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Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

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Open Access Full Text Article                                                                                    Research Article

Physicochemical Characterization and Thin Layer Chromatographic Fingerprinting of Drakshadi Ghrita: A Foundational Study for Standardization

Dr. Sagarika S Lal *¹, Prof. (Dr.) Harish Kumar Singhal ², Dr. Manisha Goyal ³, Dr. Rajeev Soni ⁴

¹ PG Scholar, PG Department of Kaumarbhritya; Post Graduate Institute of Ayurveda, Dr. S.R. Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

² Professor & HOD, PG Department of Kaumarbhritya; Post Graduate Institute of Ayurveda, Dr. S.R. Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

³ Associate Professor, PG Department of Ras Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana; Post Graduate Institute of Ayurveda, Dr. S.R. Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

⁴ Assistant Professor, PG Department of Shalakya Tantra, Post Graduate Institute of Ayurveda, Dr. S.R. Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Ghee is regarded in Ayurveda as the ultimate yogavahi—a substance that potentiates and transports therapeutic properties of herbs into deep tissues ¹. When herbs are processed with ghee, their lipid-soluble constituents become bioavailable, and the ghee itself acquires the pharmacological attributes of the added botanicals ².

Drakshadi Ghrita is described in Vangsena Samhita under Netra Rogadhikara (eye disorders). Its principal ingredient is Draksha (Vitis vinifera), along with Madhuyashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Pundrika (Nelumbo nucifera) and Satavari (Asparagus racemosus), processed in cow's ghee through the traditional ghrita paka method ³. Despite traditional indications for vision improvement and as a children's tonic, published analytical data are absent, affecting clinician confidence and regulatory oversight ⁴. This study aims to establish the first analytical dataset for Drakshadi Ghrita and correlate the findings with clinical ophthalmic applications.

METHODS

A 100 mL marketed sample of Drakshadi Ghrita was analysed at Cultivator Phyto Lab Private Limited, Jodhpur (December 2025) following Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) protocols ⁵. Parameters included moisture content (azeotropic distillation), saponification value, iodine value (Wij's method), acid value, Reichert-Meissl value, specific gravity, refractive index, rancidity (Kries test), and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on methanol extract using toluene:ethyl acetate:chloroform:methanol (8:0.5:0.05:0.2) mobile phase, derivatised with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent.

 

RESULTS

Table 1: Physicochemical Parameters of Drakshadi Ghrita

Parameter	Unit	Result	Test Method
Moisture	% w/w	0.16	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Saponification value	--	223.82	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Iodine value	--	37.36	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Acid value	--	0.78	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Reichert-Meissl value	--	25.93	API Part I Vol VI [6]
Specific gravity (25°C)	--	0.9211	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Refractive index (25°C)	--	1.4610	API Part II Vol IV [5]
Rancidity (Kries test)	--	Absent	API Part II Vol IV [5]

TLC revealed four major spots at Rf 0.25, 0.28, 0.79, and 0.96 with violet to blue-violet coloration after derivatisation.

 

 

DISCUSSION

Physicochemical Parameters

Moisture content (0.16%) is exceptionally low, indicating complete aqueous phase evaporation during ghrita paka and predicting excellent storage stability ⁷. Saponification value (223.82) falls within the pure cow ghee range (220-240), confirming absence of vegetable oil adulteration ⁸. Iodine value (37.36) is consistent with pure ghee (26-40), indicating predominantly saturated fatty acids and good oxidative stability ⁹. Acid value (0.78) is remarkably low (fresh ghee <1.0), attesting to freshness and careful processing ¹⁰.

Reichert-Meissl value (25.93) is the most definitive parameter, falling within the bovine ghee range (24-32) and confirming authentic milk fat base ¹¹. This test specifically measures volatile water-soluble fatty acids (butyric, caproic, caprylic) unique to milk fats, providing powerful defence against adulteration ¹². Specific gravity (0.9211) and refractive index (1.4610) corroborate other findings. Negative Kries test confirms absence of early oxidative rancidity ⁷.

Clinical Significance of Biomarkers

The TLC fingerprint represents clinically active phytochemicals with documented ophthalmic applications ¹³.

Resveratrol and Phenolic Compounds (Rf 0.79, 0.96): Derived from Vitis vinifera, these compounds activate the SIRT1 pathway, reducing retinal vascular leakage and inhibiting VEGF-induced angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy ¹⁴. They protect retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), inhibit aldose reductase to prevent cataract, and exert neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma ¹⁵. Their lipophilic nature ensures enhanced blood-retinal barrier penetration.

Glycyrrhizin and Flavonoids (Rf 0.25, 0.28): From Glycyrrhiza glabra, these compounds provide anti-inflammatory effects via 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibition, mucin secretagogue activity for dry eye syndrome, mast cell stabilization for allergic conjunctivitis, and antimicrobial properties for corneal ulcers ¹⁶. Clinical studies show improved tear film stability and reduced corneal epitheliopathy ¹⁷.

Ghee Base (Reichert-Meissl value 25.93): Beyond being a carrier, ghee provides yogavahi (targeted delivery) across blood-ocular barriers, Snigdha (unctuous) quality for dry eye lubrication, and butyric acid, which serves as metabolic fuel for retinal cells and modulates inflammation via HDAC inhibition ¹⁸.

Clinical Applications

Anterior Segment Disorders: Lower Rf compounds address dry eye (mucin secretagogue activity), allergic conjunctivitis (mast cell stabilization), and corneal ulcers (epithelial regeneration with antimicrobial action).

Posterior Segment Disorders: Higher Rf compounds benefit diabetic retinopathy (anti-VEGF effects), ARMD (antioxidant protection), and glaucoma (retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection).

Paediatric Ophthalmology: The formulation offers particular advantages in computer vision syndrome (blue light protection), recurrent styes (antimicrobial action), and allergic conjunctivitis (steroid-sparing option) ¹⁹. Low acid value ensures non-irritation to paediatric eyes.

Integration with Ayurvedic Therapies

The biomarkers provide scientific rationale for traditional Tarpana (direct ocular application), oral administration (systemic retinal delivery), and Nasya (nasal) routes, each utilizing different compound fractions for targeted effects ²⁰.

CONCLUSION

The Drakshadi Ghrita sample exhibited physicochemical characteristics consistent with authentic bovine ghee base and careful processing. TLC fingerprint at Rf 0.25, 0.28, 0.79, and 0.96 provides a reproducible identity marker corresponding to flavonoids, glycyrrhizin, resveratrol, and sterols. These biomarkers possess significant clinical relevance in anterior segment disorders (dry eye, allergic conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers) and posterior segment conditions (diabetic retinopathy, ARMD, glaucoma), with particular advantages in paediatric ophthalmology. This dataset serves as an initial reference for quality assessment and bridges traditional Ayurvedic ophthalmology with evidence-based therapeutics.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no potential conflict of interest concerning the contents, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Author Contributions: All authors have equal contributions in the preparation of the manuscript and compilation.

Source of Support: Nil

Funding: The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable. 

Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. 

Ethical approval: Not applicable.

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