The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (Part I, Volume II)

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Siddha System is an integral part of socio-cultural milieu of Tamil Nadu / Tamil tradition. This system is gaining the popularity in adjoining states / countries and international level also. Therefore, it is highly essential to have scientific standards for identity, purity and strength of these medicines. Government of India appreciated the need for developing the Pharmacopoeial standards on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines. For developing the standards of Indian system of medicines the Department of AYUSH has established the Pharmacopoeial laboratory of Indian Medicine (PLlM) at Ghaziabad in the year 1970. The PLiM has taken up the necessary initiatives to develop the Pharmacopoeial standards of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines. In the year 1975 a Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee was constituted and which took over the work of compilation of Siddha Formulary of India, Volume-I.

The Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee (SPC) comprising the experts in various research related disciplines such as, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Pharmaceuticals and Siddha Pharmacy have been constantly advising the PLiM and other laboratories on Pharmacopoeial standards of Siddha medicine. Quality standardization of natural products are great task. Keeping in view of the same 15 other laboratories of the Council•of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Council for Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and other renowned institutions have been associated in the development of Pharmacopoeial standards under the APC / SPC Schemes of the Department of AYUSH. The Siddha Formulary of India Volume-I comprising 248 formulations was published in the year 1984 and 1992 in Tamil and English respectively. The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India Volume -I containing 73 monographs has been published in the year 2007 in English.The Scientific work of various laboratories have been regularly monitored by the experts of Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee and ultimately 66 monographs on Siddha medicines have been prepared, which constitutes the Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India Volume II.

This volume is the results of hard work of various academicians, researchers, scientists and members those who have represented for Siddha medicine in the Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee. I want to place the record of my appreciation for their tireless work, which has resulted in the publication of this Volume. I believe that all those who have associated with the Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee will redouble their efforts and expedite the work of finalizing Pharmacopoeial standards for all the classical poly- herbal / herbo- mineral / herbo-metallic preparations of Siddha medicine and simultaneously also -to develop. the chromatographic fingerprints for including the same in the Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India in the near future.

I hope that the second volume of the Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India will meet the need of the industry and regulatory authorities and will help to improve the quality of Siddha medicines.

The first and Second part of the Siddha Formulary of India consists of 248 and 151 formulations respectively in to which more than 348 single drugs of natural origin are ingredients.

The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India Part-I Vo1-I, comprised of 73 monographs of Siddha single drugs of plant origin, which are included in one more formulations enlisted in the Siddha Formulary of India Part-I. As a continuing activity, the monographs on 66 single drugs of plant origin are presented in this volume. In compiling the monographs, the title of each drug has been provident in Tamil as mentioned in the Siddha Formulary of India, followed by the Definition of the drug giving its identity in scientific binomial nomenclature with authority and brief information about its source, occurrence, distribution and precautions in collection if any, etc.

List of synonyms of drugs have been provided in Tamil and also in other Indian regional languages. The monographs record the detailed macroscopic and microscopic description of the drug with individual features, each having a pharmacognostic value in highlighting diagnostic features for identification even if the drug is in powdered form.

The monograph further gives under "Identity, Purity and Strength" certain physico chemical parameters such as limits for Foreign Matter, Moisture Content, Total Ash, Acid Insoluble Ash, Acid Insoluble Ash, Alcohol Soluble Extractive, Water Soluble Soluble Extractive, Volatile Content etc. and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). It will however, be worth mentioning that there is always a wide variation in crude drugs (raw materials ) of plant origin in respect of their chemical constituents and certain physico chemical parameters, due to variations in climatic conditions, geographical distributions, source and season of collection. The names of important chemical constituents which have been mentioned have an informative value based on published research work in Phytochemistry.

The classical attributes of respective drugs according to the doctrine of Cuvai (taste), Gunam (quality or property), stage after digestive or metabolic changes), Vrium (potency) and Ceykai (specific action) are strictly adhered to, in this publication. Important formulations as mentioned in the Siddha Formulary of India Part-I, therapeutic uses of the drugs and their standard dosages according to age and the chronicity of the diseases have also been provided.

The Legal Notices and General Notices are given for the guidance of the analysts, Pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers and research workers engaged in this field. Details about the apparatus, reagents and solutions, tests, methods of preparation of specimens for microscopical examinations have been given in the Appendices.

The Committee hopes that the publication of Siddha Pharmacopoeia f India, Part-I, Vol-II, containing 66 monographs would add to the requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The regular monitoring of the manufactured and marketed Siddha drugs, on the basis of the standards prescribed herein would bear evidence of the usefulness of these volumes and help to ensure their quality and status revision for the future.

The Committee requests the Government of India to recommend the adoption of these monographs for the purposes of identity, purity and strength of drugs for use in their Government, Semi-Government aided institutions and voluntary public organizations. The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India, Prt-I Vol-II, 2010, may also be notified by Governments as a book of reference for implementation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.