Beneficial effect of Brahmi Ghrita on learning and memory in normal rat

Background:

Learning, the process of acquiring memory such as behavioral change due to previous experiences and most intensively studied subjects in the field of neuroscience through various approaches to understand the mechanisms. Brahmi Ghrita (BG) was claimed for the treatment of learning and memory disorders in human being.

Aim:

To assess learning and memory activity of BG in normal rats.

Materials and Methods:

For this study, 24 rats were taken and divided into four groups (six in each). First group served as the control group, second and the third group as BG treated groups (400 and 800 mg/kg, p. o.) and the fourth group as standard drug (piracetam) 500 mg/kg, p.o. treated group. Learning and memory, activity of BG was evaluated in normal rats, using elevated maze plus and passive avoidance test.

Results:

BG and piracetam treated rats demonstrated a significant decrease in transfer latency in modified elevated plus maze test and increase in step through latency in passive avoidance test compared with control rats in a dose dependent manner. It may be due to increase in learning and memory. It was also reported that prolonged use of Bacopa monneri (L.) Pennell causes elevation of cerebral glutamic acid and transient increase in gamma aminobutaric acid, which may be helpful in the process of learning.

Conclusion:

Brahmi Ghrita enhances learning and memory as analogous to standard drug (piracetam) in normal rats.

Study of Brāhmī Ghṛta and piracetam in amnesia

Objective:

To compare the effect of Brāhmī Ghṛta with piracetam (a reference standard chemical) in amnesia.

Materials and Methods:

Brāhmī Ghṛta contained Brāhmī (Bacopa monneri), Vacā (Acorus calamus), Kuṣṭha (Sassurea lappa), Śaṅkhapuṣpī (Convolvulos pluricalis), and Purāṇa Ghṛta, prepared as per snehapāka process. Antiamnesic activity of Brāhmī Ghṛta (400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated in scopolamine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced amnesia in Charles Foster rats using elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and active avoidance tests. Piracetam (500 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as standard drug. This effect was compared with standard chemical used in experimental study.

Results:

Brāhmī Ghṛta - (in both doses) and piracetam-treated rats significantly reversed the effect of scopolamine in modified elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and active avoidance tests. But there were no significant differences observed in antiamnesic activity of Brāhmī Ghṛta and standard drug.

Conclusion:

Brāhmī Ghṛta and piracetam produced significant beneficial effect on scopolamine-induced amnesic effect, but no significant difference was observed in between them.

A critical study of Rasamritam and it's applied aspects

Historical studies of Rasa shastra reveal the use of metals and minerals, both for alchemical and therapeutical purposes in ancient past. But, gradually the alchemical use of the subject, declines and the therapeutical use takes over. Rasamritam is the latest doctrine in the field of Rasa shastra which compiles the extract of the older books and adopted some new and contemporary concepts. The practical aspects of this text influence both the academicians as well as physicians in large extent. Keeping the wealthier, timely concept of this text in mind, we are trying to review and analyze it critically for the benefit of researchers and practitioners and hope the idea will be fruitful.

OA01.16. Effects of drakshavaleha on weight and crown-rump length in developing mice embryo

Purpose:

Cyclophosphamide (CP) causes stunting in size and loss of body weight of the pups when injected intra-peritoneal (10 mg/kg) to pregnant mice on day 11 of gestation. Due to anti-anaemic properties and nutritional values, Drakshavaleha has been used as a Naimittika Rasayana (promoter of specific vitality in specific disease) by some of the Ayurvedic physicians in Rajasthan to a woman during her pregnancy expecting a good health of both mother and her offspring. The objective of the study was to investigate the protective effect of Drakshavaleha against CP induced growth retardation in mice pups in the terms of body weight and CR (crown-rump) length.

Method:

Group I (Control): Pregnant mice (n=10) received 0.2 ml of vehicle (distilled water) intra-peritoneal on day 11 of pregnancy. Group II (Drakshavaleha): Pregnant mice (n=10) received Drakshavaleha (16g/kg) orally from day ‘0’ to day ‘18’ of pregnancy. Group III (CP): Pregnant mice (n=10) received Cyclophosphamide (10mg/kg) intra-peritoneal on day 11 of pregnancy. Group IV (CP + Drakshavaleha): Pregnant mice (n=10) received CP (10mg/kg) intra-peritoneal on day 11 under cover of Drakshavaleha (16 g/kg) orally from day ‘0 to day 18’ of pregnancy.

Result :

Drakshavaleha (alone) increases the size and weight of the pups when given to mother mice during gestation period and the difference between the two groups (Group III and Group IV) is statistically significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

In the present context Drakshavaleha can be conceived to be a Naimittika Rasayana to a woman during her pregnancy to obtain a healthy progeny.

Pharmaceutical study of Lauha Bhasma

In the present research paper, the work done on pharmaceutical study of Lauha Bhasma conducted in the Department of Rasa Shastra under the postgraduate research programme is being presented. The pharmaceutical processing of Lauha Bhasma was performed by following samanya shodhana, vishesha shodhana and marana of Lauha. Under the process of marana, three specific pharmaceutical techniques were followed, viz. bhanupaka, sthalipaka and putapaka. During the putapaka process, an electric muffle furnace (EMF) was used. The temperature of puta was studied in two batches, viz. in Batch I, a temperature of 800°C was maintained whereas in Batch II, a temperature of 600°C was maintained. The purpose behind selecting two temperatures was to validate the process of marana of Lauha and to determine an ideal temperature for the preparation of Lauha Bhasma in EMF. It is found that after 20 puta at a temperature of 600°C, the Lauha Bhasma was prepared properly. The entire characteristic of Lauha Bhasma, like “pakwa jambu phala varna,” varitar, etc. was attained at 600°. At a temperature of 800°C, the process could not be carried out smoothly. The pellets turned very hard and brassy yellow in color. The desired color was attained only after decreasing the temperature in further puta.

A Comparative clinical trial on the role of Panchakarma therapy and Unmada Gajankusha Rasa in the cases of major depressive disorder vis-à-vis kaphaja Unmada

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder which exerts wide range of physical, physiological and psychological impact. On the basis of the severity of disease, depression is classified under various categories. Of all the types of depression, major depressive disorder resembles the features of kaphaja Unmada. The patients of Kaphaja Unmada are dirty in appearance, their speech and activities are retarded and they prefer to remain in solitude and lonely places. The presentstudy has been conducted in eighty patients of major depressive disorder dividing them into four groups, A, B, C and D using Vamana therapy and Unmada Gajankusha Rasa in the dose of 250 mg twice daily with water. The results were assessed on scoring of clinical symptoms and signs and by using Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS).The results reveal the mild to moderate degree of response over various parameters which has been presented in detail in the article.

Historical review of Svarna Măksika

The old age Ayurvedic claim about the therapeutic importance of metals and mineral bhasmas are time tasted. To make available the evidence for use of metals and minerals in therapeutics and to provide the knowledge of processing techniques in ancient India it is very much necessary to look over the history. Rasa săstra is the branch of Ayurvedic science which deals with the pharmaceutical processings of the metals and minerals. Svarna Măksika is one of the most important materials described in various Rasa literatures as well as in Sarmhităs and in other Ayurvedic texts. Going through the different literatures its different features, geological distributions and various processing techniques like sŏdhana, mărana are found. In Samhită period only the features were described but during 7th Cen. AD & onwards its processings were found. Now a day Svarrna Măksika is correlated with chalcopyrite by modern metallurgists. The features of chalcopyrite are also given to assist the more study in this regard. In the current paper it is tried to collect and compile all the related area about Svarna Măksika from all possible ancient literary resources as well as from possible modern texts, to facilitate further research.

Importance of Ananda kanda in the history of Indian alchemy

Rasa Săstra is an important branch of Ayurvĕda developed for achieving therapeutic benefits from mineral materials. Ananda kanda is one of this subject text which gives an elaborate description of this subject. Dĕhavada concept of Rasa Săstra has been described elaborately along with Lŏha vada in this text. This book serves an important reference text. This book serves an important reference text for students and scholars of Rasa Săstra for teaching and training practical purposes.