Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effect of the drug Guggulutiktaka ghrita on high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Health benefits of ghee: Review of Ayurveda and modern science perspectives

The scientific view on dairy fats is undergoing a change. While at one time they were associated with negative health effects, recent scientific research has provided new insights into the functional benefits of dairy fats and their fatty acids. This changing scientific view on dairy fats is also resulting in a scientific interest in Ghee, the clarified butter obtained from milk. Ghee, besides being a traditional milk product of cultural importance in India and finding extensive use in its cuisines, is also one of the most important ingredients of the materia medica of Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine that originated in India. While modern scientific literature has limited studies on functional benefits of ghee, Ayurveda literature extensively catalogues the therapeutic potential of ghee and details different types of ghee based on source of milk, manufacturing method, maturation and physical phase. This work reviewed the Ayurveda literature on health benefits of ghee and examined the complementarity and gaps between Ayurveda literature and modern scientific literature to identify research questions and hypotheses for further exploring the therapeutic potential of ghee. The Ayurveda literature review involved curation of references to ghee in eleven important Ayurvedic texts spanning over 3000 years. 4000 references to milk and milk products were curated from these texts, of which 2913 mentions were in the context of therapeutic benefits of milk products. Of these, ghee had 774 mentions, the highest amongst milk-based products. These mentions were grouped into 15 benefit clusters. A review of ghee in modern literature published between 1990 and 2023 was also conducted. A comparison of this with the Ayurveda literature showed that there were major differences in the focus areas of health between the two. While recent research primarily focused on ghee's connection with cardiovascular health, wound healing and skin health, Ayurveda prioritized cognitive benefits, gastrointestinal health, and nourishing. These later areas are of growing importance to human health as global population ages, and chronic and brain related diseases start dominating public health concerns. As scientists search for solutions to these, ghee, its usage and formulations in Ayurveda and the detailed associations between ghee's animal source, processing, maturation, phases and health benefits, may have scientific insights to offer that can guide future research.

Ethnological validation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) ghrita as 'Vajikarana Rasayana': In-silico, in-vitro and in-vivoapproach

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Processing cow ghee (clarified butterfat) with therapeutic herbs, i.e. ghrita, is recognized for augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of plant materials. Ashwagandha ghrita (AG) is an effective Ayurvedic formulation consisting of Indian ginseng, i.e., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, the main constituent used to treat infertility, weakness, gynaecological disorders, and general debility.

OBJECTIVES

The present investigation was undertaken to corroborate the ethnopharmacological claim of AG as 'Vajikarana Rasayana' for its aphrodisiac potential using bioinformatics (in-silico) and experimental (in-vitro and in-vivo) approaches.

METHODS

AG was formulated as per the methods reported in Ayurved sarsangraha. AG was further subjected to HPLC, GCMS analysis, and biological (acute toxicity and aphrodisiac) assessment per the standard procedures. Thirty-eight bioactives of Indian ginseng were subjected to computational studies (molecular docking and network pharmacology) to confirm the plausible mechanism.

RESULTS

AG was found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg body wt., and it showed dose-dependent upsurge (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, wherever necessary) in mount and intromission frequency, genital grooming, and anogenital sniffing at 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight suggesting aphrodisiac activity. In-vitro studies demonstrated significant relaxation of the Corpus Cavernosal Smooth Muscle at all concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the results of molecular modelling studies were in agreement with the biological activity and showed interaction with phosphodiesterase-5 as a possible target.

CONCLUSION

AG exhibited an aphrodisiac effect and substantiated the traditional claim of Indian ginseng-based ghrita formulation as 'Vajikarana Rasayana'.