Update on the preclinical and clinical assessment of Withania somnifera: from ancient Rasayana to modern perspectives

The Rasayana plant Withania somnifera(W.somnifera)Dunal,also known as“Ashwagandha”,has been mentioned in various classical Ayurvedic texts,such as Charaka Samhita,Sushruta Samhita,and Nighantus.This Ayurvedic drug has been referred to as a tonic that renews the body,provides physical and mental vigor in weakened states,and promotes endurance and longevity.W.somnifera possesses notable biological activity in many ailments,such as diabetes,conjunctivitis,insomnia,senile dementia,Parkinson’s disease,nervous system disorders,rheumatism,and arthritis.These pharmacological activities are due to the presence of diverse active components and their derivatives.Some lead compounds are found to be effective against anxiety and other central nervous system disorders.W.somnifera has been proven to be effective and safe for a wide range of ailments from ancient to modern times.Its reported properties represent the traditional use of W.somnifera as indicated in the literature;furthermore,W.somnifera is one of the most important prescribed drugs in Ayurveda for its multimodal effects.This current review highlights the bioactive present and provides an overview of the toxicological and pharmacological studies on W.somnifera,including preclinical and clinical studies.From its earliest utilization to its current application,W.somnifera has been recognized to be effective at clinical levels for human health and welfare.Greater attention to the safety and efficacy of W.somnifera would provide more scientific evidence,promoting global acceptance of the Ayurvedic plant.

印度阿育吠陀医学研究现状

介绍了印度阿育吠陀医学研究中心近年来对阿育吠陀医学研究的新进展。他们对几种典型的阿育吠陀草药用现代药理学方法进行了详尽的药理学研究、临床验证及作用机理的探讨,论述了阿育吠陀医学在现代医疗保健中的重要作用,阐释了阿育吠陀医学中有关 rasayanas、vipaka、vamam 等概念的含义,指出了阿育吹陀药物存在的副作用。

Plant-Based Rasayana Drugs from Ayurveda

Rasayana tantra is one of the eight specialties of Ayurveda.It is a specialized practice in the form of rejuvenative recipes,dietary regimen,special health promoting behaviour and drugs.Properly administered Rasayana can bestow the human being with several benefits like longevity,memory,intelligence,freedom from diseases,youthful age,excellence of luster,complexion and voice,optimum strength of physique and sense organs,respectability and brilliance.Various types of plant based Rasayana recipes are mentioned in Ayurveda. Review of the current literature available on Rasayanas indicates that anti-oxidant and immunomodulation are the most studied activities of the Rasayana drugs.Querying in Pubmed database on Rasayanas reveals that single plants as well as poly herbal formulations have been researched on.This article reviews the basics of Rasayana therapy and the published research on different Rasayana drugs for specific health conditions.It also provides the possible directions for future research.

Scientific Validation of the Ethnomedicinal Properties of the Ayurvedic Drug Triphala:A Review

Triphala, a herbal formula composed of the three fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz. （Haritaki, Family： Combretaceae）, Terminalia bellirica Roxb. （Bibhitaki, Family： Combretaceae） and Phyllanthus emblica Linn. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn. （Amalaki or the Indian gooseberry, Family： Euphorbiaceae） is considered to be a universal panacea in the traditional Indian system of medicine the Ayurveda. It has been described in the Ayurveda text as a ＂Ftasayana＂ and to rejuvenat the debilitated organs. Ayurvedic physicians use Triphala for many ailments but most importantly to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. Scientific studies carried out in the past two decades have validated many of the ethnomedicinal claims and researches have shown Triphala to possess free radical scavenging, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antibacterial, antimutagenic, wound healing, anticariogenic, antistress, adaptogenic, hypoglycaemic, anticancer, chemoprotective, radioprotective and chemopreventive effects. Clinical studies have also shown that Triphala was found to have good laxative property, to improve appetite and reduce gastric hyperacidity. Studies have also shown that Triphala was effective in preventing dental caries and that this effect was equal to that of chlorhexidine. The current review addresses the validated pharmacological properties of Triphala and also emphasizes on aspects that need further investigation for its future clinic application.

Effect of Chlorophytum Borivilianum Santapau and Fernandes on Sexual Dysfunction in Hyperglycemic Male Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of Chlorophytum borivilianum(CB) on sexual dysfunction, loss of body weight,and lack of libido in hyperglycemic rats induced with streptozotocin or alloxan.Methods: Wistar strain male albino rats were divided into five groups of six animals each:the control group(2% polyvinylpyrollidone solution),the streptozotocin control group(50 mg/kg),the alloxan control group(100 mg/kg), the streptozotocin + CB treated group(200 mg/kg),and the alloxan + CB treated group(200 mg/kg).O...

Microwave Assisted Extraction,Antioxidant Potential and Chromatographic Studies of Some Rasayana Drugs

Objective： To study and compare the conventional extraction procedure with microwave assisted extraction （MAE） for some Ayurvedic Rasayana drugs and to evaluate their antioxidant potential and carry out the characterization of extracts by thin layer chromatography. Methods： Three Ayurvedic rasayana plants Allium sativum Linn., Bombax ceiba Linn. and Inula racemosa Hook. were evaluated for an improved MAE methodology by determining the effects of grinding degree, extraction solvent, effect of dielectric constant and duration of time on the extractive value. Antioxidant potential of all three drugs was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） radical scavenging activity and reducing power was determined by using Gallic acid as standard. Further thin layer chromatographic （TLC） analysis was performed on pre-activated Silica Gel G plates and Rf value were compared with those reported for the important biomarkers. Results： The total extractive value for Allium sativum Linn. was 36.95% （w/w） and 49.95% （w/w） for ethanol extraction respectively. In case of Bombax ceiba Linn. the yield of aqueous extract by MAE was 50% （w/w） compared to 42% （w/w） in ethanol （50% v/v）. Percent yield of Inula racernosa Hook. in aqueous extract was found to be 27.55% （w/w） which was better than ethanol extract （50%） where the yield was 25.95% （w/w）. Upon antioxidant activity evaluation A. safivum extract showed an absorbance of 0.980 ± 0.92 at concentration of 500 μg with maximum reducing capacity. This was followed by B. ceiba Linn. 0.825 ± 0.98 and I. racemosa Hook. with 0.799 ± 2.01 at a concentration of 500 μ g. TLC based standardization of A. sativum Linn. extract shows single spot with Rf value of 0.38, B. ceiba Linn. extract shows Rf values were 0.23, 0.58, 0.77, 0.92 and I. racemosa Hook. extract spot had a Rf value of 0.72. Conclusions： A significant improvement in extractive values was observed as a factor of time and other advantages by using MAE technology. All three drugs have high antioxidant potential and a TLC profiling similar to reported ones. The presence of fructan type polysaccharide can be further utilized for bioactivity directed fracUonation and evaluation of immunomodulatory activity.