INVESTIGATION OF EXPECTORANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF MASHI (AN AYURVEDIC DOSAGE FORM) PREPARED FROM ROOTS OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA L.

Abstract

Withania somnifera L. (WS) (Ashwagandha), Solanaceae is a nontoxic herb considered as Rasayana in Ayurveda. The ash which is obtained by heating natural products below 450°C at lower temperature and before production of white ash (bhasma) generally called as Mashi. The study was aim to investigate expectorant potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of WS roots and Mashi. The expectorant potential of WS Mashi was supported on primary ground by antibacterial activity. WS Mashi was prepared by Ayurvedic procedures viz. Anter-Dhum (internal heat) and Bahir-Dhum (external heat) Paddhati. The previously standardized powdered roots of WS and prepared WS Mashi both were extracted by water decoction and successive soxhlet extraction process for 12-15 hrs using ethanol. Expectorant potential of extracts were evaluated by the phenol red excretion quantities in mice. Optical density values of phenol red solution were measured with 430 nm. Antibacterial activity of WS Mashi was carried out by agar well cup diffusion method against B. subtilis and S. aureus and E. coli. Acute toxicity study showed that all animals are safe without any toxic symptoms up to the dose 2000 mg/kg. The aqueous extract of WS Mashi prepared by Anter-Dhum Paddhati was found to possess most significant expectorant activity (1.8476 ± 0.0450). The ethanolic extract of WS Mashi demonstrate zone of inhibition in plate containing B. subtilis and S. aureus. The Mashi prepared from WS roots can be used effectively in treatment of cough and bacterial infections.