Published Research - A SEARCH BY LETTER A B G H K M N P S T
AjwanBotanical name: Trachyspermum ammi
The name agnivardhana implies stimulation of the digestive fire or agni. It has been employed medicinally since ancient times and was described by the seer Charaka as useful in urticaria and as an antiflatulent and anticolic drug. Ajwan, with its characteristic aromatic smell and pungent taste, is widely used as spice in curries, pickles, biscuits, confectionary and beverages. The crushed seeds are also dried for use in scented powders and pot pourri.
Hypotensive activity
1. In anaesthetised rats, thymol (1-10mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure and heart rate. These effects were not blocked by atrophine (1mg/kg) and thymol did not modify the presser response of norepinephrine, eliminating the possibility of cholingeric stimulation or adrenergic blockade. In spontaneously beating atria, thymol caused a decrease in force and rate of atrial contractions which remained unaltered in the presence of atrophine. In rabbit aorta, thymol caused relaxation of norepinephrine- and potassium-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. These relaxant effects remained unchanged after the removal of the endothelium. Moreover, atrophine, propranolol, indomethacin and glibenclamide did not alter vasorelaxation, suggesting that thymol exhibits calcium channel blocking activity, which may explain the hypotensive and bradycardiac effects.
Source: Aftab K, Atta-ur-Rahman, Usmanghani K 1995 - Blood pressure lowering action of active principle from Trachyspermum ammi. Phytomedicine 2(1):35
 Amalaki
Botanical name: Phyllanthus embilica
The fruits are held in high esteem and are associated with Kubera, the mythical Lord of Wealth. It is used widely in indigenous medicine and is an ingredient of Triphala, an important rasayana drug thought to impart youthful vigour and strength. There are two varieties: the smaller, wild type and the larger cultivated one, both are used medicinally.
Hypolipidaemic activity
1. The lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic actions of the fruit were evaluated in rabbits with hyperlipidaemia induced by an atherogenic diet which included cholesterol. Administration of the fresh juice of the fruit at a dose of 5ml/kg per rabbit per day for 60 days lowered serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and low-density lipoprotein levels by 82%, 66%, 77% and 90% respectively. The lipid level of the tissues decreased significantly and regression of aortic plaques was observed. Increased amounts of cholesterol and phospholipids were excreted, suggesting the mode of absorption may have been affected.
Source: Mathur R, Sharma A, Dixit VP, Varma M 1996 Hypolipidaemic effect of fruit juice of Embilica officinalis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 50:61
2. In a clinical study, the diet of normal and hypercholesterolaemic men aged 35-55 years was supplemented with raw P. embillica fruit for 28 days. Both groups showed a decrease in total serum cholesterol levels, which reverted almost to their initial values 2 weeks after withdrawal of the plant.
Source: Jacob A. Pandey M, Kapoor S, Saroja R 1988 - Effect of the Indian Gooseberry (Amla) on serum cholesterol levels in men aged 35-55 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42(11):939
Hypoglycaemic activity
1. A combined extract containing P. embilica and Curcuma longa produced a marked reduction in blood sugar levels in both normal fasting and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, with a good response in the glucose tolerance test.
Source: Singh AK, Chaudhary R, Manohar SJ 1991 - Hypoglycaemic activity of Curcuma longa and Phyllanthus embilica and their various extractive combinations on albino rats. Proc. Conf. Pharmacol. SYmp. Herbal Drugs,1-5 March 1991:33
Immuno-modulatory activity
1. An aqueous extract of the fruit enhanced natural killer cell activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in mice, resulting in an increase in lifespan of 35% in tumour-bearing mice. The drug's anti-tumour action may occur through its ability to augment natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity, since a functional NK cell or K cell population was an absolute requirement for activity.
Source: Suresh K, Vasudevan DM 1994 - Augmentation of murine natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activities by Phyllanthus embilica, a new immuno-modulator. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 44(1):55
 Arjuna
Botanical name: Terminalia arjuna
Arjuna has a prominent place in Indian mythology; it is considered sacred and is mentioned in ancient folklore. In Ayurveda, it is thought necessary to maintain basic health and has a reputation as a heart medicine; it is also an important ingredient in many classical herbal formulae.
Cardiovascular activity
1. An experimental study, using an ischaemic reperfusion injury model, showed that Terminalia arjuna bark powder produced an increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione levels and demonstrated the protective effect of the drug against oxidative stress.
Source: Gauthaman K, Maulik M, Kumar R, Manchanda SC, Dinda AK, Maulik SK 2001 - Effect of chronic treatment with bark of Terminalia arjuna: a study on the isolated ischemic-reperfused rat heart. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 75(2-3):197
2. Other experiments have confirmed the direct positive inotropic effects on heart muscle and the hypotensive activity.
Source: Singh N, Kapur KK, Singh SP, Shanker K, Sinha JN, Kohil RP 1982 Mechanism of cardiovascular action of Terminalia arjuna. Planta Medica 45:102
Takahashi S, Tanaka H, Hano Y, Ito K, Nomura T, Shigenobu K 1997 - Hypotensive effects in rats of hydrophilic extract from Terminalia arjuna containing tannin-related compounds. Phytotherapy Research 11:424
3. T. arjuna was found to be effective in relieving stable anginal pain and shown to lower systolic blood pressure and frequency of angina attacks without any evidence of renal or hepatic impairment.
Source: Kumar PU, Adhikari P, Pereira P, Bhat P 1999 - Safety and efficacy of Hartone in stable angina pectoris - an open comparative trial. Journal of Association of Physicians of India 47(7):685
4. When given to patients with refractory chronic congestive heart failure over a period of 12 weeks, the bark extract was effective in the management of the disease as judged by an improvement in various parameters.
Source: Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD 1995 - Salutary effect of T. arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure. International Journal of Cardiology 49:191
Hypolipidaemic activity
1. Parameters such as total cholesterol, LD lipoprotein, HD lipoprotein and triglyceride were measured before and after treatment and, together before and after treatment and, together with histopathological tests, these showed a significant decrease in LDL and total cholesterol levels after administration of T. arjuna. The action appears to be mediated through the inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis, increased faecal bile acid secretion and enhanced catabolism.
Source: Ram A, Lauria P, Gupta R, Kumar P, Sharma VN 1997 - Hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 55(3):165
 Ashwagandha
Botanical name: Withania somnifera
Withania somnifera holds a place in Ayurveda similar to that of ginseng in Chinese medicine. It is reputed to be capable of imparting long life, youthful vigour and intellectual prowess and is an ingredient of many traditional preparations. It has been used in parts of Africa and is now used increasingly elsewhere, including the USA and Europe. The name ashwagandha comes from the 'smell of horses', which the root emits, and the botanical suffix somnifera from the use of the plant as a sedative.
Adaptogenic and anti-stress activity
An extract of the roots of Withania somnifera and equimolecular combination of sitoindosides (VII, VIII and withaferin A) was assessed using a diverse spectrum of stress-inducing paradigms. It exhibited significant activity in widely different stress situations including attenuation of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)- induced defaecation and urination in a novel environment; reduction in the duration of immobility in the forced swimming-induced immobility test in mice; decreased incidence and severity of restraint stress gastric ulcers in rats; inhibition of time-dependent restraint stress-induced autoanalgesia in rats; and inhibition of the restraint stress effect on the thermic response of morphine in rats.
Source: Bhattacharya SK, Goel RJ, Kaur R, Ghosal S 1987 - Anti-stress activity of sitoindosides VII and VIII. New acylsterylglucosides from Withania somnifera. Phytotherapy Research 1(1):32
Anti-stress drugs (adaptogens) appear to have a corticosteroid-sparing effect and are able to protect the organism from unfavourable stress conditions. One of their features is the capacity to depress the central nervous system (CNS). A 50% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera was evaluated on mouse CNS after injecting a single dose of pentobarbitol. The results demonstrated that the recovery of the righting reflex was sex and dose dependent and the extract had a close synergy with pentobarbitol in depressing the mouse CNS response.
Source: Ahumada F, Trincado MA, Arellano JA, Hancke J, Wikman G 1991 - Effect of certain adaptogenic plant extracts on drug-induced narcosis in female and male mice. Phytotherapy Research 5(1):29
Immunomodulatory activity
Withania somnifera exhibited non-specific immunostimulatory activity in various models including oxazolone-induced erythema, the carbon clearance test and E. coli-induced sepsis. The activity of the root extract was studied in three models of mice. Myelosuppression was induced by cyclophosphamide, azathioprine or prednisolone and haematological and serological activity. A significant increase in haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count and body weight resulting in the prevention of myelosuppression induced by the compounds was observed in all the three animal models used.
Source: Ziauddin M, Phansalkar N, Patki P, Diwanay S, Patwardhan B 1996 - Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 50:69
Anti-hypertensive activity
An extract induced a significant decrease in the arterial and diastolic blood pressure in normotensive pentobarbitol anaesthetised dogs.
Source: Ahumada F, Aspee F, Wikman G, Hancke J 1991 - Withania somnifera's effect on arterial effect on arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised dogs. Phytotherapy Research 5(3):111
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