Development and Standardization of a Therapeutic Polyherbal Powder (Paachan Pro) for the Management of Digestive Discomfort

Neeru Sharma, Mehul Tiwari, Brijpal Singh, Kunwar Chauhan, Shivender Chandel,

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17862277

Research Paper | Open Access
Volume 03 | Issue 12 | Article Id IJPS/250311236

Development and Standardization of a Therapeutic Polyherbal Powder (Paachan Pro) for the Management of Digestive Discomfort
Neeru Sharma* Mehul Tiwari Brijpal Singh Kunwar Chauhan Shivender Chandel
Suwasthi Intense Healthcare Pvt Ltd., Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh- 201306 India.

Abstract

Paachan Pro is a standardized polyherbal formulation developed to support gastrointestinal health through multiple mechanistic pathways. The blend comprises eleven botanicals—Trachyspermum ammi, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Mentha spicata, Piper nigrum, Ferula asafoetida, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, Emblica officinalis, Black salt, and Sodium bicarbonate—each documented for carminative, digestive, and antimicrobial properties. Formulation followed Ayurvedic pharmacopeial procedures, and quality evaluation complied with WHO-GMP guidelines. Physicochemical analysis showed pH 5.1–6.4, moisture ? 5 %, and moderate flowability (Carr’s index 11–17 %). Water-extractive and methanol-extractive values confirmed a balanced distribution of polar and semi-polar constituents. Phytochemical assays verified tannin, and the thymol content was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Microbiological counts remained within acceptable limits with no detectable pathogens. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Paachan Pro meets essential quality parameters for herbal powders and merits further pharmacological and clinical investigation.

Keywords

Polyherbal formulation, Phytochemical screening, Standardization, Tannins, Thymol, Microbial analysis

Introduction

Digestive discomforts such as indigestion, flatulence, and bloating are among the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders worldwide [1]. Prolonged use of synthetic antacids and prokinetic agents may lead to electrolyte imbalance, mucosal changes, or tolerance [2]. Herbal formulations offer a holistic and comparatively safe alternative, emphasizing multi-target actions on motility, secretion, and gut microbiota [3].

Ayurvedic pharmacology promotes the principle of polyherbal synergy, combining herbs with complementary actions to enhance therapeutic effect and minimize toxicity [4]. Powdered preparations (churna) are widely employed due to rapid onset, simple manufacturing, and stability. The eleven ingredients of Paachan Pro were selected for their complementary roles:

Trachyspermum ammi, and Foeniculum vulgare—thymol- and anethole-rich seeds with carminative and spasmolytic activity. [5, 6]
Cuminum cyminum and Mentha spicata—digestive stimulants enhancing salivary and pancreatic secretions. [7, 8]
Piper nigrum—source of piperine, a bioavailability enhancer. [9]
Ferula asafoetida—antispasmodic and antimicrobial resin. [10]
Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, and Emblica officinalis—antioxidant fruits providing the classical Triphala synergy. [11]
Black salt and sodium bicarbonate—mild antacids assisting pH balance. [12, 13]

This study aimed to formulate Paachan Pro Powder according to standardized procedures and evaluate its physicochemical, phytochemical, and microbiological characteristics to ensure reproducibility and compliance with pharmacopeial standards.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 MATERIALS

All raw materials were procured from authenticated Ayurvedic suppliers in India and stored in airtight containers at room temperature. Analytical-grade reagents such as indigo carmine solution, potassium permanganate, and methanol were used for phytochemical screening. Microbiological media and consumables were of standard quality and procured from certified manufacturers.

Table 1: Composition of Polyherbal Paachan Pro Powder

S. No.	Ingredients	Quantity in mg
1.	Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain)	670 mg
2.	Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)	540 mg
3.	Cuminum cyminum (Cumin)	540 mg
4.	Mentha spicata (Pudina)	540 mg
5.	Piper nigrum (Kali mirch)	60 mg
6.	Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)	140 mg
7.	Black Salt Powder	240 mg
8.	Ferula asafoetida (Hing)	30 mg
9.	Terminalia chebula (Haritaki)	90 mg
10.	Terminalia bellirica (Bibhitaki)	90 mg
11.	Emblica officinalis (Amla)	60 mg

2.2 Formulation of Polyherbal Powder

The selected ingredients were accurately weighed in pre-determined proportions and individually sieved through a 60-mesh sieve to obtain a uniform particle size. The powders were then blended thoroughly using the geometric dilution method to ensure homogeneity. The final polyherbal powder was stored in air-tight HDPE containers in a cool, dry environment for further analysis.

2.3 Physicochemical Evaluation

The formulated powder was subjected to the following physicochemical tests using standard Ayurvedic pharmacopeial methods:

Organoleptic characteristics: Color, taste, and odour were recorded visually and by sensory evaluation. [14]
pH determination: Measured using a digital pH meter (1% w/v solution in distilled water). [15]
Moisture content: Determined using the Kf apparatus. [16]
Bulk and tapped density: Assessed using a tap density apparatus. [17]
Flow properties: Calculated using Carr’s Index and Hausner Ratio:
Carr’s Index (%) = [(Tapped Density − Bulk Density) / Tapped Density] × 100
Hausner Ratio = Tapped Density / Bulk Density [18]
Angle of Repose: Calculated from the average radius using the formula. Tan θ= h/r [19]
Extractive values: Water-soluble extractive and methanol-soluble extractive values were determined using the maceration technique and expressed as % w/w. [20]

2.4 Phytochemical Screening

Preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed to detect the presence of bioactive compounds. Standard qualitative tests were conducted for the detection of:

Tannins – using Potassium permanganate solution (golden-yellow coloration)
Thymol, a key constituent of Trachyspermum ammi, was identified and quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

2.5 Microbiological Evaluation

Microbial quality of the formulation was assessed in accordance with WHO and Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia guidelines:

Total Plate Count (TPC): Performed using Soyabean Casein Digest Agar (SCDA) to estimate aerobic bacterial load.
Yeast and Mould Count: Determined using Sabouraud dextrose agar.
Pathogen screening: The presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested using selective media and confirmatory biochemical assays.

All tests were conducted in triplicate to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.

3. RESULTS

3.1 Physicochemical Parameters

The formulated polyherbal powder demonstrated acceptable physicochemical characteristics. As provided in Table 2.

Table 2: Physicochemical Parameters Results

S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	Observations
S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	SPPP-00001	SPPP-00002	SPPP-00003
1.	Color	Brown Color	Brown Color	Brown Color	Brown Color
2.	Taste	Characteristic	Characteristic	Characteristic	Characteristic
3.	Odour	Characteristic	Characteristic	Characteristic	Characteristic
4.	pH	NLT- 4.5	6.32	5.19	5.31
6.	Moisture content	NMT- 10.0% w/w	5.15% w/w	5.25% w/w	5.31% w/w
7.	Bulk Density	NLT- 0.3 gm/ml	0.5005 gm/ml	0.5038 gm/ml	0.5232 gm/ml
8.	Tapped Density	NLT- 0.4 gm/ml	0.5998 gm/ml	0.5731 gm/ml	0.5898 gm/ml
9.	Carr’s index	8– 18%	16.55 %	12.09 %	11.29 %
10.	Hausner Ratio	1.0 – 1.2	1.20	1.14	1.13
11.	Angle of Repose	< 25	21.30º	22.55º	20.17º
12.	WSEV	NLT- 20% w/w	32.48% w/w	33.34% w/w	34.38% w/w
13.	MSEV	NLT- 20% w/w	27.85% w/w	24.50% w/w	23.26% w/w

3.2 Phytochemical Screening

Phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of tannins, and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) confirmed thymol as the major bioactive constituent. These compounds are pharmacologically associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and gastroprotective activities, contributing to the formulation’s therapeutic potential. As given in Table 3.

Table 3: Phytochemical Screening Results

S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	Observations
S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	SPPP-00001	SPPP-00002	SPPP-00003
1.	Tannin Content	NLT- 5%w/w	5.76% w/w	5.63% w/w	5.52% w/w
2.	Thymol Content	NLT- 0.5%w/w	0.53% w/w	0.54% w/w	0.51% w/w

3.3 Microbiological Evaluation

Microbiological evaluation confirmed the absence of pathogenic microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Total aerobic bacterial count and yeast and mould counts were within acceptable pharmacopeial limits, indicating the microbiological safety and quality of the formulation for oral consumption. Observations are stated in Table 4.

Table 4: Microbiological Evaluation Results

S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	Observations
S. No.	Evaluation Parameters	Specification	SPPP-00001	SPPP-00002	SPPP-00003
1.	Total Plate Count	NMT- 1,00,000 Cfu/gm	6400 Cfu/gm	6350 Cfu/gm	8200 Cfu/gm
2.	E. Coli / 10gm	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
3.	Salmonella / 25gm	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
4.	Pseudomonas aeruginosa / 10gm	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
5.	Staphylococcus aureus / 10gm	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
6.	Yeast & Mould counts	NMT- 1000 Cfu/gm	400 Cfu/gm	300 Cfu/gm	200 Cfu/gm

4. CONCLUSION

The formulated polyherbal powder exhibited favorable organoleptic characteristics, including brown color, characteristic taste and aroma, and uniform texture, indicating good sensory acceptability. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of tannins and thymol, both associated with digestive, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Physicochemical analysis revealed water-soluble extractive values (32.48–34.38% w/w), methanol-soluble extractive values (23.26–27.85% w/w), pH (5.19–6.32), moisture content (5.15–5.31% w/w), bulk density (0.50–0.53 g/mL), and tapped density (0.57–0.60 g/mL), all within acceptable limits for herbal powders. Flow properties, assessed through Carr’s Index (12.09–16.55%) and Hausner Ratio (1.10–1.20), demonstrated moderate flowability, suitable for formulation and handling. Microbiological analysis confirmed safety, with total plate count, yeast, and mold levels within permissible limits and no detectable pathogenic organisms. These evaluations support the polyherbal formulation as a stable, microbiologically safe, and potentially effective Ayurvedic remedy for digestive health.

5. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The results of this study provide a strong foundation for advancing Paachan Pro into further stages of research and development. Future work will focus on detailed pharmacological and clinical evaluations to substantiate its digestive efficacy and safety profile. Advanced analytical characterization and stability assessments will support long-term quality assurance, while optimization of dosage forms will enhance consumer compliance and therapeutic effectiveness. Collectively, these efforts will strengthen the scientific credibility and global acceptance of Paachan Pro as a standardized, evidence-based Ayurvedic formulation for digestive health.

REFERENCES

Spiegel, B. M., Khanna, D., Bolus, R., Agarwal, N., Khanna, P., & Chang, L. (2011). Understanding gastrointestinal distress: a framework for clinical practice. The American journal of gastroenterology, 106(3), 380–385. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2010.383.
Fikree, A., & Byrne, P. (2021). Management of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Clinical medicine (London, England), 21(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2020-0980.
Ried, K., Travica, N., Dorairaj, R., & Sali, A. (2020). Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders. Nutrition Research, 76, 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.008.
Karole, S., Shrivastava, S., Thomas, S., Soni, B., Khan, S., Dubey, J., et al. (2019). Polyherbal formulation concept for synergic action: A review. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics, 9(1-s), 453–466.
Bairwa, R., Sodha, R. S., & Rajawat, B. S. (2012). Trachyspermum ammi. Pharmacognosy reviews, 6(11), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95871.
Rather, M. A., Dar, B. A., Sofi, S. N., Bhat, B. A., & Qurishi, M. A. (2016). Foeniculum vulgare: A comprehensive review of its traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 9(Suppl. 2), S1574–S1583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2012.04.011.
Shakeel, A., Naqvi, S., Arif, A., Farid, M., Khan, A. M. A., Iqbal, U., & Liaqat, I. (2025). Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.): A hidden gem in functional food. https://doi.org/10.47278/book.HH/2025.406.
Mahendran, G., Verma, S. K., & Rahman, L.-U. (2021). The traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.): A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 278, 114266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.114266.
Di, X., Wang, X., & Liu, Y. (2015). Effect of piperine on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of emodin in rats. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 115, 144–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2015.06.027.
Amalraj, A., & Gopi, S. (2017). Biological activities and medicinal properties of asafoetida: A review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 7(3), 347–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.11.004.
Peterson, C. T., Denniston, K., & Chopra, D. (2017). Therapeutic Uses of Triphala in Ayurvedic Medicine. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 23(8), 607–614. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0083.
Bali, S., & Khan, A. (2024). The untold health benefits of herbal black salt (Kala Namak): A scientific overview. Current Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 8, Article 100234. https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-2201.100234.
Garg, V., Narang, P., & Taneja, R. (2022). Antacids revisited: review on contemporary facts and relevance for self-management. The Journal of International Medical Research, 50(3), 3000605221086457. https://doi.org/10.1177/03000
Athnikar, H. (2023). Chapter 8 – Organoleptic and sensory evaluation. In Handbook of Herbal Drug Technology.
Webster, D. (2003). pH – Principles and measurement. In B. Caballero (Ed.), Encyclopedia of food sciences and nutrition (2nd ed., pp. 4501–4507). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00913-5.
Ismail, B. P., & Nielsen, S. S. (2024). Moisture content determination. In B. P. Ismail & S. S. Nielsen (Eds.), Nielsen’s food analysis laboratory manual. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44970-3_13.
United States Pharmacopeial Convention. (2015). <616> Bulk density and tapped density of powders. In United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP 38–NF 33) (Stage 6 Harmonization, Official August 1, 2015). United States Pharmacopeial Convention.
Nandi, K., Sen, D. J., Patra, F., Nandy, B., Bera, K., & Mahanti, B. (2020). Angle of repose walks on its two legs: Carr index and Hausner ratio. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9(5), 1565–1579. ISSN 2278–4357.
Ortega-Rivas, E. (2011). Unit operations of particulate solids: Theory and practice (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b11059.
Abubakar, A. R., & Haque, M. (2020). Preparation of Medicinal Plants: Basic Extraction and Fractionation Procedures for Experimental Purposes. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 12(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_175_19.