An update on natural compounds in the remedy of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review.

Formulations restrain 2 or more than 2 herbs are called polyherbal formulation. Drug formulation in Ayurveda is based on 2 principles: Use as a single drug and use of more than one drug. The last is known as polyherbal formulation. The idea of polyherbalism is peculiar to Ayurveda even though it is tricky to explain in term of modern parameters. The Ayurvedic literature Sarangdhar Samhita tinted the idea of polyherbalism to attain greater therapeutic efficacy. Polyherbal formulation has been used all around the earth due to its medicinal and therapeutic application. It has also recognized as polyherbal therapy or herb-herb combination. The active phytochemical constituents of individual plants are inadequate to attain the desirable therapeutic effects. When polyherbal and herbo-mineral formulations combining the multiple herbs in a meticulous ratio, it will give an enhanced therapeutic effect and decrease the toxicity. The active constituents used from individual plant are inadequate to provide attractive pharmacological action. There are evidences that crude plant extracts often have greater potency rather than isolated constituents. In traditional medicine whole plants or mixtures of plants are used rather than isolated compounds. Due to synergism, polyherbalism confers some benefits which are not accessible in single herbal formulations. Polyherbal formulations express high effectiveness in numerous diseases with safe high dose. Based on the nature of the interaction, there are 2 mechanisms on how synergism acts (i.e., pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic). In words of pharmacokinetic synergism, the capacity of herb to ease the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of the other herbs is focused. Pharmacodynamics synergism on the other hand, studies the synergistic effect when active constituents with similar therapeutic activity are targeted by diverse mechanism of action. The present review encompasses all the significant features of polyherbal formulation.
Keywords: Polyherbal formulation, Ayurveda, Active constituents, Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetic

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Polyherbal Formulation Concept for Synergic Action: A Review

Infertility, a couple’s inability to conceive after one year of unprotected regular intercourse, is an important issue in the world. The use of natural products in the treatment of infertility has been considered as a possible alternative to conventional therapies. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and the mechanisms of various natural products on infertility. We collected articles regarding infertility and natural products using the research databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Several natural products possess antioxidant properties and androgenic activities on productive factors and hormones. Antioxidants are the first defense barrier against free radicals produced by oxidative stress (OS). They remove reactive oxygen stress (ROS), reducing insulin resistance, total cholesterol, fat accumulation, and cancer growth. Moreover, various natural products increase endometrial receptivity and fertility ability showing androgenic activities on productive factors and hormones. For example, Angelica keiskei powder and Astragalus mongholicus extract showed anti-infertility efficacies in males and females, respectively. On the other hand, adverse effects and acute toxicity of natural products were also reported. Tripterygium glycoside decreased fertility ability both in males and females. Results indicate that management of infertility with natural products could be beneficial with further clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effect.

Role of Antioxidant Natural Products in Management of Infertility: A Review of Their Medicinal Potential

This review attempts to collate existing data and provide the perspectives for future studies on the effects of plants on the male gonads. For many of these medicinal plants such as Lepidium meyenii, Rupus coreanus, Tribulus terrestres, Panax ginseng, Petasites japonicas, Apium graveolens, Eurycoma longifolia, Pedalium murex, Corchorus depressus, Mucuna pruriens, Astragalus membranaceus, Nigella sativa, Crataegus monogyna, Fagara tessmannii, Phaleria macrocarpa, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Cynomorium songaricum and Morinda officinalis, the mechanism of actions of their active principles and crude extracts has been shown in both laboratory animals, in vitro, and human studies, and includes their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, spermatogenesis-inducing, aphrodisiac, smooth muscle relaxing and androgenic properties. Several active chemical leads including glucosinolates, anthocyanins, protodioscin, ginsenosides, sesquiterpenes, phyto-oestrogens, quassinoids, diosgenin, thymoquinone, proanthocyanidins and bajijiasu isolated from these plants are known to have target effects on the testis, but efforts have been limited in their application at the clinical level. There still appear to be many more extracts of medicinal plants that have not been characterised to determine the phytochemicals unique to them that have target effects on the gonads. Further, collaborative efforts at isolating pro-drug candidates from medicinal plants for studies at the molecular, cellular and clinical level towards elucidating their mechanisms of action on the testes are therefore warranted in the light of the current male fertility crisis.

Plants in the management of male infertility.

Evaluation of the aphrodisiac potential of a chemically characterized aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica pulp.

Summary

The standardised extract of root of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) was evaluated for its aphrodisiac potential and safety profile on reproductive system. Wistar albino rats were trained to provide sexual experience under a dim red light (10 W) in a glass tank. Male and female rats were placed periodically in the glass tank in a particular order, that is male followed by introduction of the receptive female. Dosing of extract was carried out for 54 days at 125 and 250 mg kg−1 p.o to male rats. On 14th and 28th days, the animals were observed from the cage side for sexual behaviours. Safed musli at both dose levels enhanced sexual vigour and libido which might be useful for treatment of sexual dysfunction in male till 28th day. Safety profile was assessed after 54 days of drug treatment, where both doses showed an increase in sperm count and increase in sperm motility. Thus, it can be stated that both doses possessed the spermatogenic potential, which would be highly beneficial in treating oligospermia or low sperm count. After 54 days of study, there was increase in sperm abnormality (%) at both doses, but not more than 10%, which indicated that this formulation will not induce infertility.

Standardised extract of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) increases aphrodisiac potential besides being safe in male Wistar rats

Pharmacological Evaluation of “Sugar Remedy,” A Polyherbal Formulation, on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mellitus in Rats

Background: Megakutki® (MK) is a polyherbal preparation of 11 standardized extracts that are individually proven for hepatoprotection scientifically. Aim: Study evaluated MK’s hepatoprotective potential against paracetamol (PCM) in in-vitro on Hep G2 cells using cell viability, cell cycle analysis and apoptotic studies and in in-vivo in Wistar rats using liver function tests, histological and DNA fragmentation study. Materials and Methods: In in-vitro studies, IC50 (50% inhibition in viability) values of silymarin, MK and PCM were found out by MTT assay. In-vitro hepatoprotection was found out by pretreating the cells with below-IC50 concentrations of MK and silymarin for 24h followed by PCM (at IC50 concentration) challenge for next 24h and % viability was evaluated using MTT assay. Same treatment protocol was followed for cell cycle analysis and apoptotic studies (100 and 200 µg/ml for MK and 50 µg/ml for silymarin and 40µM for PCM). In in-vivo study, animals were grouped in six, namely, vehicle, PCM control, silymarin (50 mg/kg, standard), MK (100 and 300 mg/kg) groups. Animals were dosed for 8 days while they were challenged on day 6 (except vehicle group) with PCM (2.75 g/kg p.o). On day 8, blood and livers were collected under anaesthesia and analyzed. Results: In-vitro results showed hepatoprotection by MK and silymarin by inhibition of PCM-induced cell death apoptotic cells percentage. In in-vivo study, MK and silymarin reversed the altered liver function and elevated oxidative stress markers (catalase, SOD, GSH, total thiols and lipid peroxidation) compared to paracetamol alone group. Both MK and silymarin decreased the percentage of DNA fragmentation and histopathological changes in liver tissue compared to the PCM group. Conclusion: The in-vitro and in-vivo studies showed the hepatoprotective effect of MK by the prevention of PCM-induced induction of oxidative stress by its antioxidant potential thereby preventing PCM-induced DNA damage.

Rakesh Dave

Papers

Standardised extract of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) increases aphrodisiac potential besides being safe in male Wistar rats

Pharmacological Evaluation of “Sugar Remedy,” A Polyherbal Formulation, on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mellitus in Rats

Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effect of a Polyherbal Megakutki against Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity