Introduction
Medicinal plants
Plants with desirable and undesirable pharmacological activities can be called medicinal plants. At present, it has been established that plants normally synthesize and collect a number of optional metabolites, similar to alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, volatile oils, and contain minerals and nutrients, which have specific characteristics. 1
Allium cepa (Onion)1, 2, 3, 4, 5
They grow as underground root tubers. It is a perinneal herb. Onions belong to the Liliaceae family, also known as Aliaceae family. Since ancient times onions were seldom grown and imported from Afghanistan/Iran/Soviet Union and which lead to the cultivation in 175 countries worldwide. Onions are made up of sugar, sulfur compounds, fiber and about 90% water. The main active constituents of onion include several vitamins (B2, C and B1), and minerals such as selenium and potassium. These active constituents have been shown to possess pharmacological properties such as diabetes, heart disease and stomach cancer. Onion peel shows a beneficial effect in preventing dermatological conditions such as hypertrophic scars and keloid scars. The onion extract and consumption of onions in daily meals reduces risk of certain cancers. It also shows antiplatelet aggregation properties. A. Cepa (onion) shows antioxidant pharmacological property as it contains organosulfur compounds, polyphenols and flavonoids, which are believed to be natural antioxidants. Garlic and onion extract shows anti-parasitic and parasiticidal pharmacological effect. They have shown the biological effect in Trypanosomiasis by inhibiting certain parasitic enzymes A. Cepa extracts possess hepatoprotective effects. With their Aqueous extract against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. However, researchers found some toxicity reports on onions as well which induces hemolytic anemia in puppies.
Herbal Syrup
Herbal syrup is prepared by herbal extract decoction with appropriate herbal excipients such as flavored sugar syrup, preservatives such as regenerated alcohol, flavoring, and herbal additives. To increase the shelf life of the prepared formulation it was mixed with sugar helps to build the viscosity and as natural preservative. Herbal syrup contains extracts of medicinal plants. Several herbal and medicinal syrups have been prepared and evaluated as per reported literature methods.6
Bioactive compounds
Sulfur compounds
They make the back of mouth and throat feel burning. thiosulfins, pyruvic acid, Thiosulfinates and mono-, di-, tri- and tetrasulfides.7, 8 The major active constituents of onion volatiles are dipropyl trisulfide, dipropyl disulfide, and propenyl disulfides, while several other compounds including dipropenyl sulfide and dipropyl sulfide have been known among them.9 Methiin , S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine derivatives, isoalliin, alliin, deoxyalliin, cycloalliin, N-(gamma-glutamyl)-S-(2-propenyl)-L-cysteine, N-(gamma-glutamyl)-S-methyl-L-cysteine, N-(gamma-glutamyl)-S-(2-propenyl)-L-cysteine sulfoxide, N-(gamma-glatamyl)-S-(E-1-propenyl)- Lcysteine(Glu-PEC), S-(2-carboxypropyl) glutathione, and N-(gamma-glutamyl)-S-(E-1-propenyl)- Lcysteine sulfoxide (Glu-PECSO).10, 11, 12 5-Hydroxy-3-methyl-4-propylsulfanyl-5H- furan2-one. 13
Non-structural carbohydrates
Glucose, fructose, and sucrose, although low molecular fructans are absent. FOS are polyfructoses of different molecular sizes. Fructans are called fructooligosaccharides (FOS).
(SDF:IDF)
It is defined as higher soluble/insoluble nutritional fiber ratio. The pharmacological effects include SDF increases stomach viscosity causing nutrients to be reduced and absorbed, while IDF decreases intestinal transit and increases food mass for the majority of people. 14
Materials and Methods
Herbal syrup is prepared by the method of decoction. The steps are as follows. Calotropis Gigantea Extract was obtained as a fine extract from Herbal Creations Pvt Ltd. The extract was prepared with an ethanol extracted by the Soxhlet extraction method. Furthermore, the extract was filtered and the extracts of the quantities used as shown in the table were used to prepare formulations F1 to F4. All extracts were mixed together and 50ml of syrup was obtained. Dyes, flavoring agents are added to it. Refer Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5 and the evaluation parameters are recorded in Table 6.15, 16, 17, 18 for more details.
Table 2
Formulation no.1 (F1) – For 50ml.
|
S.No. |
Ingredients |
Quantity |
|
1. |
Allium Cepa Extract |
7ml |
|
2. |
Orange oil |
5ml |
|
3. |
Sugar base invert |
38ml |
Table 3
Formulation no. 2 (F2) – For 50ml.
|
S.No. |
Ingredients |
Quantity |
|
1. |
Allium Cepa Extract |
5ml |
|
2. |
Orange oil |
2ml |
|
3. |
Sugar base invert |
33ml |
|
4. |
Alcohol |
10ml |
Table 4
Formulation no.3 (F3) – For 50ml.
|
S.No. |
Ingredients |
Quantity |
|
1. |
Allium Cepa Extract |
8ml |
|
2. |
Orange oil |
2ml |
|
3. |
Sugar base invert |
33ml |
|
4. |
Alcohol |
10ml |
Table 5
Formulation 4 (F4) – For 50ml.
|
S.No. |
Ingredients |
Quantity |
|
1. |
Allium Cepa Extract |
15ml |
|
2. |
Orange oil |
4ml |
|
3. |
Sugar base invert |
20ml |
|
4. |
Alcohol |
11ml |
The following evaluation parameters were performed on formulation 4 (F4).
Result and Discussion
The formulation F4 was optimized at the laboratory scale. The formulation can further be technology transferred for bulk and industrial production of herbal syrup of C. gigantea. The formulation is evaluated for stability and optimized for qualitatively with various parameters as per literature.
