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| CLINICAL RESEARCH |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 36
| Issue : 2 | Page : 151-156 |
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Clinical evaluation of Varnya Gana Lepa in Vyanga (melasma)
G Pallavi1, KL Virupaksha Gupta2, M Shreevathsa3, Vasudev A Chate3, DL Balakrishna4
1 Department of Basic Principles, Gaur Brahman Ayurvedic College, Rohtak, Haryana, India
2 Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Gaur Brahman Ayurvedic College, Rohtak, Haryana, India
3 Department of Basic Principles, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka, India
4 Department of Panchakarma, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| Date of Web Publication | 3-Feb-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. G Pallavi
Lecturer, Dept. of Basic Principles, Gaur Brahman Ayurvedic College, Brahmanwas, Rohtak - 126 101, Haryana
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-8520.175543
 Abstract | | |
Background: Vyanga type of Kshudra Roga, characterised by Niruja (painless), Shyava Varna Mandalas (bluish black patches) occurring especially on the face. The clinical features correlate with melasma, which is an acquired chronic hyperpigmentation disorder, usually seen in women of childbearing age. The drugs which constitute the Varnya Gana Lepa bestow the normal Varna (color) by virtue of their qualities and actions. Aim: To determine the efficacy of Varnya Gana Lepa in the management of Vyanga. Materials and Methods: The study was a single armed clinical trial in which total 40 patients of Vyanga belonging to the age group of 16–60 years were enrolled. Paste for external application was prepared by mixing the fine powders of 10 drugs (in equal quantity) of Varnya Gana with lukewarm water and advised to apply Lepa twice daily for 15 days on affected part. The different parameters such as skin color, lesion color, texture-dryness/oiliness, luster, number and size of the lesions, darkness, area and homogeneity of lesion, itching, burning sensation, and melasma area severity index (MASI) score were assessed. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in MASI scores, but in overall assessment, 64.5% patients had mild improvement. Clinical improvement was more evident in darkness parameter when compared to other parameters. Conclusion: The study concludes that Varnya Gana Lepa is a safe and effective formulation in the management of Vyanga (melasma). Keywords: Melasma, Varnya, Varnya Gana Lepa, Vyanga
How to cite this article:
Pallavi G, Virupaksha Gupta K L, Shreevathsa M, Chate VA, Balakrishna D L. Clinical evaluation of Varnya Gana Lepa in Vyanga (melasma). AYU 2015;36:151-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Pallavi G, Virupaksha Gupta K L, Shreevathsa M, Chate VA, Balakrishna D L. Clinical evaluation of Varnya Gana Lepa in Vyanga (melasma). AYU [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Mar 24];36:151-6. Available from: https://www.ayujournal.org/text.asp?2015/36/2/151/175543 |
| Introduction | |  |
Acquired hyper-pigmentation disorders of the skin are among the most common complaints in a general dermatology clinic. Among those, melasma is known for causing significant impact on quality of life, including a negative effect on the patient's emotional well-being and social life. Despite the advent of powerful pigment-targeting lasers, the treatment for melasma remains challenging. In the United States alone, approximately 5–6 million individuals are afflicted with melasma of which majority are females (90–95%). In Asia, it is a common diagnosis and can reach an incidence of 0.25–4% of cases seen in any dermatology institution.[1] Melasma should not be dismissed as simply a cosmetic entity because it often evokes emotional distress. In addition, stigma may be associated with melasma, particularly in Asian cultures.
Melasma is a chronic, acquired cutaneous, relapsing hypermelanosis characterized by hyperpigmented patches on sun-exposed areas of the face, neck, and forearms.[2] Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is believed to be the leading factor in its development. Ayurvedarefers this condition as Vyanga where in Vata Pitta Dosha as well as Manasika Nidanas (psychological etiological factors)such as Krodha (anger), Shoka (sorrow), and Ayasa (mental exertion)are the main culprits.[3]
The treatment modalities and other management strategies for hyper-pigmentation are usually unsatisfactory as it shows exacerbation and remission from time to time because of various influencing factors such as frequent exposure to sun rays, pollution, stress, and hormonal variations. Bahi Parimarjana Chikitsa (external applications) has a major role to play in the treatment of Vyanga. Charaka Samhitareveals a major group of drugs that is, Varnya Gana (10 drugs) namely Chandana (Santalum album L.), Tunga (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides D. Don), Usheera (Vetiveria zizanioides L.), Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia L.), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus [L.] R. Br.), Payasya (Pueraria tuberosa [Willd.] DC), and Sita Lata (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.). Varnya Gana is basically meant for the task of restoring the natural color and complexion of the body. It is useful both for Antah Parimarjana (purificatory therapies) as well as Bahi Parimarjana (external application).[4]The present study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an Ayurvedicformulation-Varnya Gana Lepa in Vyanga (melasma).
| Materials and Methods | | |
Total 40 patients irrespective of sex, caste, religion, and socioeconomic status who were diagnosed to have Vyanga were selected from the Outpatient Department and Inpatient Department of Government Ayurveda Medical College (GAMC), Mysore, Karnataka. The study was approved by the GAMC, Mysore, Institutional Ethics Committee (No. GAMC/AS/2010-5; Dt 17/04/2010). The study has been registered retrospectively in Clinical Trial Registry, India (No. CTRI/2012/06/002729). An informed consent from each patient was obtained before starting the course of treatment. The study design was a single group clinical –interventional study of 15 days with a pre, post, and follow-up assessment after 15 days.
Diagnostic criteria
Patients characterized with Niruja (painless), Shyava (bluish black), Tanu Mandalas (macules) on the face were diagnosed to have Vyanga.
Inclusion criteria
Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria, between the age group 16 and 60 years, irrespective of sex, religion, occupation, and chronicity were selected for the study.
Exclusion criteria
Hyperpigmentation caused due to any systemic diseases such as Addison's disease, Cushing syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, hyperpigmentation since birth like nevus and those caused by tumors such as malignant melanoma.
Posology
Lepa (paste) was prepared by using fine powder of 10 Varnya Gana drugs and luke warm water as media for mixing. A thick paste was prepared out of it. The patients were advised to wash the face with lukewarm water followed by application of Lepa from medial to lateral direction (opposite to the direction of hair follicles) in sufficient quantity, so as to cover the affected areas (moderate thickness) effectively. Patients were advised to apply freshly prepared Lepa twice daily (morning and evening), not to apply over the previous Lepa and at night time. Patients were advised to wash the face with lukewarm water once the Lepa gets dried (after about 15–20 min) and not to expose to sun during the period of treatment.
The raw drugs were procured from the local market of Udupi and Mysore and authenticated at the Department of Dravya Guna, GAMC, Mysore, Karnataka.
Assessment criteria
The effect of therapy was assessed on the basis of subjective and objective criteria.
Subjective criteria
It includes itching and burning sensation. A grading system was adopted for assessment:
Objective criteria
It includes skin/lesion color, texture (dry/oily), luster, number of lesions, size of lesions, darkness of the lesion, area of involvement, and homogeneity of the lesion.
Skin color
The method adopted to assess the skin color and lesion color through the color grading scale. Fair and lovely fairness meter was used for this purpose. It comprises 26 grades of color [Figure 1].
Melasma area severity index scores
The melasma area severity index (MASI) score [5] is calculated by assessment of three parameters: Area (A), darkness (D), and homogeneity (H) of involvement where in forehead (f) constitutes 30%, right malar region (rm) 30%, left malar region (lm) 30%, and chin (c)-10% [Figure 2]. The MASI score is calculated by adding the sum of the severity ratings for darkness and homogeneity, multiplied by the value of the area of involvement, for each of the four facial areas. The total score range is 0–48. Higher the score, higher is the severity.
The following formula is used for calculation is:
MASI total score = 0.3A (f) [D (f) + H (f)] +0.3A (lm) [D (lm) + H (lm)] +0.3A (rm) [D (rm) + H (rm)] +0.1A (c) [D (c) + H (c)].
Grading for parameters of melasma area severity index score
Overall assessment
Overall assessment was done on the basis of following criteria:
- CD – Clinically deteriorated that is, increase in severity score against initial score
- CS – Clinically stable that is, severity of score remains same as against initial score
- CI-1 – Clinical improvement mild that is, one grade reduction against initial score
- CI-2 – CI moderate that is, two grade reduction against initial score
- CI-3 – CI good that is, three grade reduction against initial score.
Statistical analysis
The results of the present study were analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages, cross tabulation (contingency table analysis), paired “t” test, and repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS for windows (version 16.0 - Manufactured by SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA.).
| Observations | | |
Out of 40 patients, 35 patients completed the study. Observations revealed that 40% of patients were from the age group 31 to 40 years, 88.6% of patients were females, 42.9% of patients had a positive family history, 45.7% patients had exposure to sun as aggravating factor, 62.9% patients had stress and worries as aggravating factor, 14.3% patients had irregular menstrual history, 48.6% patients had Pitta-Vata Prakriti, 57.1% patients had malar pattern of melasma, 60% of the patients had dermal lesions, 62.9% of the patients had chronicity of 0–4 years, and 48.6% patients had skin color ranging between 6 and 10. Kandu (itching) and Daha (burning sensation) were evaluated to find out the prevalence of Kaphaja as well as Raktaja Vyanga where in Kaṇḍu and Daha are observed as associated symptoms. Only 20% of patients complained of Kandu and 2.8% of patients complained of Daha.
| Results | | |
The total mean of the lesion color before treatment was 21.74 and 17.77 after treatment and follow-up [Table 1]. The mean of MASI scores of 35 patients before treatment was 11.69 and after treatment and follow-up, it reduced to 10.35 [Table 2]. Assessment of CI in the parameters is as follows-skin color - 51.4% patients had Grade 1 CI, 42.8% patients had Grade 2 CI, and 5.7% patients had Grade 3 CI. Skin texture (dryness) - 56.5% patients had Grade 1 CI. Skin texture (oiliness) - 66.7% patients had Grade 1 CI. Luster - 2.87% patients had Grade 1 CI. Itching - 60% patients had Grade 1 (CI), 40% patients had Grade 2 CI. Burning sensation and MASI - 100% patients had Grade 1 CI. Area - 0.7% patients had Grade 1 CI. Darkness - 39.3% patients had Grade 1 CI [Table 3]. The overall assessment of the study reveals that 10 (28.9%) patients were said to be clinically stable, 23 (64.34%) patients had mild improvement, and 2 (6.7%) patients had moderate improvement [Table 4]. The clinical improvement in 2 patients of Vynaga before and after treatment have been shown in [Figure 3] and [Figure 4].
| Discussion | | |
Observations revealed that 40% of the patients belonged to the age group 31–40 years which suggests that melasma is more prevalent in childbearing age. About 88.6% of patients were females of different age groups which supports the fact of global incidence of melasma. About 42.9% patients had a family history of melasma which supports the presence of hereditary component in the manifestation of the disease. About 45.7% of patients had exposure to sun rays as a physical aggravating factor which suggests the important role of UV radiation in the causation of melasma. Moreover, 14.3% of the patients had irregular menstruation accounting to the fact that hormonal disturbance is also the causative factors for melasma. 48.6% patients were of Pitta Prakriti followed by 31.4% patients were of Vata Prakriti suggesting the fact that individuals of Pitta Prakriti are more prone to Vyanga. Sixty percent of the patients had dermal lesions which suggest the severity of the disease and the depth of involvement. The skin color of 57.2% patients was between 1 and 10 grades suggesting the fair complexion, supporting the fact that those with fair complexion are more prone to melasma. In this study, 62.9% of the patients had stress and worries as aggravating factors which clearly suggests that stress is an important etiological factor in causation of melasma as melanocyte stimulating hormone levels have been shown to be influenced by a rise in adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, which increases with stress [6] correlating to the role of psychological factors such as Krodha (anger), Shoka (grief), and Harsha (happiness) for the manifestation of the disease Vyanga.
In this study, 57.1% of the patients had malar type of melasma followed by centrofacial type (42.9%), suggesting the site of involvement and supporting the global incidence as melasma involves only specific sites of the body and not the entire body because melanocytes in the areas affected are more sensitive to hormonal stimulation.[7] and also due to the presence of a greater population of melanocytes in the affected sites.[8]
As per the results, the mean of MASI scores of 35 patients before treatment was 11.69 and after treatment and follow-up, it reduced to 10.35 with high statistical significance (P < 0.001). MASI score is influenced by all the three factors that are area, homogeneity, and darkness of the lesion. Since there are no changes in area and homogeneity parameters and only one grade improvement in the darkness of left and right malar regions, the overall score is affected and thus only a mean difference of 0.9 is observed wherein really a difference of at least 15 points is mandatory to assume a good CI. Since the disease is of a stubborn variety and because of the chronicity and influence of hormones which is variable from time to time, all the causative factors cannot be controlled effectively.
The Rasas (taste) are said to possess two important Karmas that is Chhedana and Upashamana.[9] The drugs which are administered in the form of Lepa mainly are of Madhura (sweet), Tikta (bitter), Kaṣhaya (astringent) Rasas. These Rasas do the Chhedana of Prakupita (vitiated) Vata and Pitta and Upashamana which means it does not allow the Utklesha of Doshas and maintains the equilibrium and thus pacifies Pitta which is the main culprit in the causation of Vyanga. Out of these 10 drugs, some of the drugs possess Snigdha (unctuous) Guna (property), and others possess Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry) Guna s. Snigdha Guna is responsible for Mardava and Varna Prasadana whereas Laghu, Ruksha are the properties of Agneya Dravya, which in turn are responsible for Prabha, Prakasa, and Varna.[10]Almost all the drugs selected are of Shita Virya (cold potency) and Shita Virya Dravyas are endowed with Rakta Prasadana Karma. While explaining the direction for application of Lepa, it is said that the active principles of the drug enter through the Sira Mukha[11]hence after the entry of the drug by virtue of Virya, it enters the circulation. The selected drugs mainly are of Madhura Vipaka. Vipaka is basically defined as Karma Nishthaya, here the term Nishtha incorporates Jatharagni Dhatvagni and Bhutagni irrespective of their order. Madhura Vipaka by virtue of its Snigdha Guna and Kapha Vardhana Karma is responsible for Varṇa Utkarsha. By the term Twachi Vipakva,[12]it can be said that the drug is absorbed by virtue of Vipaka into the circulation.
The rationality of the mode of action can be analyzed in three steps. Step 1 - Lepa comes in contact with the Roma and Romakupa which in turn are connected to the Tiryak Gata Dhamanis,[12]which perform the function of Sweda Vahana that is the active drug enters the sweat ducts and hair follicles. Hair follicles represent a reservoir that may store topically applied substance. Differences in the follicular penetration are observed in different ethnic groups. Hair follicles appear to present an important pathway for percutaneous absorption in nondiseased skin. Even solid particles may enter deep into the follicular orifice, a phenomenon that lends itself to the concept of follicular targeting of drugs. It was found that nanoparticles were stored 10 times longer in the hair follicles than in the stratum corneum; it should be noted that when topically applied substances penetrate into the hair follicles, they do not necessarily penetrate through the skin barrier into the living tissue because hair follicles also have barrier properties.[13] Step 2 - After the contact of the drug, there is Paka (metabolism) of Dravya (external application) in Twacha (skin). Paka refers to the action of Bhrajaka Agni and Rasa Dhatwagni. It occurs by virtue of Ushna Guna (warmth) of Bhrajaka Pitta, i.e. it takes up and metabolizes the Kriya Dravya (externally applied drug). This Ushma (warmth)present in Lasika, Rasa, Rakta, Twacha, maintains the Dravatva in Rasa and Rakta, which in turn are responsible for Varna Utkarsha (improvement in Varna).[14]These two steps correspond to the pathway across stratum corneum and viable tissue. Step 3 - These steps finally lead to Rasa Tarpana (nourishment of the Rasa Dhatu) which is mainly achieved by Udana[15]and Vyana Vata that supplies Anna Rasa (nutrition)to the concerned Shareera Ghataka or Avayava (tissues of the body)and Varna Utkarsha (improvement in Varna)is thus achieved. Hence, it is quoted that Varnasampannah Rasapurnatvat.[16] It corresponds to the process of metabolism in skin. Metabolism in skin compartments plays a significant role in determining the fate of a topically applied active compound. Metabolic activity is found in the skin surface, appendages, the stratum corneum, and viable epidermis. The level of many enzymes is highest in the epidermis. The relatively large size of the dermal component may result in a significant role in the metabolism of topically applied substances.
It is recommended that the same study can be carried out for extended intervention period, with different media (according to the Doshic predominance) for mixing the drugs for better accuracy in results and the same formulation can be tried in other skin diseases to evaluate its effect on the parameters such as skin hydration, skin pigmentation, skin sensitivity, and skin wrinkling.
| Conclusion | | |
Varnya Gana Lepa is an effective formulation in Vyanga (melasma) and shows statistically highly significant improvement in the MASI scores by reducing the darkness parameter along with subjective parameters such as itching and burning sensation. Hence, Varnya Gana Lepa is a safe and effective formulation which can be prescribed in Vyanga.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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| 7. | Wade TR, Wade SL, Jones HE. Skin changes and diseases associated with pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1978;52:233-42. [ PUBMED] |
| 8. | Wong RC, Ellis CN. Physiologic skin changes in pregnancy. J Am Acad Dermatol 1984;10:929-40. [ PUBMED] |
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| 12. | Acharya YT, editor. Sushruta Samhita of Sushruta, Sharira Sthana, Ch. 9, Ver. 9. 8 th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2005. p. 385. |
| 13. | Brunton LL, editor. Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11 th ed., Sec. XIII., New York: McGraw-Hill Publication; 2006. p. 1087. |
| 14. | Hirlekar PS, editor. Shareera Tatva Darshana of Purushottama Sharma. Amravati: Saraswati Mudranalaya; 1942. p. 243. |
| 15. | Paradakara HS, editor. Ashtanga Hridaya of Vagbhata, Uttara Tantra. Reprint, Ch. 31, Ver. 28-29. 9 th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2005. p. 889-90. |
| 16. | Hirlekar PS, editor. Shareera Tatva Darshana of Purushottama Sharma. Amravati: Saraswati Mudranalaya; 1942. p. 236. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]
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