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Characterization of an Expectorant Herbal Basak Tea Prepared with Adhatoda Vasica Leaves.

Ashish K. Sarker
Plant Protein Research Section, IFST, BCSIR, Dhaka

Kabir Ahamed
BCSIR Laboratories, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Jasim Uddin Chowdhury
BCSIR Laboratories, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Jarifa Begum
BCSIR Laboratories, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A herbal tea for an expectorant action was prepared with Adhatoda vasica leaves. Analytical, pharmacological, microbiological and animal toxicity studies were carried out to characterize the herbal tea. The analytical data indicates that the alcohol extract from herbal basak tea contains 0.67% crude alkaloids and the isolated tracheal chain experiment with this extract showed small relaxation effect compare to the standard histamine drug. The crude alkaloids and the other extracts (petroleum ether extract, alcohol extract and hot water extract) showed mild inhibition in different degrees against different microorganisms. The animal toxicity studies on rats reveled no mortality after 24 hours and also no abnormal delayed effect indicates no toxicity of prepared tea at all. Based on the above results, the prepared herbal basak tea is proposed as a good expectorant. Herbal tea prepared with Adhatoda vasica leaves collected in May to September showed better efficacy than those of other times.

Keywords: Herbal basak tea, Crude alkaloids, Relaxation effect.

Location: Plant Protein Research Section, IFST, BCSIR, Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

To prepare a good expectorant herbal tea with single herb leaves like Adhatoda vasica leaves that will give required vasicine alkaloids and less pigment in hot water extraction for the treatment of common cold.

Methodology:

Preparation of herbal basak tea: 2.0 kg fresh leaves of Adhatoda vasica (basak) were collected, cleaned and cut into small pieces. It was then ruptured by blending. The blended leaves were allowed to ferment in a thick layer for 18 hours at a temperature of 30 - 32^OC. After fermentation, the material was sprayed on trays and dried by air circulation for 4 - 6 hours. The partially dried tea was again crushed into fine particles to increase the surface area and dried in hot air dryer at 65-70^OC for 4 hours. The yield was 712 g.Extracts for microbiological and pharmacological test. Water extract: The tea (100 g) was crushed in powder form and soaked in hot water (80 - 85^OC) for 5 minutes. The extraction was carried out three times. The combined extracts were filtered and concentrated on water bath and then in a vacuum oven to a dry mass. The yield was 28.0 g. Alcohol extract: Powdered tea (100 g) was soaked in alcohol and extracted after 24 hours. Three times extractions were carried out and filtered. The combined extract was evaporated in a rotary vacuum evaporator and finally dried in a vacuum dryer. The yield was 33.87 g. Petroleum ether extract: 100 g tea was extracted with petroleum ether (40 - 60^OC) in a Soxlet apparatus for two hours and after removing solvent on hot water bath, the residue was dried in a vacuum oven for 5 hours at 60^OC. The yield was 9.14 g. Crude alkaloids: 100 g tea were finely powdered and extracted with dilute hydrochloric (2 N) in warming (40- 45^OC) condition. The water-soluble salts of alkaloids were thus removed in solution, leaving the insoluble materials behind. The acids extracts were then made basic with dilute ammonia solution and extracted two times with chloroform. The chloroform layer separated and washed with water to free alkali. After removing chloroform, the crude alkaloids were obtained and purified by column chromatography using chloroform solvent. The yield was 0.67 %. Determination of antibacterial activity: The disc diffusion technique was employed for determination of antibacterial activity using nutrient agar medium. In this method, solution of known concentration (μl/ml) of the test samples were made by dissolving measured amount of the samples in definite volume of solvents. Dried and sterilized filter paper disc (10 mm diameter) were then impregnated with known amount of test substance using micropipette. Discs containing the test material were placed on nutrient agar medium uniformly seeded with the test microorganisms. The experiment was replicated two times. Standard antibiotic discs (Ampicillin) were used as positive control for comparison of results. These plates were kept at low temperature (4^OC) for 24 hours to allow maximum diffusion. During this time disc absorb water from the surrounding medium and then test materials dissolved and diffused out of the media. The plates were then incubated at 37^OC for 24 hours to allow maximum growth of the organism. If the test material has any antibacterial activity it will inhibit the growth of the microorganism giving a clear distinct zone called "Zone of inhibition". The antibacterial activity of the test agent was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition expressed as millimeter.Test on isolated tracheal chain The effect of test samples on tracheal chain was investigated following the method of Castillo and De-Beer with some modification. Male guinea pigs (300-500 g) were killed by a blow on the neck and trachea removed. Each trachea was cut into 10 rings ( each containing 2-3 cartilaginous rings). All the rings were then cut open opposite the trachealis muscle and sutured together to form a tracheal chain. Tissue was then suspended in a 10 ml organ bath (Kent, UK) containing Krebs-Henseleit solution of the follow composition (mM) : NaCl 120, NaHCO₃ 25, MgSO₄ 0.5, KH2PO₄ 1.2, KCl 4.72, and dextrose 11. The Krebs solution was maintained at 37^OC and gassed with 95% O₂ and 5% CO₂. Tissue was suspended under an isotonic tension of 1 g and allowed to equilibrate for at least 1h while it was washed with Krebs solution every 20 minutes. The effects of the test samples were observed on guinea pig ileum following the method of Magnus. The strip of ileum was mounted in an aerated bath (20 ml) containing tyroid solution and maintained at 32^OC. Doses of crude extract were used in the bath. Responses of the tissue with test sample and interaction with histamine were recorded on chart paper using GIMINI two channels Recorder 7070 (UGO Basile, Italy). Assay of basak tea: A sample of basak tea was analyzed for its chemical composition. Applying the technique of Thin Layer Chromato-graphy (TLC), alkaloid vasicine was identified. The prepared silica gel plate was used in this method. The sulfuric acid was sprayed on the TLC plate to make the spot visible. The other parameters like total ash, acid soluble ash, fat, nitrogen, fiber, tannin, minerals and carbohydrate were analyzed by applying techniques following "Official method of analysis", Association of the Official Agricultural Chemist, (Ed. 1971). BFS -228 -010G automatic balance - moisture analyzer was used for estimation of moisture.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(2), 211-214, 2009

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Herbal drugs now manufactured in tea form are based on combination of several herbs which is very difficult to set up the analytical criteria for quality control. New thoughts for dispensing the single herb in crude but active form are introduced. All the results taken together show that water extract of herbal basak tea prepared with Adhatoda vasica leaves contains pharmacologically active vasicine alkaloids with antibacterial properties. During the fermentation process, the enzymatic action on Adhatoda vasica leaves proceeds and the aqueous insoluble alkaloids in leaves are converted into aqueous soluble alkaloids. The cough is relived and sputum is liquefied by the action of vasicine alkaloid so that it is brought out easily. Thus, we presume that herbal basak tea can be developed as a good expectorant for the treatment of asthma.

Knowledge Management: Journal