A LITERARY REVIEW ON EFFECTS OF GUTHAKA – AS A GARVISHA

Tobacco is the most prevalent and preventable cause of disease and death. Guthaka is a composition of tobacco, betel nuts,catechu,lime,permitted spices and flavors.Guthaka also contains numerous toxic chemicals having adverse effects varying from minor throat irritation to Carcinogenesis. As Guthaka contains above material it acts as a slow poison or Garvisha which is described in Ayurveda. The toxic combination of two or more substances is called 'Garvisha'. This combination includes two types of substances i.e.non-poisonous or poisonous which exerts toxic effect after interval of some time and such does not kill patient instantly. Guthaka is a composition of Savisha (poisonous) and Nirvisha (nonpoisonous) substances. It acts as a slow poison. It shows hazardous effects on human body. As mentioned in different Ayurvedic texts, the combination of above non-poisonous or poisonous substances are called as a Garvisha. The symptoms like Panduta,Mandagni,Kasa,Pratiloma Vayu particularly Apana Vayu,Anidra,Adhman,indications of liver and spleen enlargement, Durbalata, Alasya and Shotha are observed due to the Garvishaa. All these symptoms are also observed in habitual Guthaka chewers. Although modern science researcher was found to be worked on the subjects related to Guthaka. But as a whole, in combination as present in Guthaka no one really focuses on their actions in human beings in Ayurvedic manner i.e. Dosha, Dhatu, Mala, Agni, Strotas, Indriya, Avayava, Mana, Bala etc. The adverse effects of Guthaka and symptoms of Garvisha are same.

Phenyl lactic acid alleviates Samonella Typhimurium-induced colitis via regulating microbiota composition, SCFA production and inflammatory responses

PLA alleviates S. Typhimurium-induced colitis via decreasing the spleen enlargement and liver enzyme (AST and ALT) activities, and regulating microbiota, SCFA metabolism and inflammatory levels.

Morbidity associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

BackgroundControlling morbidity is the main target of schistosomiasis control. Yet, only rarely do we assess morbidity linked to Schistosoma sp. infection. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and particularly in the northeastern Ituri province, morbidity associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection is unknown. For this reason, we aimed to assess intestinal and hepatosplenic morbidity associated with S. mansoni infection in Ituri province.Methods / Principal FindingsIn 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 13 villages in Ituri province, DRC. S. mansoni infection was assessed with a Kato-Katz stool test (2 smears) and a point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test in urine. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and information about experienced intestinal morbidity. Each participant underwent an abdominal ultrasonography examination to diagnose hepatosplenic morbidity. Of the 586 study participants, 76.6% tested positive for S. mansoni. Intestinal morbidity, such as abdominal pain (52.7%), diarrhoea (23.4%) and blood in the stool (21.5%) in the previous two weeks, was very frequent, as was hepatosplenic morbidity, such as splenomegaly (60.1%), hepatomegaly (23.2%) and abnormal liver parenchyma pattern (52.6%). Hepatomegaly (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–3.26, P=0.003) and splenomegaly (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.17–2.45, P=0.005) were positively associated with S. mansoni infection at the individual level. At the village level, S. mansoni prevalence was positively associated with the prevalence of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Higher S. mansoni infection intensities were associated with diarrhoea, blood in the stool, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and with liver parenchyma, pathology pattern D-E. Four study participants were diagnosed with ascites and five reported hematemesis.Conclusions/SignificanceOur study documents a high burden of intestinal and hepatosplenic morbidity associated with S. mansoni infection status in Ituri province. The results call for targeted interventions to address both S. mansoni infection and related morbidity.Author SummarySchistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni is of great public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that control efforts aim to reduce morbidity through large scale intervention programmes. However, intestinal and liver morbidity is rarely assessed in such control programmes. Hence, little is known about (i) the magnitude of the intestinal and liver morbidity burden in a given community, or about (ii) the morbidity associated with S. mansoni infection, specifically. We conducted a (cross-sectional) study in which we assessed intestinal morbidity by questionnaire and liver morbidity by abdominal ultrasonography. Further, we determined the infection status of the study participants using standard diagnostic procedures (Kato-Katz technique and point-of-care cathodic circulating S. mansoni antigen [POC-CCA] test in urine). Among 586 study participants, six years and older, from 13 villages in Ituri province, DRC, we observed a high degree of intestinal (e.g. 23.4% with diarrhoea, 21.5% with blood in stool) and hepatosplenic morbidity (e.g. 60.1% with enlarged spleen, 23.2% with enlarged liver). S. mansoni infection was associated with liver and spleen enlargement. Likewise, S. mansoni infection intensity was linked to diarrhoea, to liver and spleen enlargement and to pathological changes in the liver parenchyma. At village level, we observed that the prevalence of enlarged liver and spleen among patients increased with the prevalence of S. mansoni infection. We conclude that the population of Ituri province carries an alarming burden of intestinal, liver and spleen morbidity associated with S. mansoni infection. Therefore, a comprehensive control programme to address this infection and disease burden is urgently required.

REVIEW ABOUT CAUSATIVE FACTORS OF KARSHYA (EMACIATION) FROM CHARAKA SAMHITA

Karshya (emaciation) is an Apatarpanjanya Vyadhi and Rasa-pradoshaja vyadhi. It is the most large spreading health and nutritional disorder in developing countries. Karshya means person having lean and thin body character but doesn’t have any more complaints. Charaka has well explained clinical symptoms of Karshya as well he has explained causative factors in detail, viz., Aharaja (dietary), Viharaja (behavioural), and Manasika (Psychological). These all causes do aggravation of Vayu, alteration of Agni, insufficient production of Rasa dhatu along with other Dhatus which leads to Karshya. If the emaciated person is not treated properly then he/she gets suffered from spleen enlargement, cough, wasting, dyspnoea, Gulma, piles, abdominal disease, and the disease of gastro-intestinal tract. Karshya is better than sthaulya (obesity), a statement given by Charaka. Avoiding causative factors is Chikitsa. As well Charaka is well known clinician; hence to refer Charaka Samhita priory is essential. If causative factors are well known to affected people and reduced or avoided completely, it is useful to eradicate Karshya (emaciation) from society. Hence an attempt is made to review causative factors of Karshya from Charaka Samhita.

EVALUATION OF HEMATINIC ACTIVITY OF NAGA BHASMA IN PHENYLHYDRAZINE-INDUCED ANEMIA IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: Bhasmas are biologically produced nanoparticles prescribed with several other medicines of Ayurveda. Metal-based drugs are prepared by transmutation of base metals into noble ones along with the use of plant extracts meant to eradicate the toxic effects of metal. Naga bhasma (NB) is one of such metallic preparation used in various diseases such as diarrhea, spleen enlargement, and diabetes. The present study aims to test the hematinic activity of NB against phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anemia in rats. Methods: The experiment was carried on Wistar rats of either sex (150–200 g). Anemia was induced by an oral administration of PHZ 40 mg/kg for a period of 2 days. Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured on the 3rd day. Rats with Hb <11 g/dl were selected for the study. The animals were divided into six groups containing six animals each. Group I served as normal control, Group II as anemic control, and Group III was considered as standard that received ferrous sulfate (100 mg/kg), while Groups IV, V, and VI were treated with test NB 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 15 days. Hb was checked on the 0, 2nd, 7th, and 15th days. Results: Oral administration of PHZ decreased Hb from 14 g/dl at day 0 to 11 g/dl at day 2. NB induced a significant increase in Hb concentration to 13 at the dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. after 48 h. Conclusion: PHZ decreased Hb rate inducing anemia. NB caused an increase in the Hb values in anemic rats. Thus, it can be concluded that NB exhibits significant hematinic activity in rats.