Chromatographic and Tandem mass spectroscopic characterization of Ayush Kwath Churnam-an Ayurvedic immunomodulatory drug during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the global health crisis. There are no existing solutions to COVID 19 as yet. Ayush Kwath Churnam (AKC) is an Ayurvedic medicine promoted by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India for the enhancement of body immunity in Covid-19 scenario and promoted many AYUSH clinics all over the country with an aim of enhancing immunity of the people to resist SARS Cov-2.Methods: In this study, chemical evaluation of AKC has been done by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopic (LC-MS) analysis. Chemical characterization of AKC was carried out by Electro Spray chemical Ionization (ESI) in both positive and negative mode using Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (Q-TOF) mass spectroscopy. Results: Data processing of molecular ions obtained by mass fragmentation led to the identification of several phytoconstituents belonging to various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids and isoflavones. Conclusion: The study concluded that AKC contains variety of phytochemicals with numerous biological properties like immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.