Abstract Background and Objectives: Standardization of Unani medicines has become a critical concern due to the increasing prevalence of adulteration across traditional systems of medicine. The present study was conducted to standardize a classical Unani compound formulation, Ma‘jūn-i-Kundur (MK). Materials and Methods: All ingredients were procured from authenticated sources and taxonomically identified by experts. The formulation was prepared according to classical Unani methods. Standardization was carried out in accordance with the World Health Organization and Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani guidelines. The evaluation included physicochemical and phytochemical analyses. In addition, the formulation was assessed for heavy metals, microbial contamination, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins. Quantitative estimation of key bioactive markers – boswellic acid, piperine, and 6-gingerol – was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: MK was a semisolid preparation, gray to dark brown in color, with a slightly pungent odor and a sweetish, mildly astringent taste. The physicochemical parameters were within the standard ranges and within limits. The formulation contained 0.9 g of reducing sugars and 98 g of nonreducing sugars. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids (0.1%), glycosides (0.8%), and tannins (2.37%). Heavy metal levels were within permissible limits. Aflatoxins were below 0.50 ppb. Microbial load showed bacterial and fungal counts of 950 CFU/g and 680 CFU/g, respectively. Pesticide residues were below 0.01 mg/kg. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of boswellic acid (0.31%), piperine (0.02%), and 6-gingerol (0.005%). Conclusion: The results of physicochemical, phytochemical, and HPLC analyses provide a comprehensive standardization profile for MK, which may serve as a reference for quality control and future studies.
Ahmad et al. (Wed,) studied this question.