STANDARDIZATION OF FENNEL (FOENICULUM VULGARE), ITS OLEORESIN AND MARKETED AYURVEDIC DOSAGE FORMS

Abstract

Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, one of the most common use in India kitchen as a spice and as well as in traditional medicine for its estrogenic, lactagouge, diuretic, antioxidant, immune booster and its usefulness in dyspepsia. The use of medicinal plants by the general population is an old and still widespread practice that makes studies of their correct identification are very essential. In the present study the fruit of the plant, raw materials, their oleo resins and marketed formulations was subjected to Standardization parameter viz macro-microscopic, physico-chemical, microbial, heavy metals and Thin Layer Chromatography to fix the quality standards of this drug. Anethole, an active compound of Foeniculum vulgare, was also analyzed in different samples of Foeniculum vulgare. The result shown that physicochemical parameters evaluated are useful in standardization, Heavy metals and microbial load for raw materials, oleoresins and finished formulations are found to be within the limit of WHO guidelines, indicating that they are free from pathogens and they are safe to be used in Indian System of medicine. The data obtained from the study would be useful in the identification of the fruits of Fennel and serve as standards. The above parameters studied, may be used as a tool for the correct identification and standardization of the plant also to test the adulterants if any.