Indian Traditional Medicine / Ayurveda
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating safety and efficacy of an ayurvedic botanical formulation in reducing menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women
E.Steelsab M.Steelecd M.HaroldaL. Adamsa S.Coulsonb
Abstract
Aims
The aim of the present study was to examine the safety and efficacy of a formulated Ayurvedic botanical combination in reducing vasomotor and other menopause-associated symptoms in otherwise healthy women.
Methods
This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted with 117 healthy women, aged 40–65 years using a formulated Ayurvedic medicine composed of 75 mg Tinospora Cardifolia, 100 mg Asparagus racemosus, 100 mg Withania somnifera and 225 mg Commiphora mukul per capsule, administered as one capsule twice per day over a period of 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was menopausal symptoms assessed by the validated Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures included a patient-reported diary of vasomotor symptoms, serum hormone levels and health indices (body weight, blood pressure, haematological and biochemistry markers).
Results
A significant difference was demonstrated for the total MENQOL score and the vasomotor (p < 0.001), psychosocial (p < 0.001), physical (p = 0.02) and sexual domains (p < 0.001) between the active treatment and placebo groups after 12 weeks. There was a significant reduction in total hot flushes, daytime hot flushes and night sweats in the active treatment group compared to the placebo group (p ≤ 0.001). There were no significant changes observed in serum hormone levels or health indices between the active and the placebo group.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated a combination of Tinospora cardifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Withania somnifera and Commiphora mukul to be a safe and effective treatment for reducing menopausal symptoms in healthy menopausal women over a duration of 12 weeks.
Source : Journal of Herbal Medicine
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Safety and Efficacy of Ferula asafoetida in Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study
K. N. Mala,1 Jestin Thomas,2 Das S. Syam,3 Balu Maliakel,3 and I. M.Krishnakumar
Abstract
Despite the availability of various synthetic drugs for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD), the side effects and their cost have always created a great interest in the search for novel natural alternatives for the management of gut disorders. The present contribution reports the safety and efficacy of the kitchen spice asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) in FD for the first time. In the double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 43 subjects diagnosed to have moderate to severe discomforts of nonulcer FD were randomized to receive hard-shell capsules (250 mg × 2/day) of either placebo (n=22) or a food-grade formulation of asafoetida (Asafin) (n=21) for 30 days. When evaluated by a set of validated indexing tools (GSRS, GDSS, and NDI), almost 81% in the Asafin group showed significant (p < 0.01) improvement in the overall score and quality of life as compared to the placebo. At the end of the study, 66% of subjects in the Asafin group remained symptoms-free. Although the symptoms score improved significantly in both the groups (from -5.67 to -25.29 in Asafin group versus -1.55 to -6.0 in the placebo; p ≤ 0.001), the relative percentage of subjects in the Asafin group with more than 80% reduction in various symptoms were: bloating (58%), appetite (69%), postprandial fullness (74%) motion sickness (75%), and digestion (77%) as compared to less than 10% nonspecific improvement in the placebo group. All the subjects remained safe with no adverse events or variations in haematological and biochemical parameters.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Some medicinal plants with antiasthmatic potential: a current status
Dnyaneshwar J Taur1,* and Ravindra Y Patil
Abstract
Asthma is a common disease that is rising in prevalence worldwide with the highest prevalence in industrialized countries. Asthma affect about 300 million people worldwide and it has been estimated that a further 100 million will be affected by 2025. Since the ancient times, plants have been exemplary sources of medicine. Current asthma therapy lack satisfactory success due to adverse effect, hence patients are seeking complementary and alternative medicine to treat their asthma. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in various human ailments. India has about 45 000 plant species and among them several thousand are claimed to possess medicinal properties. Researches conducted in the last few decades on the plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for asthma have shown antiasthmatic, antihistaminic and antiallergic activity. This review reveals that some plants and their extract have antiasthmatic, antihistaminic, anticholinergic and antiallergic activity.
Source : Asia Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
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Medicinal herbs in the management of male infertility
Dutta S, Sengupta P
Department of Physiology, MAHSA University, Malaysia
Abstract
Male infertility can range from hormonal or neuronal imbalances, reproductive tissue disruptions, qualitative and quantitative deterioration of semen to sexual behavioral problems. The global deterioration of male reproductive health is a major concern and the modern therapeutic approaches to combat male infertility are expensive, less accessible, have long term treatment tenure and possess various side effects. Whereas, the herbal therapies, are better positioned to offer more holistic approaches to improve male reproductive health. In Ayurvedic pharmacology, there exists a special group of herbs, classified as vajikarana or aphrodisiacs, which nourishes and stimulates the sexual tissues. This review concentrates on the Ayurvedic approach to ameliorate male reproductive health referring to some of the most important scientifically tested herbs which have been reported to accentuate male fertility by imposing either stimulating or nourishing effects on the male reproductive organs.
Conclusion
Vajikarana or aphrodisiac herbs can be used as stimulants or tonics to improve male reproductive vitality. Stimulants to reproductive functions are typically heating herbs having an invigorating action on the male sexual organs. Herbal tonics provide better nourishment to the reproductive tissues to rejuvenate the quality and quantity of the same. Some herbs have both stimulating as well as nourishing properties. Owing to the health complications, partial impact and high cost of modern therapies for male infertility, the herbal aphrodisiacs are regaining popularity and laying their long-term impact on male reproductive health by improving sexual behavior, vigor, neuroendocrine control as well as structural and functional aspects of reproductive tissues, qualitative and quantitative improvement in semen and also sperm morphology and motility. Biomedical research should pierce deeper to emerge with more hidden mechanisms by which innumerable herbs may act to eradicate male infertility which is becoming a major threat to upcoming progenies.
Source : Open Access Text
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Triphala improves glucose homeostasis by alleviating atherogenic lipids and oxidative stress in human Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Nita Singh1 , Sunil Mahajan1, Senthil K Subramani1,Dhananjay Yadav2, Lokendra Singh3, Prasad GBKS1
Abstract
Aims: ‘Triphala’ constituting equal parts of three medicinal dried plant fruits Emblica Officinalis Gaertn., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Terminalia bellerica Gaertn. is an antioxidant rich Ayurvedic formulation. The present study assessed therapeutic as well as protective effects of Triphala on human subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
Materials and methods: Triphala at a dose of 5 gms BD was administered to two cohorts viz., IGT, N= 20 and T2DM, N=30 consecutively for a period of 12 months. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed quarterly by monitoring blood glucose and lipid levels; the protective effect by monitoring antioxidants level quarterly and DNA damage annually. Toxicity if any, to liver and kidney due to long term administration was assessed quarterly in both cohorts.
Results: Continuous ‘Triphala’ therapy for 12 months significantly reduced blood glucose (p≤0.001) and lipid levels (p≤0.05) in both the cohorts. Triphala resisted oxidative stress generated during the course of hyperglycemia by significantly increasing the activity of super oxide dismutase and Catalase (p≤0.001) and the level of reduced glutathione (p≤0.001). Protective effect on DNA was accessed through significant reduction in the comet tail length (p≤0.001).
Conclusions: ‘Triphala’ ameliorated not only the oxidative stress but also normalized glucose and lipid homeostasis in subjects with impaired glucose and T2DM.
Source : International Journal Ayurvedic Medicine
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Neuroprotective effect of Tagara, an Ayurvedic drug against methyl mercury induced oxidative stress using rat brain mitochondrial fractions
Dhanoop Manikoth Ayyathan, Rajasekaran Chandrasekaran and Kalaivani Thiagarajan*
Abstract
Methyl mercury (MeHg), an important environmental toxicant is implicated in neurological disorders such as Hunter-Russell syndrome and Autism. Therefore, the present work is in search of new drugs that can alleviate MeHg toxicity. In this connection, Tagara, an ayurvedic drug is used for assessing its neuro protective effect against MeHg toxicity.
Methods
In the present study, we assessed the phytochemical contents of Tagara by colorimetric and HPLC analyses. The neuroprotective effect of Tagara on MeHg induced neurotoxicity was measured in terms of viability by MTT assay and oxidative stress in terms of catalase activity, glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels. Further, the chelating effect of Tagara towards MeHg was performed to identify the molecular mechanism. Statistical analysis was done by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0.
Results
The results demonstrated that Tagara contains significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids. Also, HPLC analysis of Tagara revealed the presence of essential oils such as hydroxyvalerenic and valerenic acids. Our results demonstrated that exposure of rat brain mitochondrial fractions to MeHg resulted in a dose dependent death in MTT assay and IC 50 value was found to be 10 μM. However, a 250 μg dose of Tagara effectively prevented MeHg induced mitochondrial damage. The oxidative stress caused by MeHg results in elevated levels of reactive oxygen species as evidenced by elevated TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) levels and diminished catalase enzyme activity and glutathione content. However, Tagara at 250 μg concentration offsets these alterations caused by MeHg. Further, Tagara also diminished GSH oxidation caused by MeHg, confirming its chelating effect, one of the molecular mechanisms that triggers protection against oxidative damage.
Conclusion
Our results revealed that MeHg induced toxicity is predominantly mediated through oxidative stress mechanism and the propensity of Tagara to abolish such reactions. Hence, we propose that Tagara with a source of potential neuroprotectants may be a useful approach to alleviate MeHg associated neurotoxicity.
Source : BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic extract of Manihot esculenta Crantz leaves in Wistar rats
Satish E. Bahekar and Ranjana S. Kale1
Abstract
Background:Use of Manihot esculenta Crantz (MEC) plant has been mentioned in literature of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute and many others. It is also known commonly as tapioca, continues to be a crop of food security for the millions of people, especially in the developing countries of the globe including India. Medicinal uses of this plant including diarrhea have been mentioned in literature, but scientific evidence is lacking.
Objective:The objective was to study antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic leaf extract of MEC in Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods:Ethanolic extract of MEC leaves in the doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg were used in Wistar rats of either sex. Experimental models used were castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation and charcoal passage test. Loperamide and atropine sulfate were the standard drugs used in these models respectively.
Results:MEC extracts decreased intestinal fluid volume in dose dependent manner no extract group was comparable with standard drug loperamide (5 mg/kg). MEC extracts also significantly inhibited gastrointestinal motility in dose dependent manner. MEC (100 mg/kg) and MEC (200 mg/kg) were comparable with standard drug atropine sulfate (5 mg/kg) in this aspect. <0.05 were considered to be significant.
Conclusions:Ethanolic extract of MEC leaves exhibited significant antidiarrheal activity by decreasing intestinal fluid accumulation and the gastrointestinal motility in Wistar rats.
Source : J Ayurveda Integr Med.
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Monitoring in vitro antibacterial efficacy of 26 Indian spices against multidrug resistant urinary tract infecting bacteria
Sibanarayan Rath, Rabindra N. Padhy
Central Research Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) & Sum Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Abstract
Background
To screen methanolic extracts of 26 commonly used Indian spices against nine species of uropathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), isolated from clinical samples of a tertiary care hospital for antibacterial activity.
Methods
Bacterial strains were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing by Kirby–Bauer's disc diffusion method. Monitoring antibacterial potentiality of spice extracts was done by the agar-well diffusion method with multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of nine uropathogens.
Results
The Gram-positive (GP) bacteria E. faecalis and S. aureus were resistant to 16 of the 21 antibiotics used. Among the Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, resistant patterns were A. baumannii and E. aerogenes to 12, C. freundii to 14, E. coli to 12, K. pneumoniae to 10, P. mirabilis to 11, and P. aeruginosa to 15 antibiotics of the 18 antibiotics used. The most effective 15 spices, having at least 25–29 mm as the size of the zone of inhibition, were Allium cepa, Brassica juncea, Cinnamomum tamala, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Curcuma longa, Mentha spicata, Murraya koenigii, Nigella sativa, Papaver somniferum, Piper nigrum, S. aromaticum, Trachyspermum ammi, and Trigonella foenum for at least one of the GP or GN MDR bacterial strains used. Moderate control capacity was registered by nine spices, Curcuma amada, Foeniculum vulgare, Illicium verum, Mentha spicata, Papaver somniferum, Syzygium aromaticum, Trachyspermum ammi, Trigonella foenum, and Zingiber officinale. However, the best two spices for controlling all the pathogens used were C. zeylanicum and C. longa, with the highest value of 29 mm as the inhibition zone size.
Conclusion
The most effective and unique 16 spice plants recorded for the in vitro control of MDR uropathogens could further be pursued for the development of complementary and supplementary medicine against MDR bacteria.
Source : Integrative Medicine Research
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Antibacterial activity of Acmella paniculata extract on human pathogenic bacteria
Krishna M.P, Rinoy Varghese, Mahesh Mohan, A.A. Mohamed Hatha
Abstract: The use of plant in treatment of infectious diseases is common in traditional medicine. On the basis of ethno pharmacological and taxonomic information, antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of different parts (leaf, root, shoot and flower) of Acmella paniculata were determined by agar diffusion-method against some human pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial screening of aqueous extract carried out in vitro against the following bacteria viz., Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The results of the present study showed that the aqueous extracts of flower and leaf showed relatively high activity against the tested pathogens and theroot showed comparatively low antibacterial activity. Root showed moderate activity against the tested pathogens. Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were the most resistant strains on Acmella paniculata extracts. A maximum inhibition zone of 27 mm and 24 mm showed by flower and leaf extract respectively against Salmonella typhi. The present screening result demonstrated that the Indian traditional medicinal plant Acmella paniculata aqueous extracts has potent antibacterial activity and the studied plant may be new source for novel antibacterial compound discovery for treating drugs resistant human pathogens.
Source : Intl Journal of Herbal Medicine
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A brief review on the Botanical Aspects and Therapeutic Potentials of Important Indian Medicinal Plants
Wungsem Rungsung, Sreya Dutta, Debajyoti Das,Jayram Hazra
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine since time immemorial. World Health Organization also currently encourages, recommends and promotes traditional herbal medicines in national health care programmes as such drugs are easily available at low cost and inherently safer than the potent synthetic drugs. The safety, quality and efficacy of medicinal plants are, therefore, required to be addressed through interdisciplinary research. Medicinal plant species which are endangered or rare should be identified and conserved through the coordinated effort of in situ and ex situ strategies. The wild medicinal plants should be explored to bring them under cultivation. The Indian subcontinent is a vast repository of medicinal plants. It is estimated that a total of over 7500 species of plants are used as medicines by several ethnic communities of India
Source : International Journal of Herbal Medicine
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