THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF PRAVAHIKA (AMOEBIC DYSENTERY) THROUGH AYURVEDIC REGIMEN: A CASE STUDY

Hurry, worry and curry are the three factors which causes intestinal upsets frequently and leads to gastrointestinal problems in modern life. Pravahika (Amoebic dysentery) is also one of the important and oftenly occurring Vyadhis of Annavaha and Pureeshvaha Srotasas in current time. Pravahika is the Pakwasahayagata kaphajavikara with symptoms of Sarakta mala, Sapravahana mala, Sakapha mala, Daah, Jwara, Bhrama Daurbalya, Anannabhilsha, Sweda and Trishna. A case report of a patient with a history of loose motion with mucous discharge for the 6 months visited Ayurveda OPD, is presented in this study. Routine stool examination, blood glucose, serum lipid profile and liver function test were performed. The patient was treated with Ayurvedic medicine Kutajghan vati (1 gm), Bilvadi churna with Takra (6 gm) and, Chitrakadi Gutika (250 mg) in divided doses for 1 month. The patient was followed up for every 7th day and there was significant improvement in the clinical features after 1 month of treatment with the Ayurvedic medicines. There were no side effects reported. This case study demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of Bilvadi churna, Kutajghan vati and Chitrakadi Gutika in the rapid management of Pravahika.

Beneficial effect of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber on experimental ulcerative colitis in rats

Context: The tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson (Araceae), commonly called Suran or Jimmikand, has high medicinal value and is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of different gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders. Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of extracts of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tubers on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were orally administered methanol extract (APME) or aqueous extract (APAE) (250 and 500 mg/kg) or standard drug, prednisolone (PRDS) (4 mg/kg) for 7 days. On 6th day of treatment, UC was induced by transrectal instillation of 4% acetic acid (AA) and after 48 h colitis was assessed by measuring colitis parameters, biochemical estimations and histology of colon. Results: APME or APAE pretreatment significantly (p < .05–.001) prevented AA-induced reduction in body weight and increase in colitis parameters viz. stool consistency, colon weight/length ratio and ulcer score, area and index. Extracts treatment attenuated (p < .001) increase in alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in serum and myeloperoxidase activity and cytokines in colon tissue due to AA administration. Extracts treatment prevented AA-induced elevation in lipid peroxidation and decline in activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and reduced-glutathione content (p < .05–.001) along with histopathological alterations. PRDS also showed similar ameliorative effect on colitis. Discussion and conclusion: APME and APAE showed a preventive effect on UC, and ameliorated inflammation and oxidative damage in colon. The effects may be attributed to presence of phytochemicals, betulinic acid, β-sitosterol, and glucomannan. In conclusion, the tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius exhibited an anticolitic effect through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action

Antidiabetic activity of Chandraprabha vati – A classical Ayurvedic formulation

Background: Chandraprabha vati is a classical Ayurvedic formulation, markedly used for mitigation of Prameha, which correlates in many ways with obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate effect of Chandraprabha vati in experimentally-induced hyperglycemia and lipid profile alterations. Materials and methods: Antidiabetic effect of Chandraprabha vati was studied in fifty five Wistar rats. Graded doses of Chandraprabha vati (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were administered orally for 7 days to normal and alloxan-hyperglycemic rats (65 mg/kg, intravenously), and to glucose loaded normal rats for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Fasting plasma glucose levels were assessed on different time intervals along with plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. Metformin (500 mg/kg, orally) was used as standard drug. Results: Chandraprabha vati did not cause any significant reduction in plasma glucose levels of normal rats (p > 0.05) but normalized the impaired glucose tolerance at 60 and 120 min (p < 0.05–p < 0.001) in OGTT when compared to vehicle control. In alloxan-hyperglycemic rats, administration of Chandraprabha vati (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced plasma glucose at 3 h, 12 h, 3rd day and 7th day (p < 0.01–p < 0.001) along with reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides levels (p < 0.01–p < 0.001) when compared to diabetic control group. The effects were comparable with metformin. Conclusions: Chandraprabha vati exhibited anti-hyperglycemic effect and attenuated alterations in lipid profile. The results support the use of Chandraprabha vati for correction of Prameha in clinical practice

Oral toxicity of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) tuber in mice

Context: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber is an important constituent of Ayurvedic system of medicine. The tuber of this plant has high medicinal value and is consumed as a food. It is associated with acridity (itchy sensation in mouth and throat) upon oral consumption and presence of high oxalates raphides. Aims: To evaluate the acute and subacute oral toxicity studies of methanolic (APME) and aqueous (APAE) extracts of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber in Swiss albino mice according to OECD guidelines. Methods: In acute oral toxicity study, the mice were orally administered a single dose of APME or APAE (2000 mg/kg) and clinical signs and mortality were observed for 14 days. In subacute (repeated dose) oral toxicity study, the mice were administered once daily, orally with APME or APAE (1000 mg/kg) up to 28 days. The parameters assessed were behavior, clinical signs, body weight, feed and water consumption, urinary, biochemical, hematological and major organ weights and histology. Results: In acute toxicity study, there was no treatment related mortality and morbidity in any of the group. In subacute toxicity study, there were no significant changes in behavior, body weight, feed and water consumption, urinary, biochemical, hematological and organ weight and histological parameters compared to vehicle treated group. There was no treatment related mortality or morbidity. Conclusions: Administration of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber, individually in acute and 28 days repeated dose in mice, did not exhibit any toxicity or adverse effect at the doses used

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Bombax ceiba flowers against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Aim: The flowers of Bombax ceiba are traditionally used as home remedy in the treatment of jaundice and spleen enlargement. The present work investigated the effect of aqueous extract of flowers of Bombax ceiba (BCAE) on experimentally induced hepatotoxicity in rats to substantiate its traditional use as hepatoprotective agent.Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment; at the same time vehicle or BCAE (250 or 500 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg) were administered daily orally for seven days. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by estimating the activities of marker enzymes and by histological studies. The antioxidant effect of BCAE was assessed by measuring amount of antioxidant phytochemicals (total phenolics and flavonoids), and DPPH free radical scavenging assay of the extract.Results: BCAE treatment significantly prevented the CCl4-induced elevations in levels of glutamate oxaloacatate transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and triglycerides, and decreased the total protein levels. Treatment with BCAE attenuated the CCl4-induced cytotoxic damage to liver. BCAE exhibited presence of antioxidant phytochemicals and showed scavanging action on DPPH radicals. The hepatoprotective effect of BCAE was comparable to that of the standard antioxidant hepatoprotective agent, silymarin. These findings indicated that BCAE showed hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and exhibited in vitro antioxidant effects.Conclusion: Bombax ceiba flowers exhibited hepatoprotective effect which may be attributed to antioxidant potential. This study also validated their traditional medicinal use in liver disorders