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Kamgar E, Kaykhaii M, Zembrzuska J. A Comprehensive Review on Shilajit: What We Know about Its Chemical Composition. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2023:1-13. [PMID: 38133965 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2023.2293963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Shilajit, a natural material known for thousands of years, is primarily famous because it was the main constituent used for the mummification of bodies by dynastic Egyptians. However, for millennia, it has also been an important drug and supplement in traditional and modern medicine. A full search of Shilajit in the literature, reveals that its chemical composition is not known with certainty. That's due to the fact that surprisingly, no comprehensive chemical analysis has ever been performed to find all the chemicals and species present in it. Moreover, its source is not known; some believe that it is formed from dead plant residues or animal excrements, and some others believe it is a mineral secreted from rocks gradually. In this review article, it is tried to gather chemical property information available regarding this soft, mysterious black material to clarify what it is composed of and what formulation commercial supplements and drugs based on Shilajit may have. While there are many differences in the chemical compositions of Shilajit from various regions, it has been discovered that more than 80% of weight of Shilajit is mainly composed of humic substances and almost 20% of its weight consists of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It also contains amino acids (mainly glycine) and proteins, fatty acids, bioactive compounds such as caffeic acid and gallic acid, and heavy metals including chromium, selenium, and cobalt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Kamgar
- Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
| | - Massoud Kaykhaii
- School of Natural Sciences (Chemistry), College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Joanna Zembrzuska
- Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Technical Electrochemistry, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
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Mishra T, Dhaliwal HS, Singh K, Singh N. Shilajit (Mumie): Current Status of Biochemical, Therapeutic and Clinical Advances. CURRENT NUTRITION & FOOD SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1573401313666170823160217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Background: Shilajit (mumie), a natural multi-component herbomineral ethnomedicinal
food, is used as a traditional medicine for enhancing the quality of life and for management of health
ailments in many countries of the world. Use of Shilajit as an adaptogen, aphrodisiac, rejuvenator and
anti-aging substance is mentioned in many ancient texts. This review aims to provide comprehensive
insights into its biochemical aspects, microbial role in biosynthesis, bioactivities and to establish correlation
between traditional uses and scientifically validated research findings.
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanuja Mishra
- Department of Biotechnology, Eternal University, Baru Sahib-173101, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Harcharan S. Dhaliwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Eternal University, Baru Sahib-173101, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Karan Singh
- Chemistry, Eternal University, Baru Sahib-173101, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Nasib Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Eternal University, Baru Sahib-173101, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Bansal P, Banerjee S. Effect of Withinia Somnifera and Shilajit on Alcohol Addiction in Mice. Pharmacogn Mag 2016; 12:S121-8. [PMID: 27279696 PMCID: PMC4883068 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.182170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol addiction is a social problem leading to both loss of health and economic prosperity among addicted individuals. Common properties of anti-addictive compounds include anti-anxiety, anticonvulsants, anti-depressant, and nootropic actions primarily through modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonergic systems. OBJECTIVE Here, we screen ashwagandha and shilajit known ethnopharmacologically as nervine tonic and adaptogenic herbs for possible anti-addictive potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS Effect of ashwagandha churna and shilajit was measured on ethanol withdrawal anxiety using elevated plus maze. Role of ashwagandha and shilajit on chronic ethanol consumption (21 days) was measured using two bottle choice protocol of voluntary drinking. We also measured the effect of the above herbs on corticohippocampal GABA, dopamine, and serotonin levels. RESULTS Both ashwagandha and shilajit were found to reduce alcohol withdrawal anxiety in a dose-dependent manner. These herbs alone or in combination also decreased ethanol intake and increased water intake significantly after 21 days of chronic administration. Chronic administration of ashwagandha was found to significantly increase GABA and serotonin levels whereas shilajit altered cortico-hippocampal dopamine in mice. CONCLUSION These central nervous system active herbs alone or in combination reduced both alcohol dependence and withdrawal thus showing promising anti-addictive potential. SUMMARY Withinia Somnifera alone and in combination with Shilajeet prevented ethanol withdrawal and alcohol addiction Abbreviations used: GABA: Gama aminobutyric acid, CNS: Central Nervous System, CPP:Condition place preference, DA: Dopamine, 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine, NMDA:N-methyl-D-aspartate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Bansal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Sugato Banerjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
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Durg S, Veerapur VP, Thippeswamy BS, Ahamed SM. Antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities of standardized Śilājatu (Shilajit) in experimental animals. Anc Sci Life 2016; 35:110-7. [PMID: 26865744 PMCID: PMC4728862 DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.171675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Śilājatu (Shilajit; SJ) is claimed in traditional Indian medical practice to be useful in the treatment of nervous disorders, epilepsy and as antistress. Aim: To investigate whether SJ possesses antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities in rodents. Materials and Methods: Isonicotinyl hydrazine (INH), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), apomorphine, phenytoin, diazepam, haloperidol and other chemicals of analytical grade were procured from standard companies. The antiepileptic activity of SJ was assessed using maximal electro shock (MES)-induced seizures in rats, INH and PTZ-induced seizures in mice. The antipsychotic effect of SJ was evaluated using apomorphine-induced climbing and stereotyped behaviours respectively, in mice and rats. Settings and Designs: SJ (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was given orally once daily for 15 days in all the rodent models. On the test day, SJ was administered 1 h prior to electric shock or chemical inducers (INH/PTZ/apomorphine) in experimental animals; the animals were then observed for different phases of seizures and psychotic behaviours. In addition, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the brain of rats and mice was estimated in seizure models. Statistical Analysis: The data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. Statistical comparisons were performed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-test using Graph Pad Prism version 5.0, USA. A P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results and Conclusions: SJ pretreatment significantly inhibited the seizures induced by MES, INH and PTZ in a dose dependent manner. Further, SJ augmented brain GABA levels to normal, decreased by INH and PTZ in mice brain. SJ pretreatment also significantly inhibited the climbing and stereotyped behaviours induced by apomorphine. The present data seems to confirm the antiepileptic activity of SJ which may be because of enhancing the GABAergic system. The antipsychotic activity observed may be due to anti-dopaminergic and/or GABA-mimetic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharanbasappa Durg
- Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - Veeresh P Veerapur
- Department of Quality Assurance, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - B S Thippeswamy
- Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - Syed Mansoor Ahamed
- Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
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Kim YK, Yang EJ, Cho K, Lim JY, Paik NJ. Functional Recovery After Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Reduced GABAergic Inhibition in the Cerebral Cortex: A GABA PET Study. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2014; 28:576-83. [PMID: 24463186 DOI: 10.1177/1545968313520411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plasticity plays an important role in stroke motor recovery in a mouse model. However, little is known about changes over time in neuronal excitability mediated by GABA receptors in human stroke patients. OBJECTIVES To establish the mechanism of neuroplasticity during the recovery phase following ischemic stroke by assessing the changes in cerebral GABA activity using [(18)F]flumazenil ([(18)F]FMZ) positron emission tomography (PET). METHODS A total of 10 patients with unilateral ischemic stroke were studied at 1 month (T0) and 3 months (T1) postonset using [(18)F]FMZ PET. Changes in regional GABAergic activity were assessed longitudinally, and values were also compared with those in 15 age-matched controls. Upper-extremity motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer score (FMS). RESULTS During the follow-up period, statistical parametric mapping analysis demonstrated a decrease in GABAA receptor availability throughout the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, especially the contralateral hemisphere. GABAA availability in the bilateral primary motor cortex, contralateral supplemental motor cortex, and globus pallidus at T0 was positively correlated with the FMS score at T1 CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective, controlled longitudinal study showing that the change in GABA receptor availability over time is significantly related to motor recovery after stroke in humans. This work supports the rationale for a novel strategy to promote motor recovery after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Kyeong Kim
- Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Joo Yang
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Kyehee Cho
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jong Youb Lim
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Nam-Jong Paik
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
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Khaksari M, Mahmmodi R, Shahrokhi N, Shabani M, Joukar S, Aqapour M. The Effects of Shilajit on Brain Edema, Intracranial Pressure and Neurologic Outcomes following the Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2013; 16:858-64. [PMID: 23997917 PMCID: PMC3758058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE(S) Brain edema is one of the most serious causes of death within the first few days after trauma brain injury (TBI). In this study we have investigated the role of Shilajit on brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, intracranial pressure (ICP) and neurologic outcomes following brain trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diffuse traumatic brain trauma was induced in rats by drop of a 250 g weight from a 2 m high (Marmarou's methods). Animals were randomly divided into 5 groups including sham, TBI, TBI-vehicle, TBI-Shi150 group and TBI-Shi250 group. Rats were undergone intraperitoneal injection of Shilajit and vehicle at 1, 24, 48 and 72 hr after trauma. Brain water content, BBB permeability, ICP and neurologic outcomes were finally measured. RESULTS Brain water and Evans blue dye contents showed significant decrease in Shilajit-treated groups compared to the TBI-vehicle and TBI groups. Intracranial pressure at 24, 48 and 72 hr after trauma had significant reduction in Shilajit-treated groups as compared to TBI-vehicle and TBI groups (P<0.001). The rate of neurologic outcomes improvement at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hr after trauma showed significant increase in Shilajit-treated groups in comparison to theTBI- vehicle and TBI groups (P <0.001). CONCLUSION The present results indicated that Shilajit may cause in improvement of neurologic outcomes through decreasing brain edema, disrupting of BBB, and ICP after the TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Khaksari
- Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Nader Shahrokhi
- Neuroscience Research Center ,Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,Corresponding author: Nader Shahrokhi, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Tel:+98-341 3220081; Fax: +98-341 3220081;
| | - Mohammad Shabani
- Neuroscience Research Center ,Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Siavash Joukar
- Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Stohs SJ. Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytother Res 2013; 28:475-9. [PMID: 23733436 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Shilajit (mumie; moomiyo, mummiyo) has been used for a wide variety of illnesses and conditions for many years. However, relatively few well-controlled human studies have been conducted on the effects of shiliajit, although a growing number of studies have been published in recent years involving animal and in vitro systems. The safety of shilajit is well documented based on animal and human studies. Various research studies indicate that shilajit exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, and anti-dyslipidemic properties. Animal and human studies indicate that shilajit enhances spermatogenesis. Furthermore, animal and human data support its use as a 'revitalizer', enhancing physical performance and relieving fatigue with enhanced production of ATP. Key constituents in shilajit responsible for these effects appear to be dibenzo-α-pyrones and fulvic acid and their derivatives. Various mechanistic studies provide support for the above observed effects. Additional well-controlled human and animal studies involving the use of standardized products are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidney J Stohs
- School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68168, USA
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