study the physico-chemical character of Ammi majus Linn

Materials & Methods: The air dried plant material was subjected to moisture content (Loss on Drying at 105 ⁰C), total ash content, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash, extractive valve in different solvent (varying polarity). Maximum extractive value (MEV) using different strength of alcohol (in order to fix the alcohol content for preparation of mother tincture) and mother tincture was prepared as per procedure laid down in Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (1971), percolation technique was adopted. For TLC studies, 25ml of MT was taken and alcohol content was evaporated over a water bath and extracted with 25ml of CHCL three times. The concentrated chloroform extract was spotted on the silica gel G (activated) plate (0.5mm. layer thickness) using chloroform: Ethanol (98.5: 1.5 v/v) as mobile phase.

Results: Physico- chemical standardisation studies of MT has revealed that the specific gravity 0.96, total solid 1.65% w/v, alcohol content 40% v/v and pH value 7.0 approx. were observed. It is evident from the TLC studies that the Chloroform extract of MT shows three prominent spots with f. values 0.10 & 0.15 (greenish) and 078 (brownish) Diluted MT when scanned in UV-visible spectrum in the range 200-500 nm showing two distinct peaks ( λ max) at240.0 nm and 209.0 nm.

Conclusion: Phyto-chemical studies A. majus Linn. whole plant and mother plant and mother tincture have been chemically analysed for laying down standard in Homoeopathic system of Medicine. The physico-chemical studies like, extractive value, ash value, TLC of chloroform extract in chloroform : ethanol (98.5: 1.5 v/v), UV study, the absorbance spectra was scanned in the range of 200-500 nm and shows two distinct peaks (λ max) at 240.0 nm and 209.0 nm .The physico-chemical studies can be taken as parameters to fix standard.

Published in: Drug Research, Homoeopathic Drug Research Institute, Annual Report, 1995-96, 43-50.