ABSTRACT
Background:Physical performance depends on physical fitness. Fit persons can accomplish the tasks. Fitness is modifiable and hence the fitness level can be increased. In this background a need was felt to validate the efficacy of the Amrut Pushti Vardhak(APV)powder, a product developed by DFRL Mysore, for its physical performance enhancing activity by fitness tests. The result of pre-clinical study of the product was encouraging; hence clinical trial was taken up.Methods:All norms of good clinical practiceand ethics were abided. The subjects were assigned in two homogenous groups, as control and trial groups. The trial group was given APVpowder 30gms/day for 21 days in the morning. The other group served as negative control. To evaluate the efficacy modified Harward step test was conducted before and after the intervention.Results:The test group showed statistically significant increase in the duration of exercise with pvalue 0.027 and increase in physical fitness index(PFI)with p value 0.01. The test group also showed statistically significant increase in the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (p=0.004). The increase in physical fitness level can be attributed to ingredients of APVpowder.Conclusions:Healthy volunteers who received APVpowder 30 gms/day for the duration of 21 days reported statistically significant increase in their duration of exercise, PFIand VO2max. This indicates the APVpowder increases in the physical fitness level.
ABSTRACT
Stress and emotion are associated with several illnesses from headaches to heart diseases and immune deficiencies to central nervous system. Terminalia arjuna has been referred as traditional Indian medicine for several ailments. The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of T. arjuna bark extract (TA) against picrotoxin-induced anxiety. Forty two male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into six experimental groups (n = 7): control, diazepam (1.5 mg·kg), picrotoxin (1 mg·kg) and three TA treatemt groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Behavioral paradigms and PCR studies were performed to determine the effect of TA against picrotoxin-induced anxiety. The results showed that TA supplementation increased locomotion towards open arm (EPM) and illuminated area (light-dark box test), and increased rearing frequency (open field test) in a dose dependent manner, compared to picrotoxin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TA increased number of licks and shocks in Vogel's conflict. PCR studies showed an up-regulation of several genes, such as BDNF, IP, DL, CREB, GABA, SOD, GPx, and GR in TA administered groups. In conclusion, alcoholic extract of TA bark showed protective activity against picrotoxin in mice by modulation of genes related to synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitters, and antioxidant enzymes.