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Shibnath Ghosal

Bio: Shibnath Ghosal is an academic researcher from Banaras Hindu University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Canscora & Shilajit. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 158 publications receiving 4991 citations. Previous affiliations of Shibnath Ghosal include Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University.


Papers
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Journal Article
TL;DR: The results indicate that the antioxidant activity of E. officinalis may reside in the tannoids of the fruits of the plant, which have vitamin C-like properties, rather than vitamin C itself.
Abstract: The antioxidant activity of tannoid active principles of £. oJJicinalis consisti ng of emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%). punigluconin ( 12%) and pedunculagin ( 14%), was investigated on th e basis of th eir effects on rat brain fron tal corti cal and striatal concentrat io ns of the oxid ati ve free radical scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and g lutathione perox id ase (GPX), and lip id peroxidation, in te rm s of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products. T he results were' compared with effects induced by depreny l, a selective monoamine oxid ase (MAO) B inhibit or with well documented antiox id ant activity. T he active tannoids of E. oJJicinalis (EaT), administered in th e doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. i.p .. and deprenyl (2 mg/kg, i.p.), induced an increase in both frontal cort ical and striatal SOD, CAT and GPX ac ti vit y, with concomit ant decrease in lipid peroxidation in these brain areas when administered o nce da il y for 7 days. Acute s in gle administrati on of EaT and deprenyl had in s ignificant effects. The result s a lso i di cate that th e an tioxidant acti vit y of £. ojJicinalis may reside in the tan noids of the fruit s o f th e plant, which have vita min C- li ke properties. rather th an vitamin C it self. Embli ca officinalis Gaertn., kn own as amla, a member of a small gen us Emblica (family Euphorbiaceae), is extensively found a ll over India, as well as Sri lanka, Malaya, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The fruits of th e plant have been used in Ayurv eda as a potent rasayana l ,2. The rasayanas are used to promote health a nd longevity by increasing defence against disease, arresti ng the ag in g process and revit a li z in g the body in debilitated conditions 2 • T he c lini cal efficacy of the fruits of E. officinalis are he ld in hi gh esteem in Ayurveda and amla is referred to as a maha;asayana 2 • The fruits form th e maj or constitu ent of Chyavanprash awaleha, a poly herbal Ayurvedic rasayana preparation described in Charaka Samhita.l. This preparati on is widely Ll sed in thi s country for its preventive, curative and health restorative pro pe rti es. Ex perimenta l stud ies conducted with extracts of the fruit s of E. oflicinalis indicate that they have s ignifi cant cytoprotective effect against isoprena lin e-induced myocardial lI1Ju ry, radiation induced chromosomal damage and heavy metal induced hepatoxicity and nephrotoxic it/. C linical studies suggest that the fruits have anabol ic activit/. Experimenta l in vestigations on Chyavanprash have s hown th at it exhibits s ignificant adaptogenic,

310 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that, at least part of chronic stress-induced pathology may be due to oxidative stress, which is mitigated by WSG, lending support to the clinical use of the plant as an antistress adaptogen.

271 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation of the anxiolytic and antidepressant actions of the bioactive glycowithanolides of Withania somnifera, isolated from WS roots, in rats support the use of WS as a mood stabilizer in clinical conditions of anxiety and depression in Ayurveda.

263 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The drug appears to act as a potent biological response modifier with antitumor and antiviral effect and antagonize in vitro the cytopathic effect of HIV.
Abstract: Mangiferin, a C-glucosylxanthone (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-β- D -glucoside) purified from plant sources was shown to have in vivo growth-inhibitory activity against ascitic fib

257 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that Shilajit and the defined extract from Withania somnifera affect preferentially events in the cortical and basal forebrain cholinergic signal transduction cascade, and the drug-induced increase in cortical muscarinic acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects of extracts from

198 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Compounds that have a different spectrum of therapeutic efficacy in anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder were poorly effective as anxiolytics in the open field test, suggesting that this paradigm may not model features of anxiety disorders.

2,665 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Flavonoids are plant pigments that are synthesised from phenylalanine, generally display marvelous colors known from flower petals, mostly emit brilliant fluorescence when they are excited by UV light, and are ubiquitous to green plant cells.

2,424 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of L-AA in metabolism and the latest studies regarding its bio- synthesis, tissue compartmentalisation, turnover and catabolism are focused on, as well as the potential to improve the L- AA content of crops.
Abstract: Humans are unable to synthesise L-ascorbic acid (L-AA, ascorbate, vitamin C), and are thus entirely dependent upon dietary sources to meet needs. In both plant and animal metabolism, the biological functions of L-ascorbic acid are centred around the antioxidant properties of this molecule. Considerable evidence has been accruing in the last two decades of the importance of L-AA in protecting not only the plant from oxidative stress, but also mammals from various chronic diseases that have their origins in oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that the plasma levels of L-AA in large sections of the population are sub-optimal for the health protective effects of this vitamin. Until quite recently, little focus has been given to improving the L-AA content of plant foods, either in terms of the amounts present in commercial crop varieties, or in minimising losses prior to ingestion. Further, while L-AA biosynthesis in animals was elucidated in the 1960s, 1 it is only very recently that a distinct biosynthetic route for plants has been proposed. 2 The characterisation of this new pathway will undoubtedly provide the necessary focus and impetus to enable fundamental questions on plant L-AA metabolism to be resolved. This review focuses on the role of L-AA in metabolism and the latest studies regarding its bio- synthesis, tissue compartmentalisation, turnover and catabolism. These inter-relationships are considered in relation to the potential to improve the L-AA content of crops. Methodology for the reliable analysis of L-AA in plant foods is briefly reviewed. The concentrations found in common food sources and the effects of processing, or storage prior to consumption are discussed. Finally the factors that determine the bioavailability of L-AA and how it may be improved are considered, as well as the most important future research needs. # 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

1,279 citations

Book
05 Dec 1995
TL;DR: Phenolics in Food and Nutraceuticals as mentioned in this paper is the first single-source compendium of essential information concerning food phenolics, which reports the classification and nomenclature of phenolics and their occurrence in food and nutraceuticals.
Abstract: Phenolics in Food and Nutraceuticals is the first single-source compendium of essential information concerning food phenolics. This unique book reports the classification and nomenclature of phenolics, their occurrence in food and nutraceuticals, chemistry and applications, and nutritional and health effects. In addition, it describes antioxidant activity of phenolics in food and nutraceuticals as well as methods for analysis and quantification. Each chapter concludes with an extensive bibliography for further reading. Food scientists, nutritionists, chemists, biochemists, and health professionals will find this book valuable.

1,252 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence for the occurrence of MDMA-induced neurotoxic damage in human users remains equivocal, although some biochemical and functional data suggest that damage may occur in the brains of heavy users.
Abstract: The amphetamine derivative (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a popular recreational drug among young people, particularly those involved in the dance culture. MDMA produces an acute, rapid enhancement in the release of both serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine from nerve endings in the brains of experimental animals. It produces increased locomotor activity and the serotonin behavioral syndrome in rats. Crucially, it produces dose-dependent hyperthermia that is potentially fatal in rodents, primates, and humans. Some recovery of 5-HT stores can be seen within 24 h of MDMA administration. However, cerebral 5-HT concentrations then decline due to specific neurotoxic damage to 5-HT nerve endings in the forebrain. This neurodegeneration, which has been demonstrated both biochemically and histologically, lasts for months in rats and years in primates. In general, other neurotransmitters appear unaffected. In contrast, MDMA produces a selective long-term loss of dopamine nerve endings in mice. Studies on the mechanisms involved in the neurotoxicity in both rats and mice implicate the formation of tissue-damaging free radicals. Increased free radical formation may result from the further breakdown of MDMA metabolic products. Evidence for the occurrence of MDMA-induced neurotoxic damage in human users remains equivocal, although some biochemical and functional data suggest that damage may occur in the brains of heavy users. There is also some evidence for long-term physiological and psychological changes occurring in human recreational users. However, such evidence is complicated by the lack of knowledge of doses ingested and the fact that many subjects studied are or have been poly-drug users.

1,170 citations