In a content analysis test conducted by the Pharmacopoeial Laboratory at Ghaziabad in UP, it was found that the herbal aphrodisiac, Musli Power Xtra being manufactured and marketed by the Kerala based company Kunnath Pharmaceuticals contains no harmful ingredient.

The Ayurveda department in Kerala has sent the samples to the laboratory following an order from the Kerala High Court to find out whether any harmful ingredient was contained in the drug marketed by the company. Earlier, the Kerala Ayurveda department’s test also found that the drug was in quality standard.

In the certificate of test (copy of which is with Pharmabiz) conducted by the government analyst under section 33 H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, it is indicated that there is no content of Sildenafil Citrate or Tadalafil or Steroid. Besides it is mentioned that the drug contains no content of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. But there is a mention about a moisture content of 10.57 w/w.

In November last year, the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (DIPS&R) had found that among five ayurvedic formulations marketed in the country by various manufacturing companies, Musli Power Xtra was adulterated and mixed with Tadalafil (phosphodies). Following it a Kochi based social organisation, filed a writ petition in the High Court against Kunnath Pharmaceuticals for violation of DMROA Act 1954, In the petition the findings of DIPS&R were also included. The court then ordered the government to conduct an analysis test to find out if any harmful ingredient was contained in the medicine. The court further ordered the company not to give any advertisement till the result is come out.

In October this year, on account of the lab report, the court has granted the company permission to give two types of advertisements including that of the picture of the outer cover, but should not make any claims.

Dr C Y John, the drug inspector at Ernakulam zone told Pharmabiz that he would file a review petition in the court as it has granted permission to the company to advertise one sentence—“For Happy Family, Healthy Family”, which is against the DMROA Act. He said he has written to the health secretary for permission to file the review petition.

 According the drug inspector, DMROA Act specifies the prohibition of advertisement for certain drugs, especially in the category of drugs described as aphrodisiac. He said soon he will give a notice to the company mentioning about the moisture content identified by the laboratory in its analysis test, but it is not a violation of rules to be quoted for a case, he said.