Scientific evidence on the role of Ayurvedic herbals on bioavailability of drugs
C. K. Atal, Usha Zutshi and P. G. Rao
Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu-Tawi, J&K, India
Received 7 March 1980; revised 14 August 1980. Available online 6 November 2002.
Abstract
Experiments were conducted to evaluate the scientific basis of the use of the Trikatu group of acrids (long pepper, black pepper and ginger) in the large number of prescriptions in Ayurveda. [3H] vasicine and [3H] sparteine were taken as test drugs. Piper longum (long pepper) increased the blood levels of vasicine by nearly 233%. Under the influence of piperine, the active principle of Piper species, sparteine blood levels increased more than 100%. The results suggest that these acrids have the capacity to increase the bioavailability of certain drugs. It appears that the trikatu group of drugs increase bioavailability either by promoting rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, or by protecting the drug from being metabolised/oxidised in its first passage through the liver after being absorbed, or by a combination of these two mechanisms.
Ayurvedic Interventions for Diabetes Mellitus A Systematic Review
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
Immunomodulatory Activity of Chlorophytum borivilianum
Sant. F
Mayank Thakur 1, Shilpi Bhargava 1, and V. K. Dixit 1 *
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr H.S. Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & Fernandes (Liliaceae) is a very popular herb in traditional Indian medicine and constitute a group of herbs used as ‘Rasayan’ or adaptogen. Ethanolic extract of the roots and its sapogenin were evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity. Effect of azathioprine-induced myelosuppresion and administration of extracts on hematological and serological parameters was determined. Administration of extracts greatly improved survival against Candida albicans infection. An increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity response (DTH), % neutrophil adhesion and in vivo phagocytosis by carbon clearance method was observed after treatment with extracts. Immunostimulant activity of ethanolic extract was more pronounced as compared to sapogenins. The results, thus justifies the traditional use of C. borivilianum as a rasayana drug.
Keywords: Chlorophytum borivilianum; immunomodulator; rasayana; Safed Musli. |
