ABSTRACT
BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) occurs after exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For persons who are at high risk of exposure, the standard of care is personal protection from getting infected. Whether Ayurvedic rasayana drug like Chyawanprash can prevent symptomatic infection in frontline health care workers is unknown. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of the combination of Chyawanprash and Standard Preventive Regimen compared to the use of Standard Preventive Regimen alone on the proportion of RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 infections among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). MethodsAn open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted in the HCWs between 25 to 60 years age currently working in an environment with chance of direct exposure to COVID-19 cases. The interventions to be compared in this trial were Standard Preventive Regimen as per institutional guidelines and based on their roles (Group I) and Ayurvedic Intervention viz., Chyawanprash 12 g twice for 30 days from day of randomization plus Standard Preventive Regimen (Group II). The incidence of RT PCR confirmed COVID-19 cases in both groups, was the primary outcome measure. Evaluation of the safety of the study drug (by any statistically significant change in various biochemical and hematological parameters and occurrence of any adverse drug reactions); incidence of any other infective diseases (bacterial /viral/ fungal / etc.) like upper respiratory tract illness during the study period and any change in the immunoglobulins like IgG, IgM and IgE and inflammatory markers like TNF alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 were the secondary outcome measures. ResultsOut of 193 participants who completed the study, no participant in both groups was COVID-19 positive at the end of one month. In post intervention follow-up, 4 subjects in Group I and 2 subjects in Group II were COVID-19 positive. No adverse drug reaction or any serious adverse event was reported during the study. No clinically significant change in the safety parameters was observed before and after the study. Statistically significant rise in Serum IgG level was seen in Group II but other inflammatory and immune markers did not show statistically significant difference. ConclusionChyawanprash was well tolerated by all the participants in the intervention group but to prove its adaptogenic effect and efficacy as an add-on to the standard care in preventing the occurrence of COVID-19, clinical trial for longer duration with larger sample size is needed. Trial registrationClinical Trials Registry of India vide CTRI/2020/05/025275 dated 20/05/2020 Date of IEC approval19.5.2020
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Premna integrifolia Linn. is a medicinal plant of an Ayurvedic importance and proved to have an anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and hypo-lipidemic activity. Glutathione (GSH) redox status is an important parameter to assess the antioxidant activity of any neutraceuticals. OBJECTIVE: In order to assess the anti-oxidant potential of hydro alcoholic extract (HAE) of P. integrifolia, this study was aimed to evaluate the GSH redox status in high fat diet induced experimental atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprises sixty Wistar rats and they were divided into six groups: the first group served as control, the second group was fed with high fat diet and the third, fourth and fifth groups were fed with high fat diet along with various concentrations of HAE of 200, 400 and 500 g/kg.b.wt respectively and the sixth group was administered high fat diet along with 10 mg/kg b.wt of atorvastatin for 30 days. GSH-dependent enzymes like GSH-peroxidase (GPx), GSH-reductase (GR) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) were estimated in hemolysate, kidney, heart and liver of experimental rats. RESULTS: Analysis of GSH levels showed a significant decrease in hemolysate, heart and kidney (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.01) in high fat-fed rats when compared to control. Activities of GPx, GR and G6PD in hemolysate and heart (p < 0.001), liver and kidney (p < 0.05) in high fat-fed rats when compared to control. Dose-dependent increase was observed in rats treated with various concentrations of HAE. CONCLUSION: The HAE of root bark of P. integrifolia is proved to have a protective role on antioxidant defense in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis model. As a whole P. integrifolia increases the GSH content in a dose-dependent manner and in turn altered the redox cycle.
ABSTRACT
Premna integrifolia Linn. is a medicinal plant used in "Dhasamula" drug preparation of Ayurvedic systems of medicine in the treatment of various ailments like bronchitis, dyspepsia, liver disorders, piles, constipation, hyperlipidemia and fever. The anti-atherosclerotic activity of hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of root bark of P. integrifolia was evaluated in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis rats. Sixty Wistar rats were divided into six groups: the first group served as control, the second group was fed with high fat diet and the other three groups were fed with high fat diet along with various concentrations of HAE and the last group was treated with atorvastatin for 30 days. Lipid and lipoprotein profile, atherogenic index, and cardiac markers and histopathological evaluation of aorta were determined in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis rats. HAE of P. integrifolia produced a significant and dose-dependent anti-atherosclerotic activity in terms of reduction in lipids and lipoprotein profile, atherogenic index, HMG-CoA reductase activity, marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alteration in collagen and calcium contents, mild mineralization and focal rupture of intima and media of aorta was noticed in treated groups as compared to the control. The results suggested that anti-atherosclerotic activity of HAE of P. integrifolia Linn. was due to its modulatory activity on metabolic pathway of lipid. The results contribute to the validation of the traditional use of Agnimantha in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis rats.
