Particulate characterization of herbal extracts for its standardization and quality control

We have examined herbal extracts of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn), Arnica montana L. (arnica), Malva sylvestris L. (mallow). Sea buckthorn extract is an antiviral agent, arnica extract - anti-inflammatory agent and mallow extract - expectorant. MasterSizer 2000 and ZetaSizer Nano ZS (Malvern Instruments) were applied. Size spectra of herbal extracts were too irregular and specific for each sample. Dried extract of Arnica foliosa Nutt. characterize by prevalence of 1 |um and 3 urn particles by number and of 40 |um and 140 |um particles by volume. After dissolving only 1 \im and 3 um particles were detected. Dried extract of Malva sylvestris L. characterize by prevalence of 1 |um particles by number but its volume distribution was too irregular (from 10 |um to 800 |um). In samples of sea buckthorn extract we have detected three groups of particles with size 50 jum, 150 urn and 200 urn Inclusion of sea buckthorn extract in plaster mass caused disappearing of 50 urn and 150 |um particles with prevalence only of 200 |um particles. Poly dispersive system changes into monodispersive due to inclusion of dried extract in plaster mass. It is a basic precondition of uniform distribution of dried extract particles which depends on biological activity and very important in application dosage forms technology. © 2011.