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Anti-Infective Agents

Author(s): Kajal Nagpal, Uditi Handa*, Anjali Sharma, Deepshi Arora and Fatimah Jan

DOI: 10.2174/0122113525302223240606045531

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Evaluation of Anti-microbial Activity of Novel Polyherbal Lozenges for the Management of Infection

Article ID: e050724231678 Pages: 11

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Abstract

Background: The use of commercial tinctures for the design of a formulation with improved anti-microbial activity in a polyherbal lozenge dosage form has not been described.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a novel polyherbal lozenge formulation containing Ashwagandha, Neem, and Tulsi tinctures in a single-dose administration. According to previous studies, each of these herbs could be used in herbal medicine to provide relief from infection owing to their antimicrobial activity, besides other properties, such as anticancer, antidiabetic, etc.

Methods: The lozenges were prepared using the molding method using three concentrations (1, 3, and 5 % w/w) of commercialized herbal tinctures. Then, they were studied using different assays, including those designed to evaluate physical properties, stability, and antimicrobial activity.

Results: B4, containing 5% w/w of each tincture, showed the highest antimicrobial activity compared with the other batches. This batch exhibited the highest value of bacterial inhibition (17.1 ± 0.07 mm), according to the agar well diffusion method, including Escherichia coli as a test microorganism. Hence, B4 was chosen for additional analyses, including physical properties and stability tests. The results followed Indian Pharmacopeia standards and ICH guidelines, respectively. The formulation was stable after 2 weeks, and no significant changes were observed in its physical properties or antimicrobial activity.

Conclusion: This study shows that polyherbal lozenges have anti-microbial activity, with a disintegration period of 3.86 ± 0.07 minutes in the B4 batch.

Keywords: Polyherbal lozenges, chemical constituents, soft lozenges formulation, evaluation tests, well diffusion method, antimicrobial activity, stability studies.

Graphical Abstract

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