Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Siddha Polyherbal Tablet Kadukkai Maathirai: HPLC Analysis, Iron Estimation, Heavy Metal Screening, and Microbial Contamination Evaluation

The global use of herbal drugs for liver diseases is on the rise, driven by increasing rates of liver-related ailments. Despite their widespread use, growing concerns have been raised about the safety and quality of herbal formulations. The present study assessed Kadukkai Maathirai (KM), a Siddha-based polyherbal preparation, for potential contamination with heavy metals and microbial agents. Samples of KM procured from the SKM Company and then analyzed for microbial contamination and for the presence of heavy metals. The findings depicted that the heavy metals, such as arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb), were in permissible limits. Moreover, microbial analysis revealed no detectable growth on culture plates, indicating the absence of bacterial and fungal contamination in the KM samples. In addition, when the samples were analysed for Marker compounds, the chebulic acid content in the hydroalcoholic extract was determined to be 1.13% w/w. The current findings of the study support the safety of KM for therapeutic use. The herbal medicine standardization and the integration of present analytical tools with traditional knowledge may enhance therapeutic reliability of the patients using it. Clinical studies are essential to validate KM’s efficacy in liver diseases and support its incorporation into evidence-based medical practice.