Abstract
Background: Panchavidha Kashaya Kalpana constitutes the fundamental pharmaceutical preparations in Ayurveda, additionally Arka is considered highly potent due to its distillation-based method, improved shelf life, palatability, and requirement of minimal dosage Kantakaryadi Arka, a classical formulation indicated for respiratory disorders, warrants evidences to establish its pharmaceutical and analytical profile.Objective: To evaluate the pharmaceutical and analytical parameters of Kantakaryadi Arka. Methods: The study was carried out in two phases—pharmaceutical preparation and analytical evaluation. The raw drugs Vasa, Kantakari, and Pippali were authenticated and used to prepare Arka in two classical ratios: 1:16 (Pāneeya Kwatha proportion) and 1:2 (Arka Prakasha method). Distillation was performed using an Arka Yantra under controlled conditions, and the percentage yield of the distillate was recorded. Analytical studies included organoleptic evaluation and physicochemical analysis (pH, specific gravity, viscosity, and total ash), along with HPTLC fingerprinting of the formulation. Results: The prepared Arka was clear, colourless, pungent, and slightly bitter. The observed physicochemical parameters were within permissible limits: pH 5.8, specific gravity 0.9983, total solid content 0.15% w/w, viscosity 0.6023, and total ash 0%. HPTLC profiling revealed distinct spots at Rf values 0.73 and 0.82 at 254 nm, and five fluorescent spots at 0.04, 0.13, 0.40, 0.80, and 0.88 at 366 nm. These correspond to active phyto constituents such as vasicine, vasicinone, piperine, solasodine, flavonoid glycosides, and steroidal alkaloids, indicating the presence of pharmacologically relevant compounds.
Conclusion: The pharmaceutical and analytical evaluation successfully established a reproducible standard profile of Kantakaryadi Arka. The HPTLC fingerprint confirms the key bioactive components responsible for its Shwasahara, Kaphaghna, and Kasanashaka properties. The findings provide a scientific basis for the standardization and future clinical validation of this classical formulation.