@article {2043, title = {Evaluation of Neuroprotective Efficacy of Indian Shankhpushpi Varieties in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease {\textendash} North Vs South}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {June 2023}, pages = {372-377}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {372}, abstract = {

Background: Shankhpushpi is a well-known Ayurvedic memory enhancing medicine associated with controversy. Among the various varieties, Convolvulus pleuricaulis and Clitorea ternatia are widely used in commercial memory enhancing formulations under the name of Shankhpushpi. Convolvulus pleuricaulis is recognized as true shankhpushpi in North side of India, however in southern part of India, Clitorea ternatia is accepted as Shankhpushpi. Objectives: The present study aims to compare neuroprotective efficacy of C. pleuricaulis and C. ternatea by in vitro, in vivo methods and establish scientifically validated data to choose appropriate shankhpushpi variety for commercial use. Materials and Methods: Both herbs were extracted in the Soxhlet apparatus with 70\% ethanol for 5 - 6 hours at 60 - 65ĚŠ C. The presence of neuroprotective principles - taraxerol and scopoletin in extracts was confirmed by the Thin Layer Chromatography. The preliminary screening for neuroprotective efficacy of extracts was done by in vitro free radical scavenging, Acetyl cholinesterase enzyme inhibition and LOX enzyme level estimation. Invivo study of extracts included behavioral assessment of adult rats by Y maze, Morris water maze using scopolamine induced Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease like model. Result: Extracts of both C. pleuricaulis and C. ternatea significantly scavenged free radicals, inhibited acetyl cholinesterase and LOX enzyme in vitro. But in in-vivo study, significant retention of spatial and working memory was observed in rats administered with C. pleuricaulis as compared to C. ternatea. Conclusion: C. pleuricaulis more significantly shields against memory loss and dementia by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and memory impairment. Hence should be used in commericial neuroprotective formulation as chief source of Shankhpushpi instead of C. ternatea.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Dementia, Scopolamine, Scopoletin., taraxerol}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2023.15.87}, author = {Sharada L. Deore and Anjali A. Kide and Bhushan A. Baviskar and Somshekhar S. Khadabadi and Bhavana A Shende} } @article {1134, title = {Neuro-protective Effect of Ayurveda Formulation, Saraswatharishtam, on Scopolamine Induced Memory Impairment in Animal Model}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {May 2020}, pages = {465-472}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {465}, abstract = {

Introduction: In the management of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, memory loss remains very challenging. Saraswatharishtam (SWRT) is an ayurvedic formulation prescribed for several neurological ailments like acute anxiety, partial memory loss, slurred speech, neuro-degenerative diseases like Parkinson{\textquoteright}s, Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s etc. Methods: Present study explores the possibilities of curative effects of SWRT on Scopolamine induced memory impairment and to compare the effects of commonly used drug Piracetam. Adult Wistar Swiss albino mice were used for this experiment and divided into five different groups for the treatments of the drugs in various combinations. The first group was vehicle treated control while the second group was treated with scopolamine to induce memory impairment. The third groups of animals were treated with Scopolamine where the mice were pretreated with standard neuro-protective drug Piracetam, while the fourth and fifth groups of animals were treated with scopolamine and the animals were pretreated with SWRT at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively to compare with the effect of Piracetam. Scopolamine was administered on day eight, only for 45 minutes in all the cases (Group I- Group V). Several neurobehavioral parameters were examined to confirm the neuro-protective effects of SWRT. Results: Saraswatharishtam significantly reversed the memory loss in mice model as revealed from elevated plus maze, radial maze and rectangular maze experiments justifying its neuroprotective potential as observed in usually used synthetic Piracetam. SWRT was found to be nontoxic and very promising antioxidant recorded from acute and chronic toxicological studies. Conclusions: It is suggested that SWRT, could be used as safe and easily available Ayurveda medicine to treat neurological dysfunctions without any side effects. Further translational research is needed to explore its neuro-protective potential.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Ayurvedic, Elevated Plus Maze, Neuro-protection, Piracetam, Saraswatharishtam, Scopolamine}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2020.12.72 }, author = {Jai Prabhu and K Prabhu and Anathbandhu Chaudhuri and Mudiganti Ram Krishna Rao and V S Kalai Selvi and T K Balaji and Shruthi Dinakar} } @article {1063, title = {Neuro-protective Effect of Ayurveda Formulation, Saraswatharishtam, on Scopolamine Induced Memory Impairment in Animal Model}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {February 2020}, pages = {6-13}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {6}, abstract = {

Introduction: In the management of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, memory loss remains very challenging. Saraswatharishtam (SWRT) is an ayurvedic formulation prescribed for several neurological illnesses like acute anxiety, partial memory loss, slurred speech, neuro degenerative diseases like Parkinson{\textquoteright}s, Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s etc. Methods: Present study explores the possibilities of curative effects of SWRT on Scopolamine induced memory impairment and to compare the effects of commonly used drug piracetam. Adult Wistar Swiss albino mice were used for this experiment and divided into five different groups for the treatments of the drugs in various combinations. The first group was vehicle treated control while the second group was treated with scopolamine to induce memory impairment. The third group of animals were treated with Scopolamine where the mice were pretreated with standard neuroprotective drug Piracetam, while the fourth and fifth group of animals were treated with scopolamine and the animals were pretreated with SWRT at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively to compare with the effect of Piracetam. Scopolamine was administered on day eight, only for 45 minutes in all the cases (Group I- Group V). Several neurobehavioral parameters were examined to confirm the neuroprotective effects of SWRT. Results: Saraswatharishtam significantly reversed the memory loss in mice model revealed from elevated plus maze, radial maze and rectangular maze experiments justifying its neuroprotective potential as observed in usually used synthetic Piracetam. SWRT was found to be nontoxic and very promising antioxidant recorded from acute and chronic toxicological studies. Conclusions: It is suggested that SWRT, could be used as safe and easily available Ayurveda medicine to treat neurological dysfunctions without any side effects. Further translational research is needed to explore its neuro-protective potential.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Ayurvedic medicine, Elevated Plus Maze, Neuroprotection, Piracetam, Saraswatharishtam, Scopolamine}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2020.12.2}, author = {Jai Prabhu and K Prabhu and Anathbandhu Chaudhuri and Mudiganti Ram Krishna Rao and VS Kalai Selvi and TK Balaji and Sruthi Dinakar} } @article {754, title = {Neuroprotective Effects of Valeriana wallichii on Scopolamine Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {November 2018}, pages = {s38-s41}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {s38}, abstract = {

Objective: Alzheimer\’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in worldwide, treatment options is extremely limited and costly. The present study was conducted to investigate and validate the traditional claim of Valeriana wallichii on scopolamine treated rats as an AD model. Methods: The Valeriana wallichii rhizome ethanol extract (25 mg/kg/day) was administered daily along with scopolamine for a period of 14 days following which the elevated plus maze test were performed to assess learning and memory. Rats treated with scopolamine or vehicle only were also included in the experiment. Result: The study demonstrate that scopolamine treatment resulted in learning and memory deficits which were partially and significantly ameliorated by the Valeriana wallichii rhizome ethanol extract. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the ability of the Valeriana wallichii rhizome ethanol extract to reverse scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits in rats.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Elevated Plus Maze, Neuroprotective, Scopolamine, Valeriana wallichii}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.6s.7}, author = {Aslam Pathan and Abdulrahman Alshahrani} } @article {206, title = {Duboisia leichhardtii (F.Muell.) Extracts Inhibit The Growth of Bacterial Triggers of Selected Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {September 2016}, pages = {542-550}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {542}, abstract = {

Introduction: Duboisia leichhardtii F.Muell. is a medium to large tree which is native to subtropical regions of eastern Australia. Duboisia spp. contain a number of psychoactive tropane and pyrrolidine alkaloids with reported antibacterial activity. Despite this, D. leichhardtii leaf extracts have not been rigorously examined for growth inhibitory properties against many bacteria, including the bacterial triggers of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of D. leichhardtii leaf solvent extracts was investigated by disc diffusion and growth time course assays against a panel of bacterial triggers of autoimmune diseases. The growth inhibitory activity was further quantified by MIC determination and growth time course assays. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: Methanolic and aqueous D. leichhardtii leaf solvent extracts were potent inhibitors of the bacterial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The methanolic extract displayed the most potent bacterial growth inhibitory activity. It was particularly potent against P. mirabilis (MICs of 85 and 116 g/mL against reference and clinical strains respectively) and P. vulgaris (MIC of 187 g/mL). The methanolic extract was also a good inhibitor of K. pneumoniae growth (MICs of 143 and 118 g/mL against reference and clinical strains respectively). The aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts were also potent bacterial growth inhibitors, albeit with higher MIC values. The antibacterial activity of the methanolic and aqueous D. leichhardtii leaf extracts were further investigated by growth time course assays which showed significant growth inhibition in cultures of P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae within 1 h of exposure. All extracts were determined to be nontoxic in the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay, indicating their safety for use in preventing these autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Conclusions: The lack of toxicity of the D. leichhardtii leaf extracts and their growth inhibitory bioactivity against the bacterial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis indicate their potential in the development of new therapies targeting the onset of these diseases.

}, keywords = {ankylosing spondylitis, Corkwood, Hyoscyamine., multiple sclerosis, Rheumatic Heart Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Scopolamine, Solanaceae}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.6.5}, author = {Ian Edwin Cock} }