Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 148
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 149 Methods & Materials:
Total 24 healthy frogs were taken and effect of Sheeta and Ushna Virya drugs were assessed on the skeletal muscle (frog rectus abdominis) by observing the potentiation or inhibition of acetyl choline induced contractions. All the drugs were used in the form of aqueous extract. The pH values of these drugs were recorded by digital pH meter and are mentioned in table (table 3). The pH of remaining drugs are given below.
Table19:
Ushna Virya Drugs Sheeta Virya Drugs
Daruharidra 5.23 Mahabala 6.63
Kantakari 5.4 Katuki 4.81
Saptaparni 5.31 Babbula 5.73
Experiment on skeletal muscle was carried out as suggested by Burn (1954).
Procedure:
A frog was pithed and laid on its back pinned to cork board. The skin over the abdomen was cut and rectus muscle of one side was dissected from the pelvic gridle to its insertion in the cartilage of the pelvic gridle. The muscle was then pinned to the cork by four pins to keep its normal length while thread was sewn through each end. It was then fixed in 10 ml tissue bath. Ringer solution (Page No. 4.5) was filled to the mark and bath was continuously oxygenated. Acetyl choline chloride (Ach) was administered in different dilutions (1γ,2 γ,3 γ,) and the normal readings of contractions were
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 150 recording for one minute. After taking two similar dose response curves with Ach, one ml of 10 p.c solution of the total drug was put into the bath and kept it for two minutes. Then Ach added to the bath and the effect was recorded on a smoked drum. After that the drug was washed out and again two similar dose response curves with Acetyl choline were taken. All the drugs were screened with only 1ml dose.
Results:
The effect of Ushna and Sheeta Virya drugs have been assessed with percentage of inhibition or potentiation.
Ushna Virya Drugs:
1. Parijata – Inhibited Ach contractions. The percentage of inhibited is 70.2
2. Varahikanda – Inhibited Ach contractions by 16.1 p.c 3. Pippalimoola – Potentiated Ach contractions by 34.4. p.c 4. Manjishta – Inhibited Ach contractions by 5.8 p.c
5. Ativisha – Completely blocked the Ach induced contractions.
6. Saptaparni – Inhibited the Ach contraction by 20 p.c 7. Gambhari – Inhibited the Ach contraction by 9 p.c
8. Daruharidra – Inhibited the Ach contraction by 4.2 p.c 9. Pushkaramoola – Potentiated the Ach contraction by 70.5 p.c 10. Chitraka – Potentiated the Ach induced contractions by 53.8 p.c 11. Kantakari – Potentiated the Ach induced contractions by 5 p.c
Sheeta Virya Drugs:
1. Bhavya – Inhibited the Ach contractions by 20.6 p.c 2. Yashti – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 20 p.c
3. Kutaja – Complete block of Ach induced contractions and the p.c of
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 151 inhibition is 100.
0. Anantamoola – Indhibited the Ach contractions by 37.9 p.c 0. Musta – Inhibited the Ach contractions by 21.7 p.c
0. Vasa – Inhibited the Ach contractions by 7.4 p.c 0. Ushira – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 56.25 p.c 0. Mahabala – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 45 p.c 0. Jatamansi – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 41.6 p.c 0. Babbula – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 37.5 p.c 0. Brahmi – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 25 p.c 0. Katuki – Potentiated the Ach contractions by 14.2 p.c
Table 10:
Showing the number of Drugs Potentiated and Inhibited from Ushna and Sheeta Virya group
Effect Ushna
By applying paired “t” test the results were stastistically analysed. It was observed that both the group of drugs inhibited Ach induced contractions insignificantly and the values are given bellow.
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 152 No significant difference was observed in the mean values of before and after injecting the drug.
Table 12
Showing the Mean Values of Responses (Ach) before and after injecting the Drug.
Ushna Virya Sheeta Virya
Mean SD SE Mean SD SE
Before 23.1 ±7.3 ±2 23.2 ±4.7 ±1.3
After 22.5 ±13.5 ±3.8 22.1 ±8.4 ±2.4
Discussion:
The aqueous extracts of 12 Ushna and 12 Sheeta Virya drugs have been screened for their inhibition or potentiation of acetyl choline induced contractions. The drugs Kutaja and Ativisha have shown complete block (100 p.c inhibition of Ach contraction). Jatiphala and Pushkaramoola from Ushna Virya group have shown maximum potentiation (73.3 p.c &
70.5pc) while Ushira and Mahabala from Sheeta Virya group markedly potentiated the Ach contractions (56.25 p.c & 45 p.c). It was Shown in the table that large number of drugs from Ushna Virya group inhibited Ach contractions while maximum number of drugs from Sheeta Virya group potentiated them which could be interpreted in terms of contractile and relaxation property of respective Viryas.
Ach releases from nerve endings and combines with certain receptor sites of synaptic membrane and depolarization occurs. K+ moves out of the muscle fibre and Na+ moves in resulting in the contraction of the
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 153 muscle fibre. The Ach is removed by Ach E and Na+ is pumped out while K+ is pumped in giving rise to relaxation of muscle fibre. The mode of action of Sheeta and Ushna Virya may be explained with the flow of K+,N+ ions from within to without.
However, in the present study either Ushna or Sheeta Virya drugs do not show a specific trend as is evident from table. The statistical analysis have shown insignificant inhibition by both the Virya (Table).
Hence it appears that the effect of the drugs on the Ach responses of skeletal muscle may not be suitable model for assessing the activity of Ushna and Sheeta Viryas.
Studies of B.M.R in Healthy Volunteers
Dhatus which are the supportive elements of the body are replenished or nurtured by Ahara Rasa which in turn is formed from the ingested food. Ahara taken into the body undergoes some changes by the influence of Jatharagni, Bhutagni and Dhatwagnis. The process of involvment of Dhatwagnis is known as Dhatwagni Vyapara. This is otherwise known as metabolism in modern physiological parlance.
Tridoshas vary in the body every day in different phases like morning, evening and night time. So also the Saptadhatus which are dependent upon Tridoshas vary everyday. These variations may result in Vriddhi or Kshaya of Dhatus. A continuous breakdown or construction of tissues occurs in the body and physiological this process is termed catabolism and anabolism.
The administered drug will act in the body through its Adhikaranas which are known as Dhatu, Dosha and Srotamsi. In the preceding chapters on the conceptual aspect of Virya, some propositions about Ashtavidha Viryas regarding their level and sphere of actions have been conveyed. Keeping
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 154 those propositions in view, a study was carried out to assess the effect of Guru and Laghu Gunas on the Dhatus. Since Guru and Laghu Gunas are effecting the over all metabolism it is felt that the B.M.R is an appropriate parameter for the assessment.
Basal Metabolism:
The metabolism of the body at rest is called “Basal Metabolism”. More exactly, basal metabolism is defined as the heat production of the body when in a state of complete mental and physical rest and in the post absorptive state. Since food, exercise, sleep and external temperature modify heat production, it is essential that these factors be excluded. Therefore the subject is required to take the test after twelve hours of fast, i.e in the post absorptive state. He is made warm and comfortable in a room which is quite and which has subdued lighting. The heat production in the basal state may be determined directly by an Atwater Rosa Bendict calorimeter and indirectly by two systems known as “open circuit system”
and “closed circuit system”. In the open circuit system both the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide output are measured. In closed circuit system only the oxygen consumption is estimated. For the present study B.M.R was recorded by closed circuit system.
Closed circuit system:
In this method the fresh air is continuously inspired. The system is filled with oxygen and any diminution in the total volume is due to oxygen consumption because CO2 and H2O from the lungs are absorbed by soda lime as fast as they are formed. As the subject breathes, he retain some of the oxygen and expires a mixture of CO2, H2O, O2 and N2. The CO2 and H2O are absorbed by soda lime and the Spirometer falls as the oxygen is
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 155 used up. The slope of the curves recorded on Kymograph is used to measure the oxygen consumption in six minutes. And B.M.R is calculated from table A& B. The same method was followed and B.M.R was recorded with Mc kesson Metabolar.
Methods and Materials:
In a previous study an attempt was made to correlate the actions of Sheeta and Ushna Virya drugs on the B.M.R of healthy volunteers to find out exclusive action of Virya. However, the results were in-conclusive because it was found that the drugs used in the study were of Vichitra Pratyarabdha in nature. Hence the drugs were selected on the basis of Samana Pratyarabdha nature for the present study. All these drugs were administered in powder form with prescribed dose in the texts (Chitrak 2gm, Jatiphala 2gm, Yasti 5gm, Satavari 6gm) to 24 healthy volunteers. Age and sex wise classification was given below.
TABLE-13
Sex
Age No.of
Volunteers
Male Female
Percentage
24 6 5 1 25
25 13 13 - 52.5
26 4 4 - 16.6
27 1 1 - 4.1
Each drug was administered for six healthy Volunteers for one day and B. M.R was recorded before and after drug administration and results
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 156 were statistically evaluated with paired “t” test, unpaired “t” test and wilcoxon signed rank test.
Results:
Among Sheeta Virya group of drugs which are possessing Guruguna Yasti has increased B.M.R significantly (P 0.05) where as Satavari has shown an insignificant effect. With Ushna Virya drugs possessing laghuguna, B.M.R was significantly decreased by both Chitraka and Jatiphala (P < 0.05).
TABLE-14
The statistical analysis of the effect of Ushna & Sheeta Virya drugs on the B.M.R by paired “t” test.
Ushna Virya Sheeta Virya
Values
Chitrak Jatiphala Yasti Satvari
M.D -2.6 -4.5 +4.3 +1
S. D ±2.02 ±3.5 ±3.9 ±2.24
S.E ±0.9 ±1.56 ±1.62 ±0.93
“t” 2.9 2.8 2.8 1.1
P 0.05£ 0.05£ 0.05£ 0.05££
£ Significant ££ Insignificant
Table 15
The Comparrison of the effects of Ushna & Sheeta Virya Drugs on the B.M.R by unpaired “t” test.
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 157
Value Chitrka Jatiphala Yasti Satavari
M.D 2.6 4.5 4.3 1 S.D ±1.9 ±1.9 ±3.1 ±3.1
S.E ±0.6 ±0.6 ±0.55 ±0.55
“t” 3.17 3.17 5.9 5.9
“p” 0.05£ 0.05£ 0.01£ 0.01£
£ Significant
It is evident from the above Table that Sheeta Virya group have shown very significant increase (P < 0.01) in comparison with Ushna Virya group of drugs of their decreasing effect on B.M.R. The effect of two Ushna Virya drugs and two Sheeta Virya drugs were also statistically analysed with wilcoxon signed rank test and the result are shown below.
TABLE-16
Chitrak Jatiphala
Difference Gr.D Sig.R Difference Gr.D Sig.R
-6 +2 +1.5 -4 0 -
-3 -2 -1.5 -2 -2 -1
-4 -3 -3.5 -4 -4 -2.5
-3 -3 -3.5 0 -4 -2.5
-2 -4 -5 -11 -6 -4
+2 -6 -6 -6 -11 -5
D = -18£ D = -15£
£ Significant at 90 p.c level.
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 158 TABLE17:
Statistical analysis of the effect of Sheeta Virya Drugs by Wilcoxon’s single rank test.
Yastimadhu Satavari Diff. Gr.D Sig.R Diff. Gr.D Sig.R
+5 -2 -1 0 0 -
+9 +3 +2.5 0 0 -
+3 +3 +2.5 +4 0 -
+8 +5 +4 +3 -1 -1 +3 +8 +5 0 +3 +2
-2 +9 +6 -1 +4 +3
D = +19£ D = +4££
£ Significant at 90 p.c level
££ Insignificant.
Discussion:
Santarpaka and Apatarpaka Karma always result with Guru and Laghu Gunas. In the diseases associated Dhatuvriddhi Laghu Ahara as well as Laghu Guna Dravyas were advocated by Acharyas while the use of Guru Guna drugs have been suggested for Dhatukshaya. Obviously, therefore, there is a definite effect of Guru and Laghu Gunas on the vitiated Dhatus. In this study B.M.R was significantly decreased with Laghu Guna group of drugs where as Significant increase in B.M.R was observed with one Guru Guna drug. So the sphere of activity of Guru and Laghu Gunas which were conferred the Virya status by Ashtavidha Virya Vadis may be assessed at Dhatu level with the B.M.R as a parameter. The authors of Nighantus have religiously followed the Dwividha Virya Vada postulated by ancient seers. The Virya implications of each and every drug was explained
Basic concepts of Ayurvedic pharmacology 159 in the language of Sheeta and Ushna. One contemporary view, which emerged out of the most potent eight Gunas as Ashta Viryas though not contradicted, was totally neglected by the writers of Nighantus while explaining the Virya modalities of the individual drugs. It is very explicit that Ashtavidha Viryavada incorporates Dwividha Virya Vada and the latter group includes the former. The reorientation of the neglected contemporary view by fixing up certain levels in the body to explain the modus operandi of the most potent eight Gunas is the main aim of the present work. If the extensive screening for each and every drug at all the levels in the body is carried out as suggested in the present study with 8 Gunas, it may be possible to allocate a specific Viryas status to the different drugs. One can not impart Laghu Virya or Guru Virya status to these drugs (used in our study), unless these are screened at all levels in an elaborate manner. Hence in the present study the Virya of selected drugs was mentioned according to textual description but an attempt has been made to fix up the qualities of particular drug viz., Laghu Guna of Chitrak and Jatiphala, Guru Guna of Satavari and Yastimadhu at Dhatu level as proposed.