Cytoprotective and immunomodulatory properties of Geriforte, a herbomineral preparation, in lymphocytes

A Narrative Review of the Herbal Preparation of Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and Kampō Medicines Applied as Radioprotectors

In recent years, there has been growing scientific interest in the search for natural radioprotectors that can be used to mitigate the effects of radiation on patients, healthcare personnel, and even for space travel. This narrative review covers the past fifty years and focuses on herbal preparations of Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and Kampō Medicines that have the potential to reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of radiation. Our findings highlight ten herbal preparations, namely Abana, Amalakyadi Churna, Amritaprasham, Brahma, Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (BZYQT), Chyavanaprasha, Cystone, Geriforte, Mentat, and Triphala, which have demonstrated potential radioprotective effects. This review examines their composition, properties, and possible mechanisms of action in relation to their radioprotective properties. Exploring the ethnobotany of traditional Asian medicine is particularly interesting as it may lead to the discovery of new active compounds with radioprotective properties.

Toxicity study of Lauha Bhasma (calcined iron) in albino rats

Background:

Lauha Bhasma (LB) is a complex herbomineral preparation widely used as an Ayurvedic hematinic agent. It is an effective remedy for chronic fever (jīrṇa jvara), phthisis (kṣaya), Breathlessness (śvāsa) etc., and possesses vitality enhancing (vājīkara), strength promoting and anti aging (rasāyana) properties.

Objectives:

The present work was conducted to establish the safety aspects of the use of Lauha bhasma.

Setting and Design:

LB was prepared by Ayurvedic procedures of purification (śodhana), sun drying (bhānupāka), sthālīpāka, followed by repeated calcination (māraṇa) and “nectarization” (amṛtīkaraṇa). The resultant product was subjected to acute and sub acute toxicity studies.

Materials and Methods:

Acute and subacute toxicity study of LB was conducted in albino rats. Criteria for assessment included ponderal changes, change in biochemical parameters viz., LFT and KFT and hematological parameters. Histopathological studies of different organs including liver, kidney, spleen, testis etc., were also conducted to observe pathological changes if any.

Results:

In the acute toxicity study, the animal group did not manifest any signs of toxicity and no mortality was observed up to 100 times the therapeutic dose (TD). Significant increase in blood urea (27.83%, P < 0.01), serum creatinine (30.92%, P < 0.05), Aspartate aminotransferase (15.09%, P < 0.05), and serum alkaline phosphatase (27.5%, P < 0.01) was evident in group IV (10 TD). A significant increase in serum total protein (6.04%, P < 0.05) level was observed in group III (5 TD). Histopathological examination of livers in group IV (10 TD) showed mild inflammation in terms of bile stasis, peri-portal hepatic inflammation and sinusoidal congestion; lymphocyte infiltration in kidney and intracellular deposits in the splenic tissue.

Conclusion:

Lauha Bhasma was found to be safe at the therapeutic dose and also at five times the therapeutic dose levels. However, alteration in some of the biochemical and haematological parameters along with histopathological findings were evident at the highest dose level.

Safety and toxicity issues associated with lead-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Herbal and herbo-mineral preparations are being traditionally used in Indian medicines. The herbo-mineral preparations have several benefits that have been instrumental in their widespread use in treatment of different disorders by traditional medicinal practitioners. These include better stability, lower dosage, ease of storability and sustained availability. Naga bhasma (lead sulphide ash), a traditional Indian herbo-mineral medication prepared using lead and several herbal ingredients, has been used as an oral medicine in India for many years for the treatment of diabetes, spleen enlargement, diarrhoea and various skin diseases. The elaborate preparation protocol involved in the traditional medicines is believed to modify the toxic nature of the precursor (metal) and adds therapeutic value. But modern scientists claim that these preparations are toxic to health as they contain large amount of metal. Many factors such as preparation based factors, chemical nature based factors, vehicle used, therapy associated factors, pharmacological factors, etc, determine whether the traditional medicines are toxic or not. This review focuses on the safety and critical issues associated with Naga bhasma-a lead based ayurvedic medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The detailed review of literature about Naga bhasma apart from other lead based formulations are carried out by utilizing the resources including, classical Indian text books, databases such as Pub med, Scopus, Science direct and few other web sources.

RESULTS

Though metallic lead is known to be toxic to the biological system, no compelling evidence has been put forth to suggest any toxic manifestations of Naga bhasma. The elemental characterization of preparations containing Naga bhasma has shown extremely high levels of lead content and various parameters must be taken into consideration in deciding the safety and critical issues present in traditional medicines. As there are no molecular targets available for most of the traditional medicine, it is difficult to assure the safety in using this traditional preparation. Highly intensive research encompassing physico-chemical, engineering as well as biological aspects need to be carried out to understand the applicability of such preparations in a modern context.

CONCLUSION

As there are no molecular targets available for most of the traditional medicine, it is difficult to assure the safety in using this traditional preparation. Highly intensive research encompassing physico-chemical, engineering as well as biological aspects need to be carried out to understand the applicability of such preparations in a modern context.