Effect of poly herbal formulation, EuMil, on chronic stress-induced homeostatic perturbations in rats.

EuMil, is a herbal formulation comprising the standardised extracts of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal, Ocimum sanctum L, Asparagus racemosus Willd and Emblica officinalis Gaertn., all of which are classified in Ayurveda as rasayanas to promote physical and mental health, improve defense mechanisms of the body and enhance longevity. These attributes are similar to the modern concept of adaptogenic agents, which are, known to afford protection to the human physiological system against diverse stressors. The present study was undertaken to investigate the adaptogenic and antistress activity of EuMil against chronic unpredictable, but mild, footshock stress-induced perturbations in behaviour (depression), glucose metabolism, suppressed male sexual behaviour, immunosuppression and cognitive dysfunction in CF strain albino rats. Panex ginseng (PG) was used for comparison. Gastric ulceration, plasma corticosterone levels, serum lipid, hepatic and renal functions were used as the stress indices. These effects were attenuated by EuMil (dose 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and PG (100 mg/kg. p.o.), administered once daily over a period of 14 days, the period of stress induction period. Further, chronic stress also induced glucose intolerance, suppressed male sexual behaviour, induced behavioural despair and cognitive dysfunction and immunosuppression. All these chronic stress-induced perturbations were attenuated, in a dose dependent manner by EuMil and PG. Thus, the results indicate that EuMil has significant adaptogenic and anti-stress, activity, qualitatively comparable to PG, against a variety of behavioural, biochemical and physiological perturbations, induced by unpredictable stress, which has been proposed to be a better indicator of clinical stress than acute stress. The likely contribution of the individual constituents of EuMil in the observed adaptogenic action of the polyherbal formulation, has been discussed.

Effect of poly herbal formulation, EuMil, on neurochemical perturbations induced by chronic stress.

EuMil, a polyherbal formulation consisting of standardised extracts of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal, Ocimum sanctum L, Asparagus racemosus Wilid and Emblica officinalis Gaertn., is used as an anti-stress agent to attenuate the various aspects of stress related disorders. In the present study, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the anti-stress activity of EuMil were evaluated by measuring the rat brain monoamine neurotransmitter levels and tribulin activity. Chronic electroshock stress (14 days) significantly decreased the nor-adrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) levels in frontal Cortex, pons-medulla, hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatal, hypothalamal region, respectively, and increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) level in frontal cortex, pons medulla, hypothalamus and hippocampus. Chronic stress, also increased the rat brain tribulin activity. EuMil (100 mg/kg, p.o., 14 days) treatment normalized the perturbed regional NA, DA, 5HT concentrations, induced by chronic stress. EuMil also significantly attenuated the stress-induced increase in the rat brain tribulin activity. The amelioration of chronic stress-induced neurochemical perturbations by EuMil explains the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the observed putative anti-stress activity of the product.

Antidepressant activity of hyperforin conjugates of the St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum Linn.: an experimental study.

Nine extracts of H. perforatum, containing hyperforin in conjugated forms, but devoid of free hyperforin and adhyperforin, were subjected to antidepressant screening using the forced swim test (FST). The observed activity was compared with that of SJW extracts containing hyperforin and adhyperforin (in free form). Results indicate that hyperforin conjugates exhibit significant antidepressant activity as evidenced by the reduced immobility period in the FST in rats.

Hypericum perforatum: nature's mood stabilizer.

Hypericum perforatum (HP), better known as St. John's Wort, has been used clinically for centuries. Modern usage is still quite diverse and includes kidney and lung ailments, insomnia and depression. Standardised extracts of HP are widely used in the treatment of psychovegetative disorders and especially for mild forms of depression. Several bioactive constituents of this plant may play important role in its well-known antidepressant activity, which are discussed in the present article. Furthermore, emphasis is also given on its botany, chemistry, pharmacology and clinical efficacy.

Effect of Emblica officinalis tannoids on a rat model of tardive dyskinesia.

Effect of active tannoid principles of E. officinalis, comprising of emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%) and pedunculagin (14%), was investigated on a rat model of tardive dyskinesia (TD) induced by once daily administration of haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg, ip) for 28 days. Involuntary orofacial movements (chewing movements, buccal tremors and tongue protusion) were assessed as TD parameters. The tannoid principles of E. officinalis (EOT) were administered concomitantly with haloperidol in the doses of 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg, po, for 28 days. Sodium valproate (200 mg/kg, po), a Gaba-mimetic agent, and vitamin E (400 mg/kg, po), an antioxidant, were used as the standard drugs and administered for the same period. EOT induced a dose-related inhibition of all the three TD parameters assessed, as did vitamin E. The effect of sodium valproate remained statistically insignificant. The results suggest that EOT exerts a prophylactive effect against neuroleptic-induced TD which is likely to be due to its earlier reported antioxidant effects in rat brain areas, including striatum.