A. K. S. Rawat

Indian Traditional Ayurvedic System of Medicine and Nutritional Supplementation

Food is the major source for serving the nutritional needs, but with growing modernization some traditional ways are being given up. Affluence of working population with changing lifestyles and reducing affordability of sick care, in terms of time and money involved, are some of the forces that are presently driving people towards thinking about their wellness. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and regulate traditional herbal medicine are underway. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, remains the most ancient yet living traditions. Although India has been successful in promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, it still needs more extensive research and evidence base. Increased side effects, lack of curative treatment for several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs, microbial resistance and emerging, diseases are some reasons for renewed public interest in complementary and alternative medicines. Numerous nutraceutical combinations have entered the international market through exploration of ethnopharmacological claims made by different traditional practices. This review gives an overview of the Ayurvedic system of medicine and its role in translational medicine in order to overcome malnutrition and related disorders.

HPTLC method for chemical standardization of Sida species and estimation of the alkaloid ephedrine

The roots of Sida cordifolia, known as ‘Bala’ in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, are used to treat a variety of ailments, including pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism, hematuria, urinary and heart diseases. The roots have recently been used to cure Parkinson’s disease and as a food supplement for fat loss. During a survey of Indian herbal drug markets it was observed that the roots and whole plants of other species of Sida, viz. S. acuta, S. cordata and S. rhombifolia, were being sold under the same vernacular name. In this context, HPTLC markers and a method for quantitative estimation of ephedrine, one of the therapeutically active constituents of this genus, have been developed. The study concluded that common and distinguishing bands were observed for all four Sida species in UV light at λ = 366 nm. The roots of S. cordifolia and S. rhombifolia had a similar HPTLC profile but the whole plant of S. cordifolia had characteristic blue bands at RF 0.60 and 0.81 and a red band at RF 0.87. Similarly, the whole plant of S. acuta can easily be differentiated on the basis of blue bands at RF 0.15 and 0.67; the roots can be differentiated by blue bands at RF 0.84 and 0.90. Although no characteristic bands were observed for S. cordata whole plant, the roots of this plant could also be identified by the presence of yellow and blue bands at RF 0.18 and 0.79, respectively. Amount of ephedrine varied in the four species studied. The maximum amount (0.112%) was found in S. cordifolia whole plant and the minimum amount (0.005%) in the roots of S. cordata k]Ephedrine k]HPTLC k]Sida species

Hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill roots against antitubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity in experimental models.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic (50%) extract of Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill (Z. oenoplia) root against isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) induced liver damage in animal models. METHODS Five groups of six rats each were selected for the study. Ethanolic extract at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg as well as silymarin (100 mg/kg) were administered orally once daily for 21 d in INH + RIF treated groups. The serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (SALP), and bilirubin were estimated along with activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and hepatic melondialdehyde formation. Histopathological analysis was carried out to assess injury to the liver. RESULTS The considerably elevated serum enzymatic activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin due to INH + RIF treatment were restored towards normal in a dose dependent manner after the treatment with ethanolic extract of Z. oenoplia roots. Meanwhile, the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase were also restored towards normal dose dependently. In addition, ethanolic extract also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic melondialdehyde formation in the liver of INH + RIF intoxicated rats in a dose dependent manner. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study strongly indicate that ethanolic extract of Z. oenoplia has a potent hepatoprotective action against INH + RIF induced hepatic damage in rats.

Protective Effect of Aegle marmelos Fruit in Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in rats

The effect of the ethanol extract of the unriped fruits of Aegle marmelos Correa was assessed on experimentally induced diarrhoea and gastric ulceration in rats. The extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the intestinal propulsion from 61.79–39.32% which is equivalent to 38.21–60.68% intestinal propulsion inhibition (control 58.3 ± 3.4 inhibition, P < 0.5 to P < 0.001) and caused a dose-dependent decrease in the total number of faecal matter in castor oil-induced diarrhoea (control 70, reduced to 51 and 42 at 100 and 200 mg/kg extract, p.o.). Further, yohimbine, a α2 adrenoreceptor blocker, attenuated the antidiarrhoeal effect of the extract in a dose of 200 mg/kg to 17.14%, and diphenoxylate by 74.28%. The extract also reduced the ulcer index induced by ethanol (control 18.7 ± 4.4, 34.22–72.73% protection), aspirin (control 22.6 ± 3.4, 36.73–81.42% protection) and cold restraint stress (control 23.8 ± 3.2, 56.72% and 81.51% protection). Further study on tissue lipid peroxidation was significantly increased (P < 0.001) as evidenced by accumulation of malondialdehyde in cold restraint stress ulcers. Administration of A. marmelos (100 and 200 mg/kg), cimetidine 50 mg/kg and reduced glutathione (150 mg/kg) prior to cold restraint stress causes significant decrease in ulcer index and lipid peroxidation (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001). The result showed that A. marmelos had significant antidiarrhoeal and ulcer protective activity by scavenging the reactive oxygen species on the cold restraint stress-induced gastric damage.

An Important Indian Traditional Drug of Ayurveda Jatamansi and Its Substitute Bhootkeshi: Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity

Nardostachys jatamansi DC. and Selinum vaginatum (Edgew) Cl. are two endemic high altitude Indian medicinal plants that have been traditionally known as “Jatamansi” and “Bhootkeshi,” respectively. These are used in various traditional herbal formulations and nutraceuticals, as well as to treat neurological disorders like epilepsy, hysteria, syncope, convulsions, and mental weakness. They resemble each other in their external morphological characters and characteristic odour, so their roots are often confused with each other. Since free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a considerable range of neurological disorders, including seizures and epilepsy, analysis of these two important medicinal plants was carried out based on their antioxidant activities and phenolic profiles. N. jatamansi expressed better antioxidant activity with both DPPH and TAC methods. Strong correlation was seen between TPC and antioxidant activities. Phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and syringic acid were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in the methanol extracts of N. jatamansi and S. vaginatum by HPLC. N. jatamansi was found to contain only protocatechuic and syringic acids while chlorogenic and ferulic acids were present only in S. vaginatum. The studies suggest that both of the plants exhibit distinctive properties and that their similar therapeutic uses may be dependent on synergistic effects exhibited by the different compounds present in them.

Separation and Identification of Furocoumarin in Fruits of Heracleum candicans DC. by HPTLC

Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC. (Apiaceae) is widely used in Indian system of medicines as an aphrodisiac, nerve tonic and also in the treatment of skin diseases with reports of being rich in furocoumarins which are extensively used in pharmaceutical industry for their photosensitizing activity on human skin. A simple high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of psoralen (1) and heraclenol (2) in the fruits of H. candicans. The analytes were separated on silica gel F254 plates with toluene : diethy lether : acetic acid (6 : 4 : 1) and scanned densitometrically at 350 nm. The method was validated in terms of precision, repeatability, and accuracy. The linear range for psoralen and heraclenol was found to be 1–5 μg spot−1 and 1–4 μg spot−1 with correlation coefficient of 0.973 and 0.964, respectively. The two compounds were quantified in fruits of H. candicans and were found to be present in the range of 0.021–0.036% and 0.029–0.043% w/w. The method was found to be very simple, accurate, precise, and economical and can be used for routine quality control.

Quality Evaluation of Ayurvedic Crude Drug Daruharidra, Its Allied Species, and Commercial Samples from Herbal Drug Markets of India

Berberis aristata known as “Daruharidra” in Ayurveda is a versatile medicinal plant used singly or in combination with other medicinal plants for treating a variety of ailments like jaundice, enlargement of spleen, leprosy, rheumatism, fever, morning/evening sickness, snakebite, and so forth. A major bioactive marker of this genus is an alkaloid berberine, which is known for its activity against cholera, acute diarrhea, amoebiasis, and latent malaria and for the treatment of oriental sore caused by Leishmania tropica. Although the roots of B. aristata are considered as the official drug (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India), the study revealed that different species of Berberis, namely. B. asiatica, B. chitria, and B. lycium are also used under the name of Daruharidra in different parts of the country. Detailed physicochemical and phytochemical studies of subjects like total ash, acid insoluble ash, tannins, and total alkaloids were calculated from the shade dried powdered material according to the recommended procedures. Further, heavy metal studies and quantitative estimation of berberine through HPTLC have also been performed as per ICH guidelines. A detailed study of four Berberis species, namely B. aristata, B. asiatica, B. chitria, and B. lycium, which are implicated as Daruharidra and collected from wild and ten commercial samples procured from various important drug markets in India has been carried out, which may be useful to pharmaceutical industries for the authentication of the commercial samples and exploring the possibilities of using other species as a substitute of B. aristata.

Simultaneous reverse-phase HPLC determination of major antioxidant phenolics in Commelina benghalensis L. tubers

Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae) is widely used as traditional and folklore medicine in India. In the present study, a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography—photodiode array detection (RP-HPLC—PDA) method was developed for the separation, identification, and quantification of bioactive phenolics. Antioxidant potential was also accessed to validate the presence of identified markers. Method was developed on C18 column with 1% formic acid (in water) and acetonitrile as solvent system, and data acquisitions were achieved at wavelength of 285 nm. The developed method was also validated for accuracy, precision, robustness, limit of detection and quantification (LOD and LOQ), repeatability, and recovery according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. In this method, five phenolics, viz., protocatechuic acid (0.033%), vanillic acid (0.262%), ferulic acid (0.365%), apigenin (0.126%), and kaempferol (0.544%), were quantified in linearity range of 0.2–1.0 μg with correl...

Comparative botanical and phytochemical evaluation of Calotropis procera Linn. and Calotropis gigantea Linn. Root

The present study evaluates and develops pharmacognostical and phytochemical descriptors (HPTLC) of Calotropis procera and Calotropis gigantea for their quality control. β – sitosterol one of the major terpene content of this species, which is a potent antioxidant, purgative, antispasmodic and expectorant, has also been studied through a simple and high-precision method using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), which may be utilized by pharmacological drug industries for quality evaluation, ensuring successful commercial exploitation of this drug. From the present study it has been observed that both Calotropis procera and C. gigantea have similar microscopic characteristics, physico-chemical parameters studied showed a little variation as total ash components and total extractive values are little less in C. gigantea. HPTLC studies also showed similar qualitative profile with some quantitative variations in total β-sitosterol, which was higher in C. gigantea (2.79%).