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| PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 39
| Issue : 1 | Page : 46-49 |
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Assessment of Trisama, an ayurvedic formulation on intestinal transit time in swiss albino mice
Amit G Patel, Minuatee R Patel, Mukeshkumar B Nariya
Pharmacology Laboratory, IPGT and RA, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
| Date of Web Publication | 3-Dec-2018 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Mukeshkumar B Nariya
Pharmacology Laboratory, Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar - 361 008, Gujarat
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_33_18
 Abstract | | |
Background: Trisama is an Ayurvedic formulation that can be prescribed for wide range of disorders, especially abdominal disorders such as indigestion, constipation and flatulence. Trisama is prepared by mixing an equal quantity of powder of Shunthi (Zingiber officinale Linn.), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia [Willd.] Miers.). As a single ingredient, Haritaki is an alternative to prokinetic drugs, Guduchi for intestinal motility and Shunthi for digestion-related problems. Materials and Methods: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of Trisama dosage forms on intestinal motility by adopting kaolin expulsion test in Swiss albino mice. Trisama powder (0.65 and 1.3 g/kg) and Trisama decoction (12.48 ml/kg) were administered and intestinal transit time of kaolin and latency of onset of kaolin expulsion in fecal matter was assessed. Results: Both the dosage forms of Trisama shortened the intestinal transit time of kaolin. However, the observed effects were statistically significant in Trisama powder at higher dose and Trisama decoction in comparison to control group. The behaviors of mice and consistency of fecal pellet were almost the same as observed in normal control group. Conclusion: From the present study, it is concluded that Trisama has significant intestinal motility-enhancing property in mice which may be useful in gastric problems without affecting the general physiology.
Keywords: Intestinal transit, kaolin, purgative, Trisama decoction, Trisama powder
How to cite this article:
Patel AG, Patel MR, Nariya MB. Assessment of Trisama, an ayurvedic formulation on intestinal transit time in swiss albino mice. AYU 2018;39:46-9 |
| Introduction | |  |
The sages in olden days were mainly involved in experimenting the different kinds of herbs and then the preparation of Ayurvedic formulations as per the specific methods. Ayurvedic pharmaceutics named Bhaishajya Kalpana is quite extensive. These concepts are not receiving sufficient consideration while formulating Ayurvedic drugs. The study on each medicinal plant in depth, along with its Ayurvedic properties, should be taken into account for designing the Ayurvedic formulations. The herbal drugs are characterized for polyvalent actions through active phytochemical constituents of individual plants. When combining the multiple herbs in a particular ratio, interpreted additives or in some cases they synergistically produce the observed therapeutic effect rather than insufficient to achieve the desirable therapeutic effects by a single drug.[1] Trisama[2] is one of such polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations and can be prescribed for a wide range of disorders, especially metabolic disorders, abdominal problems such as indigestion, constipation and flatulence. Trisama is prepared by mixing an equal quantity of powder of Shunthi (Zingiber officinale Linn), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) and Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia [Willd.] Miers.). Trisama is credited with diverse beneficial properties and has been reported to possess many pharmacological properties which may be due to Ushna Virya (warm potential) and Madhura Vipaka (postdigestive effect in sweet taste) of the ingredients. The drugs with such properties may have the effects such as Dahana (heat), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Pachana (digestion of food), Vilayana (solution or internal mixing) and Srishtavinmutra (easy release of feces and urine).[3]
According to an ethnopharmacological activity of a single ingredient, Haritaki can serve as a useful alternative to prokinetic drugs.[4] Guduchi is proved effective on intestinal motility[5] and Shunthi also has an effect on digestion-related problems.[6] Ingredients of Trisama possess wide range of pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic and gastroprotective activity.[7] Although there is a very wide use of Trisama formulation in GI tract related disorders but, till date, no any pharmacological study is reported on Trisama formulation. Therefore, the present experimental study was designed to evaluate the effects on intestinal motility of Trisama powder and decoction dosage forms in Swiss albino mice. It is well established that the drugs having purgative property are supposed to increase intestinal motility;[8] hence, the effect of test drug on intestinal transit time of kaolin was evaluated in mice.
| Materials and Methods | | |
Test drugs and chemicals
The fresh cultivated ingredients of Trisama (Shunthi, Haritaki, and Guduchi) were collected from Mangrol and near places, Surat, Gujarat, India, during October to November 2017 after careful identifications. The plant materials were authenticated, and voucher specimens of each drug is submitted to the pharmacognosy laboratory of the institute. Drugs were dried properly by shade drying and stored in an airtight container. The powders of dried rhizome of Shunthi, fruit of Haritaki, and stem of Guduchi were prepared separately as per the classical procedure[9] and passed through a mesh sized 120, to get fine powder of Trisama. The Trisama powder (Churna) was prepared by mixing these three ingredients in equal proportion. Trisama Kwatha (decoction) was prepared by mixing coarse powder of Z. officinalis, T. chebula and T. cordifolia in equal proportion. Coarse powder (48 g) of mixture was taken and 768 ml of water was added and was boiled on low-to-medium heat till the water portion was reduced to 1/8th of the original volume (96 ml) and was filtered.[10]
Animals
Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing 30 ± 5 g were procured from the Animal house attached to Pharmacology Laboratory of the Institute. Animals were housed in polypropylene cages with standard husbandry conditions and reared under a standard condition of temperature and humidity, and exposed to 12 h light and dark cycles. They were fed with standard pellet feed of “Amrut brand” supplied by Kewal Sales Cooperation, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, and drinking water was given ad libitum. The mice were acclimatized for 1 week before commencement of the experiment. The institutional animal ethics committee had approved the experimental protocol (Approval number; IAEC/22/2017/10) as per the guideline of committee for the purpose of control (CPC) and supervision of experiments on animals (SEA), India.
Dose fixation
The dose of Trisama has not been given in literature; therefore, standard dose of powder (5 g) and decoction (96 ml) as per the classical literature was selected as therapeutic dose,[11] and the dose for the mice was calculated on the basis of body surface area ratio by referring the standard table of Paget and Barnes.[12] The mouse dose was calculated as 0.65 g/kg as therapeutic equivalent dose [TED] and 1.3 g/kg (TED × 2) for Trisama powder and 12.48 ml/kg (TED) for Trisama decoction. The Trisama powder was suspended in distilled water with suitable concentration depending on the body weight and was administered orally with the help of an oral catheter.
Experimental design
The selected animals were divided into four groups of six each comprising three male and three female animals.
The Group I served as control and received distilled water (10 ml/kg, po). Groups II and III were administered with Trisama powder orally at the two dose levels of 0.65 and 1.3 g/kg, respectively. Group IV was administered with Trisama decoction orally at the dose of 12.48 ml/kg. The test formulations were administered to overnight-fasted animals. The effect of the formulation on intestinal transit time was carried out based on the previous study.[13] One hour after drug administration, 0.1 ml of 40% (w/v) kaolin solution was administered to all the animals with the help of an oral catheter. The animals were placed in a transparent arena and were carefully observed for the beginning of the kaolin expulsion which begins in the form of white-colored fecal pellets. The onset time of kaolin expulsion in fecal pellet was recorded for each mouse.
Statistical analysis
The data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. The significance of differences among the groups was assessed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's multiple t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
| Results and Discussion | | |
Trisama powder at a higher dose (17.14%) and Trisama decoction (11.71%) shortened the intestinal transit time of kaolin in mice compared to control group, which indicates the increase in intestinal motility in treated groups of mice [Table 1]. Observed effects were statistically significant in Trisama powder at a higher dose (1.3 g/kg) and Trisama decoction (12.48 ml/kg) compared to control group. The consistency of fecal pellet was almost the same as observed in normal control group. Further, the drug did not affected the general behavior of Swiss albino mice compared to control group. | Table 1: Effect of different dosage forms of Trisama on intestinal transit time
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A number of methods are available to check intestinal transit time of drugs such as red phenol, dye and movement of charcoal, which have been instilled into the stomach or intestinal lumen of conscious animal to travel along the length of small intestine. For checking of traveling time of charcoal, it is necessary to sacrifice the animals at different time intervals. As it was difficult to assess in vivo movement of the drug, it was thought useful to administer a marker, which causes color change of fecal matter and does not alter the effect of drug. Further, to avoid the sacrifice of animals as per the ethical guideline, noninvasive method previously developed in the department is used known by kaolin expulsion which is used to test the effects of test drugs on intestinal transit in mice. Kaolin is a native aluminum silicate and has traditionally been used internally to control diarrhea; it is reported that kaolin is insoluble and it is not absorbed into bloodstream. Instead, it acts locally in the intestines, where it absorbs toxins and relieves mild diarrhea.[14] Therefore, it is not generally associated with toxicity.
In the classical literature, it has been clearly mentioned that Virechana (purgation) can be given as a curative, preventive, and health promotion measure.[15] This may be brought about by subtle changes in physiological, biochemical and immunological activities at molecular level. There are three types of Virechana (purgative) drugs described in literature,[16] viz., Mridu Virechana drugs, which cause lesser degree of purgation, e.g., Trivrit (Operculina turpethum R. Br.); Madhyama Virechana drugs, which cause moderate degree of purgation, e.g., Aragvadha (Cassia fistula Linn.) and Tikshna Virechana drugs which cause drastic purgation, e.g., Snuhi (Euphorbia nerifolia Linn.). In pharmacology, the drug action is quite often correlated with its chemical structure or active principle. In Ayurveda, the drug action is attributed to certain principles/doctrines, namely Rasa (taste), Guna (properties), Virya (potency), Vipaka (postdigestive effect) and Prabhava (action) of the active principles of the drug. These five basics are known as Rasapanchaka (Ayurvedic properties). The substances, such as food or drug (Dravya), act by its innate qualities of Rasapanchaka (Ayurvedic properties) and each Ayurvedic property of drug has its unique effects. Acharya Charaka described Rasapanchaka (Ayurvedic properties) and their importance in therapeutics in detailed while; Acharya Sushruta described few properties and importance of Madhura Vipaka and Ushna Virya and their actions with their therapeutic uses.
Both Madhura Vipaka and Ushna Virya have their own effect while mutually have a common action of Virechana (therapeutic purgation). Ushna Virya pacifies Kapha and Vata and aggravates Pitta Dosha which causes the effects such as Pachana (digestion of food), Virechana (therapeutic purgation) and Vilayana (solution or internal mixing). Madhura Vipaka is Snigdha (unctuous) and Guru (heavy) and acts as Kapha Vardhaka (increases Kapha), Shukrala (aphrodiasic) and Srishtavinmutra, i.e., easy release of Mala (excreted feces) and Mutra (urine).[12]
As per the modern concept, the observed effect may be due to interference with local stimulant effect on motility or acceleration of gastric emptying. The neural regulation of gastric motility involves stimulation by cholinergic neuron inhibition by adrenergic neurons. Antagonist of D2 and 5-HT3 receptors as well as agonists of 5-HT4 receptors can stimulate gastric motility.[17],[18] Some drugs increase the motility of intestine by modifying fluid dynamics of the mucosal wall and may cause fluid accumulation in lumen.
In the present study, Trisama powder and Trisama decoction shortened the duration of expulsion of kaolin in mice. The observed shortening of duration may be due to the properties of Ushna Virya and Madhura Vipaka Ayurvedic properties of Trisama. Further, as per the modern concept, Trisama enhancing the intestinal motility may be due to cholinergic stimulation or stimulation of 5-HT4 receptors; it is also possible that it may be antagonizing the effect of sympathetic system. Another probable mechanism is stimulation of the enteric nervous system. It may not be affecting the fluid dynamics because the test drug did not change the consistency of the expelled fecal matter to a significant extent.[19]
| Conclusion | | |
Trisama powder at 2 times human therapeutic equivalent dose, i.e., 10 g/d and Trisama decoction 96 ml/d (human dose) have significant intestinal motility-enhancing property in mice which may be useful in gastric problems such as constipation and abdominal pain, without affecting the general physiology.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Table 1]
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