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Background: High cholesterol is the sixth-highest risk factor for death in the globe. Herbal medications regularly complement modern medical care, especially by providing safe and well-tolerated therapies for chronic conditions. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare cholesterol lowering effects of Terminalia arjuna bark and Bacopa monnieri leaves (Brahmi) extract in human blood samples diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. Materials and Methods: Herbal extract of arjuna (T. arjuna) and Brahmi (B. monnieri) leaves in distilled water (d/w) and cow’s urine (c/u) [A1, A2, B1, B2] was taken and added to the pooled serum samples collected aseptically and a kinetic study was performed with it. Cholesterol standard was obtained from Erba chem Transasia kit (Trinder’s method, endpoint) with standard cutoff value 200 mg/dL. Results: Baseline reading of total cholesterol in all samples was 189 mg/dL. After 2 h, total cholesterol reading in A1 was 159 mg/dL, 157, 155 and 154 mg/dL in A2, B1, B2, respectively. After 4 h, total cholesterol reading in A1 was 149 mg/dL, 148, 146, and 144 mg/dL in A2, B1, B2, respectively. After 6 h, total cholesterol reading in A1 was 109 mg/dL, 104, 112, and 110 mg/dL in A2, B1, B2, respectively. Conclusion: From the findings of the present study, it was found that aqueous extract of Brahmi (B. monnieri) and T. arjuna (Arjuna) were effective in reducing total cholesterol levels. It can be considered as a potential therapeutic alternative in patients with hyperlipidemia, but warrants further clinical studies.
ABSTRACT
Bronchial asthma is one of the most distressing chronic illness in all socio- economic status people, affecting all age groups. Changing in lifestyle, demographic factors, urbanization, environmental charges are the triggering factors of bronchial asthma. Tamaka swasa is characterized by paraoxysmal attacks of breathlessness, cough, coryza, due to chest tightness, rapid respiration, distress inability to expectorate and prolonged expiration. Methods: This is a single case study of a 34 year male patient, came with the complaints of difficulty in Breathing since 5 years. He also complaints of abdominal distension and decreased appetite. According to patient, he was apparently well before 5 years. Gradually he developed breathing difficulty because of his smoking habit. Patient also c/o abdominal distension and decreased appetite at that time. In the case study patient was given Sadhyo vaman first followed by Snehapana with Brahmi ghrta was given along with Internal medications. Result: Patient showed remarkable improvement in severity of symptoms and as well as time period between 2 successive episodes of dyspnea is increased. During this course we observed that the patient had partial relief of symptoms. Lesser the chronicity greater the relief and improvement in chronic condition was observed. Interpretations and Conclusion: The patient was given Sadhyovamana, followed by Snehapana with Brahmi ghrtam for Virechana. The contents of Brahmi ghrtham are Ghee, Brahmi, Shankapushpi, Trikatu, Shweta trivrt, Krishna Trivrt, Vidanga, Nipadruma, Saptala, Danti, followed by Virechana with Trivrt lehaya. Tamake tu virechana In this condition Virechana is advised as the best line of treatment, and in the above mentioned case after Virechana patient feels better and got much more relief from symptoms.
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Background: Essential hypertension (EHTN) is emerging as one of the most prevalent disorder with highrate of complications, morbidity and mortality. Brahmi vati, an Ayurvedic medicine is explored for itsefficacy in the management of EHTN.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Brahmi vati and sarpagandha Ghana vati in the management ofEHTN.Methods: Total 68 patients meeting the JNC 7 criteria of EHTN of age group 20 to 60 years of either sexparticipated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups, group A received capsule Brahmi vati500 mg and group B capsule Sarpagandha Ghana vati 500 mg respectively twice a day for 30 days. Assessmentswere done through various variables like systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), meanarterial pressure (MAP), lipid profiles, Hamilton anxiety rating scale, 2 weeks sleep diary, serum creatinine,hemoglobin, total leukocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Follow up visit was on every 15th day.Results: Study showed that both Brahmi vati and Sarpagandha Ghana vati produced improvement in mostof the variables and were comparable. Improvements were seen in various variables like SBP, DBP, MAP,Hamilton anxiety rating scale, subjective sleep profiles and total cholesterol. However Brahmi vatishowed increase in weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Sarpagandha Ghana vati produced reduction intotal cholesterol and LDL. Both groups showed good safety profile evaluated through the assessment ofserum creatinine levels.Conclusion: Clinical efficacy of Sarpagandha Ghana vati and Brahmi vati on EHTN showed that both wereeffective, safe and comparable.© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institute of Transdisciplinary Health Sciencesand Technology and World Ayurveda Foundation. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-NDlicense (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
ABSTRACT
Parkinson’s disease (PD) results primarily from the death of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. Treatment of PD has been shifted recently towards herbal medicines.Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (BM) and Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC (MP) are traditional herbal plants known to have neuroprotective effects due to the presence of bacosides in whole plant extract of Bacopa monnieri (BME) and L-DOPA in MP seed extract (MPE). In this study, the comparative effect of BME and MPE in Parkinsonian mice induced by chronic exposure to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was evaluated. Twenty four Swiss albino mice (35-45 g) were grouped into Control, MPTP, MPTP+BME and MPTP+MPE (6 mice in each). Experimental mice were given 40 mg/kg body wt. BME, 48 mg/kg body wt. MPE treatment was given orally for one month with prior use of 15 mg/kg body wt. of MPTP for 2 wk. After the treatment period, behavioral study was performed and assessment of neuroprotective effect was done via neurochemical analysis, Immunohistochemical parameters studied included functional viability of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra by Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) using monoclonal antibody against TH and apoptotic study through caspase-3 and m-RNA expression of neurogenic gene in substantia nigra region of brain. Treatment with BME or MPE for one month significantly decreased the elevated levels of oxidative stress found in Parkinsonian mice. In behavioral tests, comparative analysis of BME and MPE showed a significant increase in spontaneous locomotor activity and grip strength test. Moreover, it was found that the use of BME considerably improved the tyrosine hydroxylase activity, caspase-3 and expression of neurogenic gene in the substantia nigra region of the brain. The results suggest that BME may provide a better platform for future drug discoveries and novel treatment strategies for PD as compared to MPE.
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Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), an Ayurvedic herb has primarily been used to enhance cognitive ability, memory and learning skills. We present a case study of schizophrenia in which add-on Brahmi extracts 500 mg/day for a period of one month resulted in reduction in psychopathology without any treatment-emergent adverse effect. Although preliminary, our case study suggests therapeutic efficacy of add-on Brahmi in schizophrenia, thus opening up a new dimension of its role in alternative medicines.
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Aims: To develop Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) marker for identification of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Study design: Molecular biology tools for authentic identification of Bacopa monnieri. Methodology: RAPD-based SCAR marker was developed to identify Bacopa monnieri from its adulterant candidates namely Centella asiatica, Eclipta alba and Malva rotundifolia. 50 random primers were used for initial screening of different accessions of Bacopa monnieri, Eclipta alba and Malva rotundifolia. A putative 589 bp marker specific to Bacopa monnieri was identified using RAPD technique. This RAPD-amplicon was then sequenced and cloned. Based on the information of cloned sequences a pair of SCAR primers was designed. SCAR primers were then used for authentication of DNA samples of Bacopa monnieri and its adulterants. Market samples of Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica collected under the name of Brahmi was put to test with these primers. Results: Out of 50 random primers, only 14 primers were able to amplify the above plants. A 589 bp polymorphic band obtained with OPAA-3 primer which was specific to Bacopa monnieri accessions and not found in other adulterant candidates was selected. This band was eluted, cloned and further sequenced. A pair of SCAR primers (Bac F & Bac R) between 406 bp of 589 bp sequence of RAPD amplicon was designed. A single, bright, distinct band was obtained in Bacopa monnieri and not in the adulterants. Further validation was also done in the market samples. Conclusion: In essence, the study was to develop a RAPD-based SCAR marker for authentication of Bacopa monnieri. The SCAR marker was found to be useful for preventing the adulteration of other plants in Brahmi and also for screening of crude drug samples intended for export and domestic uses.
ABSTRACT
Centella asiatica and Bacopa monnieri widely known as Brahmi are considered as ‘Medhya rasayanas’ in Ayurveda meaning brain tonic. However, these plants are distinctly different. The name Brahmi, Jala-brahmi or water-brahmi is assigned to Bacopa monnieri whereas "mandukaparni", often confused with Brahmi, refers to Centella asiatica. A detailed investigation of whole plant and roots of both the crude drugs was carried out. The diagnostic characteristics includes presence of stomata, vessels with spiral thickening, rosette crystals of calcium oxalate in Centella asiatica and xylem vessels with reticulate thickening, glandular hairs, simple, round and oval starch grains, measuring 4-14 μ in diameter in Bacopa monnieri. Various physicochemical parameters were also established. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of many therapeutically important classes of phytoconstituents such as glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, protiens and carbohydrates. The present work was undertaken to generate information regarding relevant pharmacognostical, phytochemical and physicochemical data needed for proper identification and authentification of two crude drugs belonging to two different families, mainly focusing and exploring the aspects leading to common effect of improving memory.