Effect of Withinia Somnifera and Shilajit on Alcohol Addiction in Mice

Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners in treatment of alcohol-related disorders in Bushenyi District, southwestern Uganda

Background

Alcohol-related disorders rank seventh among risk factors for morbidity and mortality globally, posing a significant public health burden. In Africa, including Uganda, there is limited availability and utilization of pharmacotherapies to treat alcohol-related disorders. This study documented medicinal plant species, plant parts used, and the methods of preparation and administration utilized by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in treating alcohol-related disorders in southwestern Uganda.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional ethnopharmacological survey was conducted among TMPs within Bushenyi District, southwestern Uganda. Data was collected with key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. The TMPs identified medicinal plants by local names. Plant specimens were collected and deposited at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University for identification and voucher numbers allocated. The plant scientific names and species were identified based on the International Plant Names Index. Plant species, family, life form, number of mentions, method of collection, preparation and administration were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel. The survey data were utilized to compute Frequency of Citation, Relative Frequency of Citation, and Informant Consensus Factor.

Results

We enrolled 50 traditional medicine practitioners aged between 34 and 98 years, with a mean age of 67. Approximately two-thirds were female (66%, 33/50), and mean experience in traditional healing was 31 years. The total number of plants identified were 25 belonging to 20 families. The most prevalent plant life form was herbs (36%) while grasses (4%), were the least. Leaves (48%) were the most utilized plant parts with the least utilized being the barks. The most prevalent method, adopted by approximately one-third of the TMPs, involved drying the plant material in the sun. The Informant Consensus Factor was 0.67.

Conclusion

The study shows that the traditional medicine practitioners in Bushenyi district use a wide diversity of plants species to treat alcohol related disorders. The relatively high Informant Consensus Factor suggests a significant level of agreement among TMPs regarding the use of the identified plants. We recommend further investigations into phytochemistry, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of the identified plants.

Herbo-mineral formulation 'Ashwashila' attenuates rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in collagen-antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) mice model

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affects joints of hands and feet and introduces injury in secondary organs such as cardiac tissue. In the present study, we induced RA in male Balb/c mice (CAIA) using collagen-antibody cocktail (C-Ab) and lipopolysaccharide intraperitoneal injections. Induction of RA in the animals was detected through the loss of body weight, food, and water consumption, pedal edema, increased arthritis score of the paw and ankle, increase in radiological and histological lesion score of ankle and knee joints and enhanced pain perception in the C-Ab induced RA animals. Ashwashila is a herbo-mineral medicine from Indian Ayurvedic system. Human equivalent doses of Ashwashila (ASHW) and standard of care, Methotrexate were given to the CAIA animals for two weeks. ASHW treatment significantly reversed the effect of C-Ab with reduced pedal edema, arthritis score, radiological and histological lesion scores in ankle-joint, knee-joint and articular cartilage, reduced pain perception. These effects were comparable with the Methotrexate treatment. In human monocytic (THP-1) cells, ASHW was found to be biocompatible at in-vitro test doses. The anti-arthritis mechanism of action for ASHW was established through the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α; and upstream regulator, NF-κB. Taken together, we show the pre-clinical efficacy of ASHW in reducing RA associated symptoms by controlling inflammation and suggest it as a potential therapeutic candidate for rheumatoid arthritis.

Shilajit (Mumie): Current Status of Biochemical, Therapeutic and Clinical Advances

Methods:

Scientific literature and ethnopharmacological information were compiled from the published peer-reviewed articles, unpublished materials, thesis, books, patent databases, clinical trial registries and from the websites of research councils of traditional medicine. The scientific databases, thesis repositories and books databases were searched with keywords Shilajit, mumie, mumijo, salajeet, asphaltum, fulvic acid, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones etc.

Results:

Scientifically validated research and ancient texts suggest multifaceted benefits of Shilajit. It is endowed with anti-stress, memory and energy enhancing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, spermatogenic, neuroprotective, antiulcer and wound healing activities. These pharmacological effects are mainly attributed to the presence of humic acid, fulvic acid, dibenzo-α-pyrones, dibenzo- α-pyrones chromoproteins and trace elements.

Conclusion:

This review summarizes the traditional importance of Shilajit for the treatment and prevention of several acute and chronic diseases and health ailments. Despite numerous health claims, there are still major gaps in our understanding of its mechanism of action, variability in efficacy and toxicity profile. Therefore, a coordinated interdisciplinary approach is needed to establish the underlying mechanisms of action, comprehensive toxicological profile, pharmacokinetics parameters and effects on different organ systems. Regulatory and governmental impetus to basic and clinical research, safety testing and formulations quality control is warranted.

Triethylene glycol-like effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) root extract devoid of withanolides in stressed mice

Background

The objective of the study is to compare stress resistance-promoting effect of triethylene glycol (TEG) and root extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) i.e. withanolide-free root extract of Withania somnifera (WFWS).

Materials and Methods

Mice groups treated orally with 10 mg/kg TEG or WFWS (3.3, 10, 33.3, or 100 mg/kg) for 12 consecutive days were subjected to foot shock stress-triggered hyperthermia test on the 1^st, 5^th, 7^th and 10^th day and to marble-burying test on the following 2 days. Effects of treatment on stress-triggered alteration in body weight, core temperature, blood glucose, insulin and cortisol level were quantified and statistically analyzed.

Results

WFWS doses up to 10 mg/kg/day were as effective as TEG in affording protection against stress-triggered alteration in body weight, core temperature and marble-burying behavior. Protection against stress-triggered alteration in blood glucose and insulin level, as well as antidepressants or anxiolytic-like activities in the behavioral test, were observed in the higher two WFWS doses (33.3 and 100 mg/kg) treated groups only.

Conclusion

Ashwagandha metabolites other than withanolides contribute to its stress resistance increasing effects. The observations suggest that modulation of physiological functions of gut microbiota may be involved in the mode of action of Withania somnifera root extracts.

Effect of Shankhpushpi on Alcohol Addiction in Mice

Alcohol addiction is a worldwide problem. It has mainly two components: dependence and withdrawal. Characteristic properties of most anti-addictive compounds include anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and nootropic actions. Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis. Convolvulaceae), known ethnopharmacologically as brain tonic, possess all the properties mentioned above. Here, we screen shankhpushpi for possible anti-addictive potential. Effect of shankhpushpi churna was measured on ethanol withdrawal anxiety using elevated plus maze. The role of shankhpushpi on chronic ethanol consumption (21 days) was measured using two bottle choice protocol of voluntary drinking. We also measured the effect of the above herb on cortico-hippocampal GABA levels. Shankhpushpi was found to reduce alcohol withdrawal anxiety in a dose-dependent manner. The herb also decreased ethanol intake and increased water intake significantly (P < 0.001) after 4 days of administration. Both these effects were blocked (P < 0.001) by GABAA antagonist suggesting the role of GABAA receptor. Chronic administration of shankhpushpi also significantly (P < 0.01) increased cortico-hippocampal GABA levels in mice. Shankhpushpi reduced both alcohol dependence and withdrawal in a GABAA-dependent manner, thus showing anti-addictive potential.