Abstract

Dr. Aniket Khaire*

ABSTRACT

Shirorogahara Lepa is a classical Ayurvedic external preparation described for disorders of the head. The present work investigated its pharmaceutical preparation and modification into a semisolid balm intended to provide a convenient dosage form. Aim: To prepare Shirorogahara Lepa, Murchhita Tila Taila and Shirorogahara Siddha Taila, modify the medicated oil into Shirorogahara Balm, and document the reported pharmaceutico-analytical study. Materials and Methods: Six principal drugs—Shatavari, Neelotpala, Durva, Tila, Pippali and Punarnava—were used in the classical Lepa and Siddha Taila preparation. Tila Taila was subjected to Murchhana and then processed with Shirorogahara Kalka. The Siddha Taila was incorporated into a balm base containing petroleum jelly and beeswax, with camphor, cinnamon oil and preservative. Evaluation included organoleptic and physicochemical parameters, thin-layer chromatography, preliminary phytochemical screening, microbial count, heavy-metal analysis, thermal-stability testing, an MTT cytotoxicity study and shelf-life observations. Results: Murchhita Tila Taila yielded 605 mL with a recorded process loss of 55 mL, while Shirorogahara Siddha Taila yielded 470 mL with a recorded process loss of 10 mL. The final balm was recorded as 380 g in the solid state and 495 mL in the molten state. Reported balm parameters included pH 6.2, loss on drying 0.60%, specific gravity 0.93, acid value 4.6 mg KOH/g, melting point 41°C and refractive index 1.46 at 25°C. The Murchhita Tila Taila saponification value was 194 mg KOH/g and its refractive index was recorded as 0.9224 at 40°C. The formulation showed no separation in the reported centrifugation and thermal-stability tests, and the evaluated shelf-life parameters remained comparable through 12 months. Conclusion: The study documented the pharmaceutical sequence used to modify classical Shirorogahara Lepa into a semisolid balm and recorded its analytical, stability and cellular-evaluation findings.