Hepatoprotective action of abhrak bhasma, an ayurvedic drug in albino rats against hepatitis induced by CCl4.

Abhrak bhasma is a commonly used ayurvedic drug against many diseases including hepatitis. It is tested in albino rats using a model of hepatitis induced by a single dose of CCl4 (3 ml/kg body wt). Different doses of abhrak bhasma (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body wt) were tested to decide the dose related hepatoprotective efficacy. The centrolobular necrosis induced by single dose of CCl4 was reduced significantly by abhrak bhasma (10 mg) and liver histology was also protected by 20 mg dose. Liver acid lipase activity was lowered, while alkaline and lipoprotein lipase activities were elevated due to treatment of single dose of CCl4. Abhrak bhasma counteracted the action of CCl4 on liver lipolytic enzymes. CCl4 did not alter the kidney histologically. Activities of three lipases of rat kidney (acid, alkaline and lipoprotein lipases) were reduced by CCl4 treatment and were reversed by administration of abhrak bhasma. Acid lipase activity of rat adipose tissue was reduced by CCl4 treatment. On the contrary alkaline, lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were enhanced after 24 hr of administration of CCl4. Acid lipase activity was raised by administration of different doses of abhrak bhasma concurrent with CCl4. Abhrak bhasma treatment along with CCl4 enhanced alkaline lipase activity at 10 and 20 mg dose and later it was reduced at 30 and 40 mg doses and came to normal levels. Lipoprotein and hormone sensitive lipases were reduced by the counteraction of increasing doses of abhrak bhasma.

Antianaemic properties of ayurvedic drugs, raktavardhak, punarnavasav and navayas louh in albino rats during phenylhydrazine induced haemolytic anaemia.

Single injection of phenylhydrazine[PH] reduced the number of RBC and haemoglobin content; decreased myeloid; erythroid cell ratio in bone marrow and increased Cathepsin D activity in spleen of rats. Ayurvedic drugs raktavardhak, punarnavasav and navayas louh recovered the number of RBC and haemoglobin content and raised myeloid: erythroid cell ratio and normalised cathepsin D activities by counteracting the action phenyl hydrazine. The results confirm the claims of ayurveda that these drugs possess the potency to cure anaemia through protection of RBCs from haemolysis and simultaneously lowering cathepsin D activities from the spleen.

Comparative efficacy of four Ayurvedic formulations in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical evaluation.

Eighty-two patients with acne vulgaris were randomised into five groups. Four different Ayurvedic treatment schedules were given orally for 6 weeks, while one group received a placebo. Physical and clinical investigations were carried out at 2 week intervals. A significant reduction in lesion count was observed in patients receiving Sunder Vati when compared with the placebo and the other Ayurvedic formulations, which failed to produce any significant difference from the pretreatment condition. The drug therapies were well tolerated.

Studies on ayurvedic tablets - part I disintegration time as a preliminary tool for standardisation.

The ayurvedic pharmacy needs to be established on the basis of modern quality standards. A study on ayurvedic Guti-Vati (tablets) was undertaken with this view, revealed that most of the tablets conform to the I P standards for hardness and DT. A few of the tablets showed curious responses similar to that of enteric coated and slow release tablets commonly used in modern medicine.A systematic supporting study is essential so as to establish relationship of such responses to the nature of ingredients and their relevance with the indications and therapeutic utility described in Ayurvedic texts.