Background: Ayurveda texts clearly described the shelf life of various formulations. Ayurveda herbs lose their medicinal properties over a period of time. As per Sharangadhara Samhita, the shelf life (Saviryatha avadhi) of Churna is two months. As per the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, the shelf life of Churna is two years. Hence, this study is planned to ascertain Saviryata Avadhi of Shatavari Churna (powder), which is a commonly used dosage form. Materials and Methods: Organoleptic, physicochemical characteristics and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) techniques are employed for analysis. The results of fresh Shatavari Churna sample are compared with those of a sample of two months, six months, and one-year-old Churna is stored in five porcelain jars. Results: Total ash, acid-insoluble ash, Ph value, alcohol-soluble extractive, and water-soluble extract values almost fluctuate within the ranges mentioned in API, Part 1, Volume IV. Steroidal saponins are the main biologically active constituents of Asparagus; however, the percentages of saponins were 33.20%, 31.15%, and 15.10% in fresh, one-month-, two-month-, and six-month-old samples, respectively. In one-year-old samples, saponins are completely absent. The absence of steroidal saponins indicates the expiry of the sample. Conclusion: Shelf life of Shatavari Churna may be considered as six months based on the active component percentage, if stored as per classics.

Background: Pharmacognostical parameters, namely macroscopic and microscopic techniques, are very important in the identification of drugs. The macroscopic and microscopic feature of medicinal plants is believable, accurate and involves less cost. So, the study of the morphology and the organoleptic nature of drugs is undertaken using highly sophisticated modern techniques. In Ayurveda, Arjuna bark is an important drug for the treatment of heart disorders and other diseases. There is a great demand for Arjuna bark in the market, and it is very prone to getting adulterated. To find out the correct identity of Arjuna bark from adulterants with the help of pharmacognostical techniques, the present study was undertaken. Materials and Methods: The Arjuna bark was obtained from the source tree and from four raw drug markets of the capital cities of south India. These five Arjuna bark samples were considered for analyzing their organoleptic characteristics; microscopic examination, polarization, fluorescence microscopic examination, powder microscopy, and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the drug were used for authentication. Results: The Arjuna bark collected from the source tree and the market samples showed the same presentations, thus the market samples were acceptable. It is also found that the bark of the tree Terminalia paniculata is used as an adulterant in a negligible quantity. Conclusion: The present study reveals that, the chances of adulteration for T. arjuna are very less.