An appraisal of the bioavailability enhancers in Ayurveda in the light of recent pharmacological advances.

The concept of bioavailability enhancer is new to the modern system of medicine. Basically, this concept originated in Ayurveda and being used in this system of medicine since centuries. Bio-enhancers augment the bioavailability or biological activity of drugs when co-administered with principal drug at low doses. Ayurveda is using several drugs such as Piper longum Linn., Zingiber officinale Rosc., and Glycyrhhiza glabra Linn. as bio-enhancers and different methods for bio-enhancing since centuries. The bio-enhancement leads to reduction in therapeutic dose of principal drug, thus reducing the possibilities of toxicity and side effects of drug, potentiating the efficacy, reducing the resistance, decreasing the requirement of raw material for drug manufacture, and ultimately benefitting to the world economy by reducing the treatment cost. This review article attempts to consolidate different drugs as well as methods being used traditionally for enhancing bioavailability in Ayurvedic system of medicine and to discuss their possible mechanism of action. Authentic subject material has been reviewed from different Ayurvedic texts and from different related research and review articles. Thus, it is a humble effort to explore the different aspects of bio-enhancers including therapeutic techniques such as Shodhana, the drugs such as Pippali, and properties such as Yogavahi and Rasayana, which have been described in Ayurveda along with their mechanism of action and uses wherever available.

Anti-histaminic, mast cell stabilizing and bronchodilator effect of hydroalcoholic extract of polyherbal compound- Bharangyadi.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways associated with reversible airway obstruction and increased airway responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. An intuitive inference from this definition is that a causal relationship may exist between airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. It can be say that "airway inflammation equal to airway hyperresponsiveness". Attachment of antigen antibody complex to the mast cell causes its disruption and release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine.To evaluate the efficacy of anti-asthmatic property of a drug, evaluation of anti-histaminic, mast cell stabilizing and bronchodilator property can be use as pharmacodynamic parameter. Bharangyadi is a polyherbal compound having Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Sati (Hedychium spicatum) and Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa) as ingredient herbs The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic activity of an indigenous polyherbal compound Bharangyadi through various in-vitro & in-vivo experimental models.The results demonstrate that drug has potent histamine antagonism property with significant mast cell stabilizing and spasmolytic activity in the experimental animals. Compound 48/80, a potent mast cell degranulator, provoked 76% degranulation of mast cells in the control group. Ethanolic extract of Bharangyadi at the doses 500 and 1000 µg/ml protected from compound 48/80-evoked degranulation (P < 0.01) in dose dependent manner.Pre-treatment with Bharangyadi extract showed 80% & 86% protection from histamine induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs with 27.8% and 36.1% increase in preconvoulsion time (equal to standard drug). Screening of Histamine antagonism activity on guinea pig ileum showed that drug reduces the smooth muscle contraction in dose dependent manner. Increasing concentration of Bharangyadi extract with maximum dose of histamine (1.6µg) showed maximum inhibition at the dose of 50mg (99.78%). Inhibition of smooth muscle contraction by addition of drug in organ bath before adding histamine showed that drug has preventive type antagonism.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and bronchodialator effect of a polyherbal drug-Shrishadi.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate antimicrobial and bronchodialator effect of hydroalcholic extract of polyherbal drug Shirishadi containing Shirisha (Albezzia lebbeck), Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus) & Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum). METHODS: Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method and MIC, MBC, MFC were calculated by micro dilution method. Hydroalcholic extract of this preparation was investigated for its phytochemical analysis, phenol and flavonoid were determined by spectrophotometric method and in vivo bronchodilator effect was analysed by convulsion time. RESULTS: The phytochemical tests revealed presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The antimicrobial result showed the MIC of 6.25 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 12.5 mg/mL for Escherichia coli and 12.5 mg/mL against remaining bacteria tested, with strong antifungal activity. The maximum inhibition zone is found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC 16 mg/mL. Drug showed significant bronchodilator effect with 27.86% & 36.13% increase in preconvulsion time of guinea pigs pretreated with 100 & 200 mg/kg body weight of extract. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that the extracts possess antibacterial activity and antifungal activity in a dose dependent manner. This antimicrobial property may be due to presence of several saponins, further studies are highly needed for the drug development.

A Comparative clinical trial on the role of Panchakarma therapy and Unmada Gajankusha Rasa in the cases of major depressive disorder vis-à-vis kaphaja Unmada.

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder which exerts wide range of physical, physiological and psychological impact. On the basis of the severity of disease, depression is classified under various categories. Of all the types of depression, major depressive disorder resembles the features of kaphaja Unmada. The patients of Kaphaja Unmada are dirty in appearance, their speech and activities are retarded and they prefer to remain in solitude and lonely places. The presentstudy has been conducted in eighty patients of major depressive disorder dividing them into four groups, A, B, C and D using Vamana therapy and Unmada Gajankusha Rasa in the dose of 250 mg twice daily with water. The results were assessed on scoring of clinical symptoms and signs and by using Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS).The results reveal the mild to moderate degree of response over various parameters which has been presented in detail in the article.

Clinical efficacy of Rasona Pinda in the management of Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis).

In the present clinical study, 63 patients of Amavata were registered from the Kayachikitsa out patient department/indoor patient department (OPD/IPD) of Sir Sunder Lal Hospital (Indian Medicine Wing), IMS, BHU, Varanasi-5. In group I (Rasona Pinda), 27 patients completed the study of a total of 33patients registered in the group (six patients dropped out mid-therapy). In group II (control group), 23 patients completed all three follow-ups out of 30 patients (there were seven dropouts in mid-therapy). In group I, complete remission in 29.6%, major improvement in 59.3% and minor improvement in change font so as to appear 11.1% were observed. In group II, complete remission in 13%, major improvement in 21.7%, minor improvement in 39.1% and unchanged in 26.9% of the patients were observed.

Concept of deha prakriti vis-à-vis human constitution in ayurveda.

The Ayurvedic literature exhibits a systematic information about psychosomatic constitution and its genetic & environment denominators. According to Ayurveda the psychosomatic constitution, as also known as Deha Prakrti, is represented by a vivid description of the Physique, Physiology & psychological make-up of an individual. The Deha Prakrti is essentially genetically determined and is likely to be influenced by a variety of environmental factors to some extent. Dehaprakrti is the foremost factor which determines the pattern of susceptibility of an individual to different diseases, their prognosis, course and complications.

Possible Correlates of Free Radicals and Free Radical Mediated Disorders in Ayurveda with Special Referance to Bhutagni Vyapara and Ama at molecular Level.

The description of metabolic processes, operating at various levels insider the body, has been essentially covered in Ayurveda under thirteen types of Agnis and their functions at different levels, which are often compared with the enzymes and biochemical which take part in biological and / or biophysical transformations and reactions. When these Agnis, at different levels, get disordered they lead to the production of certain undesired elements or byproducts in the system, which are called as 'Ama' in ayurveda and are considered as very important morbid factor responsible for causation of a variety of diseases and playing key role in genesis of most of the diseases.The present article attempts to correlate the most recent concept of today's medicine i.e., Free Radical concept with that of the concept of Agni and Ama, described in Ayurveda and thereby opens newer vistas of search for remedies from Ayurvedic research, which may be helpful in the prevention and care of Free Radical Mediated Diseases.