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Beneficiation of white-powdery mineral, from selective grain size (63–200 µm) sand fractions and its characterization as trona, a non-marine evaporite, exudates as efflorescent crust, originated from the semi-arid region soil sediments, occurring at Siddhamalli, Tamil Nadu, India is described, by a five-stage process. Aqueous extraction of selective sand fractions, in CO2-enhanced medium, resulted in white crystalline powder, is chemically characterized as sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate, [Na3H(CO3)2.2H2O]. The % yield of trona is directly proportional to the % fine and very fine sand fractions and inversely proportional to the % coarse fractions (0.5–1.0 mm), as revealed by grain-size analysis. CO2-enhanced medium significantly increases the yield, additionally by 20 %. PXRD data revealed the presence of trona with traces of nahcolite and natrite phases. FT-Raman spectrum revealed the characteristic bands correspond to carbonate group. The hydroxyl stretching of water is observed at 3400 cm−1 inferred from FT-IR spectral studies. The content of sodium and trace elements analysed by ICP-OES and water of hydration by TGA, are found to be good agreement with the calculated values of Na (30.58 %) and dihydrate (15.97 %) respectively. SEM images revealed the less agglomerated particles of sizes ranging from 0.093–0.44 µM. Geologically, soil sediments fall in tractive current, from talus of Bouldery sandstone and shale of Talchir formation, Lower Gondwana of Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian Age. Trona is popularly known as "Pōneeru" in Indian traditional Siddha system of medicine finds its application in most of the drug formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha) is widely used in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha systems of medicines due to its therapeutic application in numerous ailments. Traditionally, the medications prepared from the plant employ only its roots and based on the currently available scientific literature, their efficacy and safety is well established. Apart from the roots, the aerial parts also contain bioactive components and correspondingly certain marketed preparations also employ the leaves of the plant. Accordingly, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has lately issued an advisory emphasizing the need for extensive efficacy and safety profiling of leaf-based products. Consequently, we have conducted the present GLP-driven study, in which the non-clinical safety of a hydromethanolic extract of the whole plant of Withania somnifera (WSWPE) has been assessed according to OECD guideline 407. In this study Sprague Dawley rats of either sex were orally administered with WSWPE for 28-consecutive days at the doses of 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day. The study also included a satellite group of animals that received WSWPE for 28-days followed by a 14-days recovery period. Withania somnifera Whole Plant Extract was found to be safe up to the dose level of 1000 mg/kg/day as no toxicologically relevant findings could be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clerodendrum serratum Linn commonly known as Bharangi in India has wide applications in the Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine which has been attributed to the treatment of various diseases like asthma, cough, fever, rheumatism, and cephalalgia ophthalmia. Squalene has nutritional, medicinal, and pharmaceutical health benefits, hence possess antioxidant and cytoprotective effects. Method: The study presents the GC-MS analysis of phytoconstituents present in the Clerodendrum serratum roots and further estimation of one of the constituents, i.e., squalene which is ought to be present in the roots as per mass spectral data obtained. Squalene was determined from the ethanolic extract of C. serratum roots using GC-FID without derivatization. Results: Four major constituents, i.e., squalene, methyl palmitate, hexadecenoic acid, and stigmasterol were detected by GC-MS. Squalene from the extract was eluted at 17.5min which was confirmed with the standard squalene peak eluted at the same retention time. The linearity range chosen was 5–30ug/mL, and the method was found to be pretty linear (R=0.995), accurate with satisfactory repeatability. Hence, the phytochemical compounds were detected by GC-MS and the squalene was determined and validated according to the ICH guidelines. Conclusion: Thus, the green gas chromatographic method can be used for quantification and qualification of active constituents in the roots of ethanolic extract of C. serratum. In addition, the presence of metabolite squalene by the GC-FID method was developed for the extract which is simple, fast, and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semecarpus anacardium Linn nut milk extract (SA) has been used in Siddha system of medicine against various ailments. The present study was designed to evaluate the apoptotic and cytoprotective effect of the drug SA on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The effect of the drug SA on growth rates of MCF-7 cells were determined by trypan blue exclusion method whereas cytotoxicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. In order to determine whether the drug-mediated cell death of cancer cells was either through apoptosis or necrosis, PI staining was done. We observed that the drug SA exhibited cytotoxic effect and inhibited the growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells through apoptosis compared to untreated control cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results confirm that the cytotoxicity that was mediated was different depending on the concentration of the nut extract used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the modulatory effect of Shemamruthaa (SM), a modified indigenous Siddha formulation, on the hematological indices, membrane-bound enzymes, enzymatic antioxidants free radical levels in cancer rats and also on the histologicl alterations in the mammary tissue. Mammary cancer was induced by intragastric administration of a single dose of 25 mg/kg body weight of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), and cancer-induced rats were treated with oral administration of SM at a dosage of 400 mg/kg body weight dissolved in water for 14 days. Hematological indices such as hemoglobin (HB), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets counts and packed cell volume (PCV) were decreased, whereas erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was increased. Moreover, lipid peroxidation and free radicals were found to be increased, whereas activities of antioxidant enzymes and membrane-bound ATPases were decreased in cancer-bearing animals when compared with control rats. The drug SM also effectively restored morphological alterations in the mammary tissue of cancer-bearing rats. From the results of the present study, the beneficial effect of SM on DMBA-induced mammary carcinoma is evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kapaamruthaa is a modified Siddha preparation prepared in our laboratory. It has been proven to have therapeutic effect against arthritis and liver cancer. The present study was carried out to bring about the protective effect of Kalpaamruthaa on experimental mammary carcinoma in rats with special reference to cytokines, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), immunoglobulin levels, and glycoprotein components. Breast cancer was induced in rats by administering 7,12-dimethylbenz( a)anthracene (DMBA) orally (25 mg/rat) as a single dose. After 90 days of induction, Semecarpus anacardium Linn. (200 mg/kg body weight) and Kalpaamruthaa (KA) (300 mg/kg body weight) were administered for 14 days, by gastric intubation. In mammary carcinoma-bearing rats, the levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly increased ( p < 0.001) in serum when compared to control rats. The levels of CEA and CA 15-3 were found to be significantly increased ( p < 0.001) in mammary carcinoma-bearing rats. The levels of IgG and IgM were significantly decreased ( p < 0.001) whereas IgA levels were significantly increased ( p < 0.001) in mammary carcinoma-bearing rats. The levels of glycoprotein components namely hexose, hexosamine, and sialic acid were significantly ( p < 0.001) increased in the spleen and thymus of the mammary carcinoma-bearing (group II) rats when compared to control rats. Treatment with KA significantly altered the levels of cytokines, CEA, CA 15-3, immunoglobulins, and glycoprotein components to near normal levels when compared to breast cancer-induced rats. The present study suggests the therapeutic effect of KA in DMBA-induced mammary carcinoma in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kalpaamruthaa is a modified Siddha (herbal) drug prepared in our laboratory. It has been proven to have therapeutic effect against arthritis, mammary cancer, and liver cancer. To evaluate the antileukemic effect of the drug, Kalpaamruthaa (KA), in chronic myeloid leukemia-induced mice, leukemia was induced in BALB/c mice by tail vein injection of BCR- ABL12B1 murine leukemia cell line. Leukemia-induced animals were treated with KA at a dosage of 200 mg/kg b.wt. dissolved in 0.5 ml of olive oil for 14 days, daily by gastric intubation. Imatinib mesylate was used as the reference drug. The drug KA significantly decreased the levels of marker enzymes and lipid peroxides and increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The bone marrow and histopathological abnormalities were also found to be normalized after treatment with the drug, KA. No significant adverse effect was observed in sole drug-treated group of rats. The present study suggests that KA, by means of its antioxidant and free radical quenching effect, has definite anti cancer effect in leukemic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer has been increasing. The therapeutic modalities which originated from India, viz., Ayurveda and Siddha, have phytotherapy as their fundamental basis and, therefore, produce few side effects. They are among the most ancient medicinal systems and are still being practiced in India and elsewhere, to cure cancer and other diseases. Many Siddha practitioners in the southern parts of India prescribe rasagenthi lehyam (RL) as a drug for cancer. RL contains 38 different botanicals, many of which have been shown to possess therapeutic efficacy, and 8 inorganic compounds, all prepared into a paste in a palm sugar and hen’s egg base. The efficacy of RL in killing prostate cancer cells in vitro was investigated in this study to determine whether RL could be recommended as a CAM for prostate cancer. Methods. In order to scientifically validate the anticancer activity of RL on prostate cancer, a methanolic extract of RL was serially extracted with four organic solvents, and the extracts were tested for clonogenic inhibition and induction of apoptosis in PC-3 prostate cancer cells, with and without irradiation. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of RL effectively killed PC-3 cells. Results. The IC50 values of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of RL were 3.84 μg/ml, 3.68 μg/ml and 75 ng/ml, respectively. All three extracts induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Further, all the three extracts when combined with radiation, caused enhanced effect on killing of PC-3 cells. Among the three extracts, the chloroform extract showed the most significant radiation-sensitizing effect. Conclusion. RL, either in its original formulation prepared under strict quality control or its chloroform extract, could potentially be an alternative medicine for prostate cancer, and also a sensitizing agent in the context of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, as a complementary medicine. A more directed study could lead to the identification of the active principle(s) in the chloroform extract of RL for use in prostate cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-allopathic Indian medicines, referred to elsewhere in the world as complementary and alternative medicine have gathered increasing recognition in recent years with regard to both treatment options and health hazards. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and homeopathy are practiced in India as non-allopathic systems. These systems comprise a wide range of therapeutic approaches that include diet, herbs, metals, minerals, precious stones and their combinations as well as non-drug therapies. Ayurveda is the oldest system of medicine in the world and by far the most commonly practiced form of non-allopathic medicine in India, particularly in rural India, where 70% of the population lives. The difference between modern medicine and these systems stems from the fact that the knowledge base of many of the above systems, unlike Western medicine, is based on years of experience, observations, empiricism and intuition and has been handed down generations both through word of mouth and treatises. The focus on non-allopathic systems of medicine in India can be attributed to various causes including a need to revive a rich tradition, the dependency of 80% of the country’s population on these drugs, their easy availability, increasing worldwide use of these medicines, the lack of focused concerted scientific research and the abuse of these systems by quacks. Elsewhere, the increasing use of herbal products worldwide and the growth of the herbal product industry has led to increasing concern regarding their safety. The challenges in these non-allopathic systems relate to the patient, physician, regulatory authorities, the abuse/misuse of these medicines, quality and purity issues. Safety monitoring is mandated by a changing ecological environment, the use of insecticides, new manufacturing techniques, an as yet unregulated pharmaceutical industry, the availability of combinations of herbs over the counter and not mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts, and the need to look at the active principles of these medicines as potential chemotherapeutic agents. The Indian traditional medicine industry has come a long way from the times when it was considered unnecessary to test these formulations prior to use, to the introduction of Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines for the industry. However, we still have a long way to go. The conflict between the traditional practitioners and the purists demanding evidence of safety and efficacy needs to be addressed. There is an urgent need for the practitioners of the allopathic and non-allopathic systems to work together to optimise the risk-benefit profile of these medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]