|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities of standardized Śilājatu (Shilajit... Sharanbasappa Durg, Veeresh P Veerapur, BS Thippeswamy, Syed Mansoor Ahamed
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2015, Volume 35, Issue 2 [p. 110-117] DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.171675 PMID: 26865744 Background: Śilājatu (Shilajit; SJ) is claimed in traditional Indian medical practice to be useful in the treatment of nervous disorders, epilepsy and as antistress.
Aim: To investigate whether SJ possesses antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities in rodents.
Materials and Methods: Isonicotinyl hydrazine (INH), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), apomorphine, phenytoin, diazepam, haloperidol and other chemicals of analytical grade were procured from standard companies. The antiepileptic activity of SJ was assessed using maximal electro shock (MES)-induced seizures in rats, INH and PTZ-induced seizures in mice. The antipsychotic effect of SJ was evaluated using apomorphine-induced climbing and stereotyped behaviours respectively, in mice and rats.
Settings and Designs: SJ (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was given orally once daily for 15 days in all the rodent models. On the test day, SJ was administered 1 h prior to electric shock or chemical inducers (INH/PTZ/apomorphine) in experimental animals; the animals were then observed for different phases of seizures and psychotic behaviours. In addition, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the brain of rats and mice was estimated in seizure models.
Statistical Analysis: The data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. Statistical comparisons were performed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-test using Graph Pad Prism version 5.0, USA. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results and Conclusions: SJ pretreatment significantly inhibited the seizures induced by MES, INH and PTZ in a dose dependent manner. Further, SJ augmented brain GABA levels to normal, decreased by INH and PTZ in mice brain. SJ pretreatment also significantly inhibited the climbing and stereotyped behaviours induced by apomorphine. The present data seems to confirm the antiepileptic activity of SJ which may be because of enhancing the GABAergic system. The antipsychotic activity observed may be due to anti-dopaminergic and/or GABA-mimetic actions. |
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Shelf-life evaluation of Kaṃsaharītakī avaleha and its granules: A prelimi... Nidhi Khemuka, R Galib, BJ Patgiri, Pradeep Kumar Prajapati
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2015, Volume 35, Issue 2 [p. 96-100] DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.171670 PMID: 26865742 Background: Savīryatā-avadhi (shelf life) of different Ayurvedic dosage forms is described in Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā. Though the concepts have a strong background, we seek to re-evaluate the age old concepts by following current norms. An attempt has been made in the present study to evaluate shelf-life of Kaṃsaharītakī avaleha and its granules.
Materials and Methods: Raw materials were procured from Pharmacy, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar and utilized after proper authentication in pharmacognosy lab. The avaleha and its granules were prepared in the departmental laboratory following classical guidelines and subjected to accelerated stability studies.
Results: Both the products were found to be free from microbial contamination. Heavy metals were within the prescribed limit. Changes in physico-chemical profiles at different intervals are insignificant. On extrapolation of the observations, the shelf life of avaleha was found to be18 months and 27 months to the granules.
Conclusion: Stability of granules was found to be comparatively higher than the avaleha. This observation may be exclusive to Kaṃsaharītakī avaleha. Studies on other avalehas and their granules need to be carried out to confirm this preliminary observation. |
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Quality parameters, fatty acid profiling and estimation of umbelliferone in grahaṇimihira t... M Deepak, Prakash U Kumar, B Nitha, Indira Balachandran, AB Rema Shree
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2013, Volume 33, Issue 1 [p. 10-14] DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.134557 PMID: 25161324 Background: Grahaṇimihira tailam is an unexplored ayurvedic oil preparation which consists of 34 ingredients. The efficacy of this traditional ayurvedic medicine is undisputable. Proper clinical standardization of this formulation will go a long way in securing greater recognition for it. The main objective of this study was to develop standardization parameters for the formulation in a multidisciplinary way.
Materials and Methods: A simple and efficient method for the quantification of umbelliferone by high performance thin layer chromatography was developed and validated. Presence of the major fatty acids and their percentage were assessed by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Various physio-chemical parameters, microbiological load, aflatoxins and mineral oil were also evaluated. Spread plate method was used for checking microbial contamination.
Results: The results were validated as per standard protocols. Quantitative estimation revealed the percentage of umbelliferone to be in the range of 0.88-0.98 (w/w). GC-MS analysis of sample led to the identification of 14 fatty acids, in which linoleic acid was obtained as the major fatty acid. Microbes, aflatoxins and mineral oils were found to be absent in the tailam.
Conclusion: The results which give the quantitative estimates of various physico-chemical parameters can be adopted to establish new standards for analysis of batch-to-batch variation and this data will facilitate shelf life studies in the future. |
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Evaluation of implementation status of national policy on Indian systems of medicine and homeopat... Balpreet Singh, Manoj Kumar, Amarjeet Singh
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2013, Volume 33, Issue 2 [p. 103-108] DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.139048 PMID: 25284943 Background: National Policy on Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy (ISM and H policy) was formulated in 2002 to encourage the development of Ayurveda, Sidhha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy and Homoeopathy in India. This study proposes to assess the views of public health experts on current implementation of ISM and H Policy.
Methods: An online questionnaire was designed to ascertain the views of public health experts on ISM and H Policy and mailed to 100 public health experts. The tool was tested for content validity and a pilot study was done. Results were analyzed with the help of SPSS version 16.
Results and Conclusion: Response rate was 61%. Majority of experts considered implementation status of ISM and H Policy as poor. Lack of quality education was mentioned as major factor responsible for current scenario of ISM and H Policy by most of experts. Lack of funds and government support were emerged as major bottlenecks in implementation of ISM and H Policy. |
|
BOOK REVIEW: The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine Leonard A. Wisneski, Lucy Anderson P Ram Manohar
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2013, Volume 33, Issue 2 [p. 141-142] |
|
ARTICLE: Physico-Phytochemical investigation and anti-inflammatory screening of capsicum annum L. and Hemi... K Vijayalakshmi, R Shyamala, V Thirumurugan, M Sethuraman, S Rajan, Shrishailappa Badami, Pulok K Mukherjee
Ancient Science of Life, Year 2010, Volume 29, Issue 4 [p. 35-40] PMID: 22557366 Capsicum annum L. (Family: Solanaceae) and Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R.Br. (Family: Asclepiadaceae) are commonly used in Tamilnadufor treating various ailments in the native system of medicine. The hydroalcoholic extracts of both plants at dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight showed demonstrable anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced hind paw model in rats. Nevertheless, the overall anti-inflammatory activity exhibited by the extracts are found to be less as compared with that of standard drug Indometacin. Preliminary physico-phytochemical analysis of the plants in question were attempted. The results are highlighted and discussed. |
|
ARTICLE: Additions to the flora of Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. D Suresh Baburaj, SS Nain, S Rajan
Ancient Science of Life, Year 1991, Volume 11, Issue 1 [p. 78-93] Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu is one of the most botanised areas of southern India. In spite of it a number of wild plants had been missed by previous collectors. In addition a number of exotics and ornamentals having importance in alternative systems of medicine like Homoeopathy and Unani have not been collected and preserved as herbarium records. The present paper lists 36 species of wild plants and 69 species of exotics. Their areas of occurrence, phonological data, accession numbers, and names of collectors have been given. |
|
ARTICLE: Further nomenclatural changes in Indian homoeopathic medicinal plants D Suresh Baburaj, SS Nain
Ancient Science of Life, Year 1992, Volume 11, Issue 3 [p. 118-125] Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu is one of the most botanised areas of Southern India. In spite of it a number of wild plants had been missed by earlier collectors. Moreover, many exotics and ornamentals having importance in alternative systems of medicine have not been collected and preserved. The present paper lists 34 species of plants used in homeopathy belonging to 31 genera under 23 families. |
|
ARTICLE: Rheumatoid arthritis and astercantha longifolia A Thankamma
Ancient Science of Life, Year 1999, Volume 18, Issue 3 [p. 247-249] Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most crippling disorders known to man. In the
advanced condition of eh disease, it is known to be incurable by the allopathy, ayurveda and homeopathy treatment. But in the initial stages the paneeya made out of kokilasha (Asteracantha longifolia ) is found to be very effective in alleviating the symptoms in the hapless victims of rheumatoid arthritis as stipulated in ashtanga hridaya. This paper deals with the role of asteracantha longifolia in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis. |
|
ARTICLE: Pharmacognostic studies of Thuja occidentalis Linn. - A good remedy for warts & tumours, used in ... Rajatrashmi , Manisha Sarkar, Vikramaditya
Ancient Science of Life, Year 1999, Volume 19, Issue 1 [p. 52-58] Thuja occidentalis Linn. (Family cupressaceae), commonly known as American
Arbore Vitae, is an evergreen tree and native of North America. Leaves & twigs, which contains essential oil, condylomatous growth, spongy tumours, warts, ill effects of vaccination etc. Twigs fan-shaped; leaves ovate, obtuse, having resin ducts & parenchymatous mesophyll; stem shows resins ducts in parenchymatous cortex and alternate bands of phloem parenchyma & phloem fibres. TLC of alcoholic extract in chloroform: Methanol (9:1) shows 8 spots under UV light, and UV absorbance shows peak at 260nm. |
|
|
<< Previous Next >> Go to page Number: |