some infectious diseases that cause sickness and do not get digested ... they also carry the high risk of adverse effects,. Dosha .... Charaka Sutra 26/81. Indian J ...
36 Ancient Science of Life, Vol. 28, No.3(2009) Pages 36 - 39
Pharmacological attributes of Indian Medicinal Plants with special reference to their Anti-Inflammatory activity
1
Dr. Galib Dr. BJ Patgiri2 Dr. PK Prajapati3
Abstract: Inflammation has always been a problem of unease to all clinicians and patients since centuries. A total safe and effective drug against inflammation is yet to be emerged in our field which can fulfill the requirements is the need of the hour. Keeping the significance of this in view, clues are being taken from the rich Ayurvedic treasure to find out a safe anti inflammatory drug. Key Words: Shopha, Inflammation, Anti-inflammatory drugs, Extracts, Kafa Vata Shamana.
Introduction: Ayurveda is said to be the first systematic science ever evolved in the world and is the most trusted among present-day medicines available. Although other contemporary medicines have found cures for many troubling health problems including some infectious diseases that cause sickness and premature death on a grand scale, it has been less successful in combating many chronic illnesses such as Vatavyadhis, Hridrogas, Prameha etc. Likewise drugs of contemporary medicine offer potent treatment for several common ailments, but they also carry the high risk of adverse effects, which in some cases are powerful and distressing. Amid all these deficits of the treatment, it becomes mandatory that one should search for medicaments, which can overcome all these inconveniences. Inflammation has always been a problem of unease to all clinicians and patients since centuries. Though it is a part of host defence machanism, when it becomes great, turns to be a hopeless condition which causes tissue damage. Similarly, the exaggerated inflammatory reaction also do harm to the body. Therefore taming of inflammation is most essential. Concepts of Inflammation in Ayurveda: Concepts of disease manifestation are very interesting to observe in Ayurvedic classics. Sushrutha classified the substances in to two. First category of articles [like milk, ghee etc.] are compatible to the body and gets transforms into Swadhatu (own tissues) after digestion by the
virtue of Jati Satmyata. On the other hand, substances like corrosives, alkalies, toxic principles when administered, disturbs the metabolic processes, damages the cellular functions as they are incompatible and body cannot transform them in to its own tissues. They do not get digested / metabolized properly and enters in to circulation and starts to spread allover the body as Ayadartha rupa (Intermediate stages of metabolism / Ama).1 As these circulating Ayadartha rupas are opposing to body tissues, they disturbs the normal physiological functions of the Dosha, Dhatu and Malas and triggers the disease manifestation.2 The manifestation may be by the virtue of their nature (Nisarga) or by the combination with other elements (Mithiguna). 3 When this circulating Ama gets settled at one or other place starts to show signs and symptoms of respective disturbances,4 like visarpa, udara, unmada, pandu, kusta, shotha, amlapitta, jwara etc.5 Among these countless number of ailments a few can be identified as very common and recurrently affecting ones like Shopha / Vrana Shopha. This important entity has a nearer meaning to the kind of inflammation.
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Lecturer, 2 Lecturer, 3 Reader & HOD Dept. of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, IPGT & RA, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar 361008, Gujarat.
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Need of Alternative Drugs: Modern system of medicine is consecrated with a number of anti-inflammatory drugs which are effective, provides relief instantly, but these synthetic drugs are tend to produce a number of unwanted effects like increased risk of causing gastric erosion, haemorrhage etc. A total safe and effective drug against inflammation is yet to be emerged in our field which can fulfill the requirements is the need of the hour. Keeping the significance of this in view, focus on plant research has increased all over the world in recent times. Hence clues are being taken from the rich Ayurvedic treasure house to find out a safe anti inflammatory drug. In Ayurvedic classics a number of single drugs like Patala, Agnimantha, Syonaka, Bilva, Kantakari, Gokshura etc. [Swayathuhara Gana of Charaka]
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and compound formulations like Punarnavastaka Kwatha, Dasamula Haritaki, Sushkamuladya Taila and Asta Shatarista etc. have been expalined with promising anti inflammatory activities. This definitely will give a momentum to search a remedy from natural sources, which counteracts the pathological condition efficiently without developing any side effects. During different studies conducted in the last 2-3 decades, huge amounts of evidences have been collected to demonstrate the actual potential of the age old herbal remedies. The present paper is a review of the published literature on anti inflammatory activity of herbal drugs. Brief details of few studies conducted earlier are:
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PHARMACOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS WSR TO THEIR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY
Conclusion: Screening of large number plants for their anti inflammatory activity was carried out mostly by using different animal models in last few decades and shown promising activity. Many of them even didn't produced any untoward effects, for example, the effect of Boswelia serrata was devoid of ulcerogenic effect and had a very high LD50 value by oral and intra peritoneal routes. The non steroidal type of action with no ulcerogenic activity provides the plant with an advantage over other drugs.24 Keeping this in view; it is felt that, well planned clinical studies are very essential in re-establishing these experimental results of the herbal remedies. References: 1. Sushruta Sutra 20/4 2. Charaka Sutra 26/81
7. Kumar VL, et al.; Anti inflammatory activity of latex of Calotropis procera, J Ethnopharmacol 1994. 8. Mengi SA, et al.; Evaluation of ocular anti inflammatory activity of Butea frondosa; Indian J Pharmacol 1995. 9.Singh S, et al.; Chemical and Pharmacological studies in fixed oil of Ocimum sanctum; Indian J Exp Biol 1996. 10.Singh RK, et al.; Anti inflammatory potential of Pongamia pinnata root extracts in experimentally induced inflammation in rats; J Basic Appl Biomed 1996. 11.Vimala R, et al.; Anti inflammatory and Anti Pyretic activities of Michelia champaka Linn flower extract; Indian J Exp Biol 1997.
3. Astanga Sangraha Sutra 9/26 4. Sushruta Sutra 24/10
12.Rao KS, et al.; Anti inflammatory and Hepato protective activities of Sida rhombifolia Linn; Indian J Pharmacol 1997.
5. Charaka Sutra 26/103 6. Makwana HG, et al.; General Pharmacology of Vitex leucoxylon Linn leaves,; Indian J Physio Pharmacol 1994.
13.Mukharjee PK, et al.; Studies on the Anti inflammatory activity of rhizomes of Nelumbo nucifera Linn; Planta Med 1997.
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14. (I) Chhatopadhyay RR, et al.; Possible biochemical mode of anti inflammatory action of Azadirachta indica in rats; Indian J Exp Biol 1998. (ii) Pillai NR, Shantha Kumari G; Anti arthritic and Anti inflammatory actions of Nimbidin; Planta Med, 1981; Vol-43, pp 59-63. 15.Narayanan N, et al.; Antinociceptive, anti inflammatory and anti pyretic effects of ethanol extract of Clerodendron serratum roots in experimental animals; J Ethnopharmacol 1998. 16. Diwan PV, et al.; Influence of Gymnema sylvestris on inflammation; Indian J Pharmacol 1995. 17. Srivastava, et al.; Ind J Med Res 1985, 81, 215-223.
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20.Trivedi, et al. Indian J Physio Pharmacol 1986 21.Froten, et al.; Indian J Vet Med; 1983, 5, 97-100. 22.Sudhir, et al.; Planta Med 1986. 23.Upadhyay, et al.; J Diab Assoc India; 1986 24.Singh, et al.; Int J Crude Drug Res; 1986 25.Sharma, et al.;1988 26. Mandal S; Anti Inflammatory action of Swertia chirata; FITOTERAPIA, Vol-LXIII, No.2, 1992. 27. Barik, et al.; Premnazole, an isoxazole alkaloid of Prema integrifolia with anti inflammatory activity; FITOTERAPIA, Vol-LXIII, No.4, 1992.
18.Chakravarthy, et al.; Ind Drugs 1983, 20, 397-401. 19.Ghosh, et al.; Indian J Pharmacol 1983
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