EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DRYING METHODS ON THE QUALITY OF STEM BARK OF TERMINALIA ARJUNA ROXB.

The effects of Ayurvedic medicine by different drying conditions were studied. Stem bark of Terminalia arjuna was chosen and dried by shade, sun and oven. The dried samples were characterized by means of microscopic study, preliminary physiochemical & phytochemical studies and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) study. The aim of this study was therefore to develop an understanding of suitable conditions for the processing of stem bark of T. arjuna. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of drying techniques i.e. shade, sun and oven drying, on the physicochemical, phytochemical and TLC studies of stem bark of T. arjuna. The results of physicochemical parameters i.e. loss on drying, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive and water soluble extractive values of shade dried sample showed lower values when compared with sun dried and oven dried samples. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of all samples revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Steroids, Triterpenoids, Saponins, Tanins and Carbohydrates. Thin layer chromatogram of the methanolic extract of shade dried sample after derivatisation with anisaldehyde sulphuric acid reagent showed nine major spots, where as sun and oven dried samples showed eight spots.