Abstract:

Siddha and Ayurveda are the two major Traditional Indian systems of Medicine. Siddha is widely practiced in the Tamil speaking areas of South India. Five frequently prescribed Siddha medicines (base powders – Chooranams) of herbal origin were selected and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. Steroids, reducing sugars, sugars, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthroquinones and amino acids were tested qualitatively in the selected medicines. All the five medicines showed the presence of Tannins. Anthroquinones and steroids are not observed in any of the herbal medicines examined. Since the study was conducted in a controlled and authenticated manner, the phytochemical results can be used for the standardization of the above said medicines