Heavy Metal, Aflatoxin, Pesticide Residue, Microbial Analysis of Siddha Polyherbal Formulation Veppampoo mathirai

Aim: The polyherbal siddha formulation veppampoo Mathirai is effective in regulating blood pressure but its safety is not known. The heavy metal, aflatoxins, pesticide residue, microbial count have not been evaluated so far. The current study evaluated the above parameters. The present study was aimed to evaluate the safety parameters (heavy metal, aflatoxin, pesticide residue and microbial profile) of Veppampoo Mathirai. Materials and Methods: According to AYUSH [Ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha, naturopathy] Pharmacopoeial laboratory for Indian medicine (PLIM) guidelines, the formulation was evaluated for its safety parameters at Noble research solutions, kolathur, Chennai, accredited with ISO 9001: 2015.Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used for testing heavy metals and aflatoxins were tested using Thin layer chromatography(TLC). The Pesticide residues content was estimated by GC/MS while microbial count by pour plate method. Results: The study revealed presence of heavy metals mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium within the recommended limit as per AYUSH Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine Guidelines whereas presence of Aflatoxin, pesticide residues and microbes were absent in the sample which showed the formulation Veppampoo Mathirai (VPM) was free from toxicity. Conclusion: VPM showed heavy metal content below the permissible limit as per PLIM guidelines of AYUSH. Aflatoxins and pesticide residue were not detected while the microbes and specific pathogens were absent in the current batch of VPM. Hence, the present study ensures the formulation was safe for therapeutic use.

Evaluation of Anxiolytic potential of various extracts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaves

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz native to India referred to as Guletura is widely distributed in South India, and its leaves, flower, bark, and seeds are employed in Indian medicine. The plant contains many active elemental fractions like caesalpin-type diterpenoids, sitosterol, pulcherrimin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, myricetin, quercetin and rutin, flavonoids, carotenoids, glycosides, peltogynoids, phenols, and steroids. The current study was designed to gauge the anti-anxiety activity of varied extracts viz n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol of the leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima by using elevated plus maze (EPM) model in albino mice. Albino mice have ministered orally with different doses of the extracts (i.e. 200 and 400mg/kg) and behavior was observed on the EPM. Diazepam (2mg/kg, P.O) was used as a standard (positive control). Results indicate that the methanol extract of Caesalpinia leaves showed maximum and significant dose-dependent effect at 200 and 400mg/kg on EPM, the results were just like the standard antianxiety agent diazepam (2mg/kg). In the Actophoptometer model, two different doses of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (200 and 400mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent decrease within the locomotor activity, compared to the control animals. As the phytochemical screening of methanol extract exhibited the presence of polyphenols could be liable for the anxiolytic potential of C.pulcherrima. Hence this plant could also be developed as a potentially useful anti-anxiety agent.

Scientific Approaches in Screening the Analgesic property of Sida Cordata

Pain is likely the most common symptomatic complaint in medicine; an understanding of its mechanism is critical to interpret it. Nociception refers to the detection of noxious stimuli by nociceptors, followed by transduction and transmission of the sensory nervous information from the periphery to the brain. Plants have played a unique holistic role for the provision of food, drugs, clothing, shelter, etc. Natural compounds have been extensively explored for new drug discoveries. Indeed, plants have been used as medicines for more than 5000 years, as a source of antibiotics, antineoplastic, analgesics, cardioprotective, among others. About 70–90% of the population in developing countries continue to use ancient medicines based on plant extracts. Sida cordata popularly known as “bala” is regarded as a valuable drug in the Ayurvedic System of Indian Medicine. In order to validate the ethnomedical claim of Sida cordata as pain reliever, a study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of Sida cordata whole plant in laboratory animals. For centrally mediated analgesic activity, eddy’s hot plate method was employed and Pentazocine was uses as reference control. For peripherally mediated analgesic activity, acetic acid induced writhing model was employed and Dicofenac was used as reference control. Sida cordata ethanolic extract was administered orally at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. In eddy’s hot plate method, both the doses of Sida cordata significantly increased the reaction time compare to vehicle control. In acetic acid induced writhing test, both the doses of Sida cordata significantly reduced the number of writhing compare to vehicle control. In both the models, the effect produced by Sida cordata was comparable to that of respective reference control. The results obtained suggest that the ethanolic extract of Sida cordata has showed marked analgesic activity in experimental animal models and this strappingly supports the ethnopharmacological applications of the plant for the target activity.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL STANDARDISATION OF SIDDHA TABLET PREPARATION JATHIKAAI MATHIRAI

The aim of this study is to standardize the herbal Mathirai preparation Jathikaai Mathirai based on qualitative and quantitative methods as per the analytical specifications of Tablet/Mathirai prescribed by the Protocol testing of ASU drugs by Pharmacopoeial laboratory for Indian Medicines. The Tablet is prepared as described in the text Bala Vagadam. The medicine is subjected to Physicochemical standardisation as per the pharmacopoeial laboratory standards of Indian medicine. The tablet is in solid form which is brown in colour. It is rigid with strong characteristic odor. The aflatoxin assay and pesticide residue revealed that the tablet is free of aflatoxins and pesticide residue. The formulation is free of microbial contamination and shows positive for the presence of steroids, alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, carbohydrates, glycosides etc. The heavy metals are below detectable limit. The result of HPTLC finger printing of the drug at UV 366 nm shows that the peak at Rf 0.02 constitutes 100% of the total area of the separated peaks, which denotes the abundant existence of the drug at minimum peak level itself. It indicates drug as phytochemicals. The result of the present study ensures the safety profile of the Jathikaai Mathirai – Siddha herbal Tablet intended for paediatric usage and indicative of presence of active phytoconstituents that are responsible for its efficacy in treating the Valippu Noi (Seizure disorder) in children.

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON BERGENIA LIGULATA (PAASHANBHEDA) AND ITS ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF KIDNEY STONE FORMATION

Bergenia ligulata, a member of the saxifragaceae family, is a well-known Ayurvedic medicine Paashanbheda. Bergenia ligulata is a highly regarded medicinal herb and one of the most well-known examples of controversial drugs in Indian medicine, commonly referred to as "Paashanbheda." This plant is well-known for its ability to dissolve kidney stones. Bergenia comes in three varieties: B. ligulata, B. ciliata and B. stracheyi. Bergenin is the species' key chemical constituent. Many secondary metabolites belonging to coumarins, flavonoids, benzenoids, lactone, fructose, tannins, phenols, and sterols have been discovered in phytochemical studies. Anti-urolithic, antiviral, free radical scavenging, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, anti-oxaluria, antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-implantation and cardio-protective activities have been observed in crude extracts and isolated compounds from B. ligulata. Bergenin, (+) afzelechin, (+) catechin and -sitosterol were discovered in the plant's phytochemistry. Many pharmacological activities of plants have been studied, including antipyretic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antiurolithic and antimalarial. The aim of this review is to present the most current knowledge on botany, Pharmacognosy, conventional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacopoeial requirements, pharmacology of B. ligulata, as well as the biological activities of Bergenin (active constituent from Bergenia ligulata). It covers the information collected from scientific journals, books, theses and reports via a library and electronic search (Google Scholar and PubMed).

Vegetarian Diets, Ayurveda, and the Case for an Integrative Nutrition Science

Two recent studies of the health effects of vegetarian diets reported conflicting results: the EPIC-Oxford study reported a significant increase in strokes among vegetarians compared to meat-eaters among a predominantly Caucasian cohort, while another, performed on Taiwanese Buddhists, reported significantly lower incidence of strokes among vegetarians. This was doubly puzzling given the pronounced decrease in cardiovascular events among the EPIC-Oxford group. In this article, we make a detailed comparison of the actual dietary intake of various food groups by the cohorts in these studies. We then use the nutritional principles of Ayurveda—traditional Indian medicine—to show how these apparently contradictory results may be explained. Systems of traditional medicine such as Ayurveda possess profound knowledge of the effects of food on physiology. Ayurveda takes into account not just the type of food, but also multiple other factors such as taste, temperature, and time of consumption. Traditional cuisines have evolved hand in hand with such systems of medicine to optimize nutrition in the context of local climate and food availability. Harnessing the experiential wisdom of these traditional systems to create an integrative nutrition science would help fight the ongoing epidemic of chronic lifestyle diseases, and improve health and wellness.

An Insight into Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Ethnotherapeutically Important Trans Himalayan Medicinal Plants: A Review

The high altitude of the Himalayan cold desert represents a valuable habitat of natural resources. The extreme climatic condition manifested by intense mutagenic UV-radiation, physiological drought, desiccation and strong winds, makes the survival of plants really difficult. As a consequence of this atmospheric stressor, the plants produce unique metabolites which play a preventive role in intrinsic mechanism of sustenance. Many plant species of this region have been investigated in search of novel antioxidants and antimicrobials. Plants synthesize several antioxidants that aid in antioxidant defense system, thereby protecting plants against damage caused by active ROS. These compounds include chlorophyll derivatives, alkaloids, essential oils, phytosterols, phenolics and polyphenolics. Some of the antioxidants that have been isolated from plants include curcumin, quercetin, ascorbic acid, resveratrol amongst many other compounds. Additionally, the emergence of resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents has become a major threat to public health. Hence, fresh efforts towards new drug identification and development are greatly needed. Plants have long been used in traditional Indian medicine for numerous therapeutic benefits and low toxicity. Considering the growing interest in quest for search of plant based antimicrobials and antioxidants; an effort has been carried to systematically record the antioxidants and antimicrobial potential of plants of Himalayan region.

A National Web Conference on Integrated Siddha Approach in Clinical Practice and Research on COVID-19 Pandemic (ISACC)- Tirupati, December 2020

Siddha Clinical Research Unit (SCRU) Tirupati, working under the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, conducted a National Web conference titled “Integrated Siddha Approach in Clinical Practice and Research on COVID-19 Pandemic (ISACC)” on 23^rd Dec 2020, as a part of the fourth Pre-Siddha Day observance. Totally, 256 participants from Siddha colleges and various institutes of CCRS attended the Web conference and 9 eminent Speakers share their knowledge at the conference. The Technical session was separated by three panels, (i)Siddha Standalone and Integrative Clinical trials on COVID-19, (ii)Siddha Preventive and Prophylactic Measures on COVID-19, (iii)Experiences in Siddha Integrative Clinical Practice on COVID-19. The take home message of the conference insisted upon the three facts - the need for more clinical trials , need for increased experience sharing platforms for Siddha medical system and finally that Siddha standalone as well as integration for COVID-19 management gave significant outcome in both preventive and promotive healthcare. Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India and Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (DIM&H), Government of Tamil Nadu, contributed a lot in Research and services in COVID-19 pandemic.