Standardization of Navayasa churna for its piperine content by UV spectrophotometric and HPTLC methods

Navayasachurna(NC) is an important Ayurvedic classical preparation used to treat Anaemia (pandu), Jaundice (kamala), Urinary disorder (prameha), Carbuncle (pidaka), Heart diseases (hrdroga), Skin diseases(kustha), and Piles (arsa). Pepper is one of the ingredients of NC which consist of both Piper nigrum and Piper longum. Three different batches of NC were prepared by following the procedure as given in The Ayurvedic Formulary of India. In the current experiment, piperine was estimated by UV spectrophotometric and HPTLC methods. The piperine content by UV methods was found to be 0.78, 0.52 and 0.90% w/w in Piper nigrum, Piper longum and NC respectively. Whereas by HPTLC, piperine content was found to be 3.92, 7.67 and 1.40% w/w respectively in Piper nigrum, Piper longum and NC. HPTLC is the most sensitive technique as compared to UV method in the analysis of piperine content in NC.