Development and Physicochemical Evaluation of a Novel Polyherbal Tablet Containing Moringa oleifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Cyperus rotundus, and Fagonia arabica

Abstract

Background: Pain and inflammation represent cardinal features of a wide spectrum of acute and chronic disease states. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) constitute the current pharmacological mainstay, prolonged use is associated with gastrointestinal irritation, nephrotoxicity, and drug dependence. Herbal formulations derived from traditional medicinal systems offer a multi-targeted and toxicologically favourable alternative. Objective: To develop and evaluate a standardised polyherbal tablet formulation incorporating extracts of Moringa oleifera (Moringa), Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi), Cyperus rotundus (Nagarmotha), and Fagonia arabica (Dhamasa) for dual analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and Methods: Standardised extracts were prepared by Soxhlet extraction (M. oleifera and C. rotundus, ethanol) and decoction (T. cordifolia and F. arabica, aqueous). Three trial batches (F1–F3) were prepared by wet granulation and compressed into 210 mg uncoated tablets. The optimised formulation (F3) was evaluated for organoleptic properties, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time, and dimensional uniformity in accordance with Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) specifications. Phytochemical identification tests and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterisation were performed on individual extracts. Results: F3 complied with all IP acceptance criteria: mean tablet weight 209 mg (range 200–220 mg; IP limit ±7.5%), hardness 5–7 kg/cm² (IP: 5–8 kg/cm²), friability 0.458% (IP: ≤1.0%), and disintegration time 8.10–14.30 minutes (IP: ≤15 min for uncoated tablets). Mean diameter was 8.66 mm and mean thickness 4.06 mm, both within ±5% of their respective means. Phytochemical screening confirmed flavonoids (M. oleifera), alkaloids (T. cordifolia), saponins (F. arabica), and terpenoids (C. rotundus). FTIR spectra corroborated the presence of characteristic functional groups of the principal bioactive constituents. Conclusion: The optimised polyherbal tablet formulation demonstrated satisfactory physicochemical quality and confirmed the retention of pharmacologically relevant phytoconstituents. These findings provide a scientific basis for further in-vivo pharmacological evaluation and clinical investigation as a potential herbal alternative to conventional NSAIDs.