International Journal of Drug Development and Research

References

1. 1) Patwardhan B, Vaidhya ADB, Chorchade M. Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Curr. Sci 2004; 86: 789-799.
2. 2) Balachandran P, Govindarajan R. Ayurvedic drug discovery, Expert Opin. Drug Discovery 2. 2007; 1631-1652.
3. 3) Chopra A, Doiphode VV. Ayurvedic medicine: core concept, therapeutic principles, and current relevance. Med. Clin. North Am 2002; 86: 75-89.
4. 4) McElvaine MD, Harder EM, Johnson M, Baer RD, Satzger RD, Lead poisoning from the use of Indian folk medicines. J. Am. Med. Assoc 1990; 264: 2212-2213.
5. 5) Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, Khouri N, Davis RB, Paquin J, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in USand Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. J. Am. Med. Assoc 2008; 300: 915-923.
6. 6) Thatte UM, Rege NN, Phatak SD, Dahanukar SA. The flip side of Ayurveda. J. Postgrad. Med 1993; 39: 179-182.
7. 7) Pathak RR. AyurvedSarsangrah. Allahbad: Shree BaidyanathAyurvedBhawan Limited; 2003.pp 603-604.
8. 8) Dargan PI, Gawarammana IB, Archer JRH, House IM, Shaw D, Wood DM. Heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic traditional medicines: an emerging problem. Int. J. Environ. Health 2 2008; 463-674.
9. 9) Dunbabin DW, Tallis GA, Popplewell PY, Lee RA. Lead poisoning from Indian herbal medicine (Ayurveda).Med. J. Aust 1992; 157: 835-836.
10. 10) Keen RW, Deacon AC, Delves HT, Moreton JA, Frost PG. Indian herbal remedies for diabetes as a cause of lead poisoning. J. Postgrad. Med 1994; 70: 113-114.
11. 11) Bayly GR, Braithwai A, Sheehan TM, Dyer NH, Grimley C, Ferner RE. Lead poisoning from Asian traditional remedies in the West Midlands-report of a series of five cases. Hum. Exp. Toxicol 1995; 14: 24-28.
12. 12) Prpic-Majic D, Pizent A, Jurasovic J, Pongracic J, Restek-Samarzija N. Lead poisoning associated with the use of Ayurvedic metal-mineral tonics J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol 2006; 34: 417-423.
13. 13) Tait PA, Vora A, James S, Fitzgerald DJ, Pester BA. Severe congenital lead poisoning in a preterm infant due to a herbal remedy. Med. J. Aust 2002; 177: 193-195.
14. 14) Merian E. Metals and Their Compounds in the Environment: Occurrence, Analysis and Biological Relevance. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim; 1990.
15. 15) Samarakoon SMS, Chandola HM, Shukla VJ. Evaluation of antioxidant potential of AmalakayasRasayana: A polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation. Int. J. of Ayu. Res 2011; 2(1): 23-26.
16. 16) Makhija IK, Ram HNA, Shreedhara CS, Vijay Kumar S, Devkar R. In vitro antioxidant studies of SitopaladiChurna, a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation. Free Rad. Antiox. 2011; 1(2): 37-41.
17. 17) Giacomino A, Abollino O, Malandrino M, Karthik M, Murugesan V. Determination and assessment of the contents of essential and potentially toxic elements in Ayurvedic medicine formulations by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Microchem. J. 2011; 99: 2-6.
18. 18) European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Vanadium, The EFSA J. 2004; 33: 1-22
19. 19) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Zinc and Cobalt.US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 1994. p.205-288.
20. 20) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Cadmium and Nickel.US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 1999. p.205-293.
21. 21) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). Environmental Health Criteria for Titanium.World Health Organization, Geneva; 1982.

Keywords

Shatavaryadi churna, Potentially toxic elements, Antioxidant, DPPH, ICP-OES

Introduction

Ayurvedic medicine originated in India several thousand years ago [1, 2, 3]; it is extensively used nowadays in this country and is becoming increasingly popular in western nations. Ayurvedic formulations are easily available from ethnic markets, medical practitioners, health food stores, and the Internet[4, 5]. Generally, Ayurvedic practice involves the use of medications that typically contain herbs, metals, minerals and other materials [2, 3, 6]. Ayurvedic practitioners usually make up their own medicines, but several companies manufacture and sell such formulations for the Indian market and/or other countries. Shatavaryadi churna is the composition of Asparagus racemosus Willd. Tubers -1part, Tribulus terrestris Linn. Fruits -1part, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC seeds -1part, Withania somnifera Dunal. roots -1part and Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker bulbs -1part[7]. Dargan (2008) et al.[8] reported the risks of heavy metal poisoning associated with the use of Ayurvedic medicines. Several literature reports have also demonstrated lead poisoning from these formulations[9, 10, 11, 12, 13]. The effects of elements like Cd, Hg and Pb on humans are well known; these elements have no known biological function in the human body and are simply tolerated at low levels, but become toxic above certain concentrations. Other elements, such as Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and surprisingly As, are essential to human life at adequate levels, but they can have negative effects if their concentrations exceed certain threshold limits [14]. Hence it is very interesting to determine the element content in traditional Ayurvedic medicines, taking into account their role as nutrients and/or toxins. In this study we assessed the levels of twelve elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Ni, Ti, and V) in a Shatavaryadi churna and its ingredients. Concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after sample mineralization in a microwave oven and the technique had the advantage of being multi-elementary; hence it provides the concentrations of the analytes of interest in a single run.

It is increasingly being realized that many of today’s diseases are due to the “oxidative stress” that results from an imbalance between formation and neutralization of free radicals[15]. Recently, much attention has been directed toward the development of “Ethno medicine” that posses strong antioxidant properties and beneficially less toxicity[16].

We examined in vitro antioxidant activity of Shatavarydi churna formulations (i.e. In house formulation and Marketed formulation) and its ingredients; and compared the estimated daily intake of each element with reference values (Table 2), considering maximum tolerable intake levels or recommended nutrient amounts issued by internationally recognized organizations.

Materials and methods

Plant Materials

The plant materials of Shatavaryadi churna were collected from the different sources and authenticated by Dr. E. Roshini Nayar, Principal Scientist, National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi (India) i.e. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) Collected from the Narayanpur district of Chhatisgarh (India) (Identification Voucher No.: NHCP/NBPGHR/2011- 7/); Goksura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) Purchased from local traders of New Delhi (India) (Identification Voucher No.: NHCP/NBPGHR/2011- 9/); Atmagupta (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC) Collected from the Narayanpur district of Chhatisgarh (India) (Identification Voucher No.: NHCP/NBPGHR/2011-6/); Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) Purchased from local traders of New Delhi (India) (Identification Voucher No.: NHCP/NBPGHR/2011-10/) and Safed Musli (Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker.) Collected from the Narayanpur district of Chhatisgarh (India) (Identification Voucher No.: NHCP/NBPGHR/2011- 8/).

Parts of the ingredients were crushed and powdered using grinder and passed through sieve number#85. In-house Shatavaryadi churna was prepared from these powders by mixing them in one part for each ingredient and named as IH. Marketed Shatavaryadi churna was also procured from local market and named as M.

Chemicals and instrumentation

1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and ascorbic acid were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Pvt. Ltd.; methanol, concentrated Nitric acid, concentrated hydrogen peroxide and concentrated hydrochloric acid were purchased from Rankem RFCL Limited. Weighing balance (Mettler Toledo AB265-S), UV-Visible Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu/UV-1700), Multiwave 3000 SOLV (Anton Paar) and Optical 2100DV inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (Perkin Elmer) were used for weighing, spectrophotometric analysis, digestion and elemental analysis respectively.

Elemental Analysis

0.5 gm of the powdered sample was digested in Multiwave 3000 SOLV 3000 SOLV at 1400 watt for 3 hours in the solvent system of concentrated Nitric acid, concentrated hydrogen peroxide and concentrated hydrochloric acid in the ratio of 4:2:1; diluted to 100 ml and filtered. The heavy metals present in the sample were estimated quantitatively with the help of instrument ICP-OES. Calculations of the elements were done in mg/kg. (Table 1)

In vitro Antioxidant activity

Preparation of extracts: Powdered samples were macerated in methanol for 72 hours, with occasional shaking. Macerate was decanted and filtered through whatman filter paper 1. The methanol extract was concentrated in vacuo and kept in a vacuum desiccator for complete removal of solvent. DPPH scavenging activity was measured by spectrophotometric method. Preparation of reference standard solution: 1ml of different concentrations of stock solution of ascorbic acid (50 μg/ml dissolved in methanol) i.e. 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, 3.2, 4.0, 4.8, 5.6, 6.4, 7.2 & 8.0 μg/ml; 2 ml of DPPH (100 μM) solution were taken and finally make up the volume up to 5.0 ml with methanol.

Preparation of sample solution and dilutions: 10 mg of extract was dissolved in 10 ml of methanol to make stock solution and the series of dilutions 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0, 70.0, 80.0, 90.0 & 100.0 Mg/ml for Asparagus racemosus Willd. tuber, Tribulus terrestris Linn. fruit, Withania somnifera Dunal. root, Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker bulb, In-house(IH) formulation of Shatavaryadi churna and Marketed formulation of Shatavaryadi churna; 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 9.0 & 10.0 Mg/ml for Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed were prepared from stock solution (methanolic extract). DPPH assay: The antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of all samples were determined by using a method based on the reduction of methanolic solution of colored-free radical 1,1di phenyl-1- 2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). The radical scavenging activity of tested sample was expressed as an inhibition percentage. Ascorbic acid was used as reference standard. In 5.0 ml volumetric flasks added 2.0 ml of DPPH solution, 1.0 ml of final dilutions of different concentrations range prepared from Methanolic extract of sample stock solutions and made up the volume to 5.0 ml with methanol. In same way prepared the control dilutions of DPPH, replacing 1.0 ml of prepared dilutions (the drug solution under investigation) with methanol. The absorbance of all the dilutions was taken after 30 minutes at wavelength (Nmax) 517nm using methanol as blank.

Statistical Analysis: The percentage inhibition was calculated using the formula: % inhibition=(Ac- As/A0)x100. Where Ac = Absorbance of control and As = Absorbance of sample. IC50 value (a concentration at 50% inhibition) was determined from the curve between percentage inhibition and concentration. All determinations were done in triplicate and the IC50 value was calculated by using the equation of line (Papuc et al, 2008). Results of antioxidant data of ascorbic acid and methanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus Willd. tuber, Tribulus terrestris Linn. fruit, Withania somnifera Dunal. root, Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker bulb, In-house(IH) formulation of Shatavaryadi churna, Marketed formulation of Shatavaryadi churna and Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed are given in Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6. IC50 values were also calculated for all the samples and presented in Figures (1-8)

Results

Elemental analysis

Element concentrations in the investigated samples are reported in Table 1. In formulation; IH has a remarkably high concentration of cadmium, whereas the levels of Cr and Pb are distinctly lower in formulation M. The high levels of Ca, Mg, and Fe are present in all the ingredients and formulations of Shatavaryadi churna. Daily intake and reference values: The daily intake of each investigated element upon consumption of Ayurvedic medicines was calculated taking into account the posology reported in the product packages, when present, or indications from the literature. Minimum and maximum amounts ingested daily are reported in Table 2.

PTDI: Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake, RLNI: Recommended Level of Nutrient Intake, PSL: Prescribed Safety Limit, EFSA: European Food Safety Authority[17, 18], JEFCA: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additive[17], SINU:

Italian Society for Human Nutrition[17], EVM: Expert group on Vitamins and Minerals. ATSDR: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [19, 20], IPCS: International Programme on Chemical Safety[21].

Antioxidant activity:

Methanolic extract of all the ingredients and formulations of Shatavaryadi churna were evaluated for antioxidant properties by using DPPH method. Results of antioxidant activity were compared with ascorbic acid, a standard antioxidant. As observed in Figures (1-8), DPPH screening has shown the IC50 values of 1.258μg/ml, 89.149μg/ml, 74.180μg/ml, 7.713μg/ml, 78.936μg/ml, 98.761μg/ml, 68.882μg/ml and 70.300μg/ml for ascorbic acid, methanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus Willd. tuber, Tribulus terrestris Linn. fruit, Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed, Withania somnifera Dunal. root, Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker bulb, Inhouse formulation of Shatavaryadi churna and Marketed formulation of Shatavaryadi churna respectively. Methanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed shows potent antioxidant activity, both the Shatavvaryadi churna formulations shows the moderate antioxidant activity, while remaining samples shows less antioxidant activity as compared to IC50 value of ascorbic acid.

Discussion

The analysis of ingredients and samples of Shatavaryadi churna showed that they were passed the maximum tolerable limit of the elements. The comparison between the calculated daily intake of each element upon use of the investigated products and reference values showed that the all the elements were present within the limit for both the products. The present study shows the antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of all the ingredients and formulations of Shatavaryadi churna. All the samples shows antioxidant potential and maximum potential was given by Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed; the presence of Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed in the formulation may be the major factor for moderate antioxidant potential of Shatavaryadi churna formulation. In house formulations show slightly more antioxidant potential as compared to Marketed Shatavaryadi churna formulation.

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of statement.

Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi for the financial support and instrumentation facility to carry out the research work.

Tables at a glance

Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 Table 6

Figures at a glance

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

References

1. 1) Patwardhan B, Vaidhya ADB, Chorchade M. Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Curr. Sci 2004; 86: 789-799.
2. 2) Balachandran P, Govindarajan R. Ayurvedic drug discovery, Expert Opin. Drug Discovery 2. 2007; 1631-1652.
3. 3) Chopra A, Doiphode VV. Ayurvedic medicine: core concept, therapeutic principles, and current relevance. Med. Clin. North Am 2002; 86: 75-89.
4. 4) McElvaine MD, Harder EM, Johnson M, Baer RD, Satzger RD, Lead poisoning from the use of Indian folk medicines. J. Am. Med. Assoc 1990; 264: 2212-2213.
5. 5) Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, Khouri N, Davis RB, Paquin J, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in USand Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. J. Am. Med. Assoc 2008; 300: 915-923.
6. 6) Thatte UM, Rege NN, Phatak SD, Dahanukar SA. The flip side of Ayurveda. J. Postgrad. Med 1993; 39: 179-182.
7. 7) Pathak RR. AyurvedSarsangrah. Allahbad: Shree BaidyanathAyurvedBhawan Limited; 2003.pp 603-604.
8. 8) Dargan PI, Gawarammana IB, Archer JRH, House IM, Shaw D, Wood DM. Heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic traditional medicines: an emerging problem. Int. J. Environ. Health 2 2008; 463-674.
9. 9) Dunbabin DW, Tallis GA, Popplewell PY, Lee RA. Lead poisoning from Indian herbal medicine (Ayurveda).Med. J. Aust 1992; 157: 835-836.
10. 10) Keen RW, Deacon AC, Delves HT, Moreton JA, Frost PG. Indian herbal remedies for diabetes as a cause of lead poisoning. J. Postgrad. Med 1994; 70: 113-114.
11. 11) Bayly GR, Braithwai A, Sheehan TM, Dyer NH, Grimley C, Ferner RE. Lead poisoning from Asian traditional remedies in the West Midlands-report of a series of five cases. Hum. Exp. Toxicol 1995; 14: 24-28.
12. 12) Prpic-Majic D, Pizent A, Jurasovic J, Pongracic J, Restek-Samarzija N. Lead poisoning associated with the use of Ayurvedic metal-mineral tonics J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol 2006; 34: 417-423.
13. 13) Tait PA, Vora A, James S, Fitzgerald DJ, Pester BA. Severe congenital lead poisoning in a preterm infant due to a herbal remedy. Med. J. Aust 2002; 177: 193-195.
14. 14) Merian E. Metals and Their Compounds in the Environment: Occurrence, Analysis and Biological Relevance. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim; 1990.
15. 15) Samarakoon SMS, Chandola HM, Shukla VJ. Evaluation of antioxidant potential of AmalakayasRasayana: A polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation. Int. J. of Ayu. Res 2011; 2(1): 23-26.
16. 16) Makhija IK, Ram HNA, Shreedhara CS, Vijay Kumar S, Devkar R. In vitro antioxidant studies of SitopaladiChurna, a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation. Free Rad. Antiox. 2011; 1(2): 37-41.
17. 17) Giacomino A, Abollino O, Malandrino M, Karthik M, Murugesan V. Determination and assessment of the contents of essential and potentially toxic elements in Ayurvedic medicine formulations by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Microchem. J. 2011; 99: 2-6.
18. 18) European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Vanadium, The EFSA J. 2004; 33: 1-22
19. 19) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Zinc and Cobalt.US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 1994. p.205-288.
20. 20) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Cadmium and Nickel.US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 1999. p.205-293.
21. 21) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). Environmental Health Criteria for Titanium.World Health Organization, Geneva; 1982.