Brahmi is a well-known herbal drug having an effect on brain as a memory enhancer. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel and Bacopa floribunda (R.Br.) Wettst are both marketed in the name of Brahmi. The present study differentiates Bacopa monnieri and Bacopa floribunda in morphology, transverse section (T.S.) of root and leaf, powder microscopy, and chemical constituents. Morphological characters show color difference in flower, stem and leaf and differences in microscopic study, organoleptic study, and powder characteristics. Morphologically, Bacopa monnieri leaf is fleshy and more succulent than Bacopa floribunda leaf. There is also a difference in the interval of the stem internodes of the two. Physico-chemical analysis revealed presence of 26% bacoside A in Bacopa floribunda leaf and 27% in Bacopa floribunda stem, which is higher than the bacoside A content in leaf (22%) and stem (18%) of Bacopa monnieri. However due to the hemolytic action of bacoside A, which is the toxic effect of the chemical constituent, it seems likely that Bacopa monnieri is more popular in regular use than Bacopa floribunda.

Purpose: Mental disorders are high on rise in India. Epidemiological studies conducted in India on mental and behavioural disorders report varying prevalence rates, ranging from 9.5 to 370 per 1000 population. The overall DALYs burden for mental disorders is projected to increase to 15 per cent by the year 2020 and this increase is proportionately larger than that for cardiovascular diseases. Ayurveda bears great responsibility in preventing and treating the mental disorders. Medhya Rasayana is the treatment perspective to prevent and manage psychiatric disorders. In Ayurveda, Rasayana therapy has been stated as a unique therapy in curing mental diseases. It can promote memory and intelligence and can increase immunity against disease and promote strength and vitality as well as it can control ageing process by serving as anti oxidant agent. A review of various studies carried out in Ayurveda is made to enlist the best effective treatment measures in promoting and preventing mental disorders. Method: Available research works carried out at Institute for Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar from the year 2001 to 2012 are screened and referred with relation to mental disorders. The treatments are reviewed and enlisted for assessing the efficacy. Result: On reviewing the researches, it was found that nearly 15 works found suitable are carried out in relation to mental disorders. The data shows that Ayurvedic formulations like Aamalakyadi and Medhya Rasayana Ghrita (in Alzheimer's disease), Rasayana Ghana tablets (in stress), Rasona tablets, Brahmi ghrita, flax seed capsules and Ashwagandharishta (in depression), Shirodhara (in insomnia), Saraswatarishta (in perimenopausal syndrome) are effective in psychiatric diseases. Conclusion: Researches show that Ayurvedic formulations are effective in moderate manner in treating the psychiatric diseases. Ayurvedic Medhya Rasayana formulations can be used for preventing and managing psychiatric disorders.

Purpose: Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterised by persistent difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is one of the burning problems all over the world. Statistics shows that 20% - 40% adults encounter insomnia problems during a year time. Allopathic hypnotic drugs are useful for short term treatment in Insomnia which is due to acute stage. Long term uses of certain classes of sedatives cause physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms also have a number of side effects. In the present era, patient prefers readymade, cost effective, easily palatable drugs with fewer side effects for their health problems. For the present clinical trial, Parsikayavanyadi Capsule consisting of Parasikayavani, Jatamamsimoola, triturated with juice of Sankhpushpi and Kushmanda, was formulated to evaluate its efficacy in the management of insomnia Method: Total 32 patients of newly diagnosed case of insomnia who were randomly divided in to two groups. In Group P.V (Parasikayavanyadi group), 20 patients were administered 5 capsules of Pariskvayanadi Churna of 500 mg each with a cup of warm milk at bed time for one month. In Group P.C (Placebo group), 12 patients were given Starch Capsules of 500 mg each with same Anupana and duration. Assessment was done considering the overall improvement of insomnia according to Pittsburgh insomnia rating Scale, improvement of associated complains of insomnia, relieving of negative emotions, improving of positive emotions, relieving of level of anxiety according to Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and relieving of level of depression according to Hamilton Depression Rating scale before and after one month of treatment period. Result: parasikayavanyadi capsule provided significant effect in the management of insomnia. Conclusion: The study has revealed that parasikayavanyadi capsule provided significant effect in the management of insomnia in comparison to placebo.

Context: Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri Linn. Pennel), the main ingredient of Brahmi Ghrita is a popular Medhya drug referred in Ayurvedic classics. Recent advances have established the action of bacoside, one of the constituents of Brahmi in various psycho-neurological disorders. Aim: Present study was planned to detect bacoside A and to do quantitative and qualitative analysis of bacoside A in Brahmi Ghrita using standard bacoside A sample through HPTLC method. Materials and Methods: Stationary phase was precoated silica gel GF 254 and mobile phase was dichloromethane: methanol: water (4.5:1.0:0.1 v/v/v). The plate was scanned and quantified at 254 nm for bacoside A. Result: The correlation co-efficient of bacoside A was found to be 0.9989 or 20% in 5 μl Brahmi Ghrita sample. Conclusion: The study confirms the presence of bacoside A in Brahmi Ghrita. The correlation coefficient of bacoside A was found to be 0.9989 or 20% in 5 μl Brahmi Ghrita sample. The simple, accurate and cost-effective HPTLC method can be utilized for the routine analysis of quantitative determination of bacoside A in Brahmi Ghrita.

Context: Ayurveda has abundant collection of effective formulations against diseases. In the era of increasing demand for indigenous medicines, maintaining quality standards is the need of the hour. Standardisation of compound formulations is lagging behind because of absence of reference standards. Lots of single and compound drugs have been described in Ayurvedic classics. Asanadi gana (Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 15) has kapha-medohara (pacifying Kapha and fat) and lekhana (scraping) property. Aims: The present study was aimed at setting a standard pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical profile of Asanadi ghanavati (AG). Materials and Methods: Study included preparation of AG following all SOPs using raw drugs, which were previously authenticated. Later, AG was subjected to pharmacognostical, physicochemical and high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis as per standard protocols. Results: The final observations were recorded. Pharmacognostical findings matched with that of individual raw drugs with no major change in the microscopic structure of the raw drugs during preparation of ghanavati. HPTLC gave the fingerprint of the formulation with 12 and eight spots on short and long UV, respectively. Conclusions : The quality of AG tablet can be tested by series of pharmacognostical, Physicochemical screening for the observations of the present study.

Ashwagandharishta, an Ayurvedic classical formulation, is the remedy for Apasmara (epilepsy), Murchha (syncope), Unmada (psychosis), etc. Recent studies in animal models have shown that n-3 PUFAs can raise the threshold of epileptic seizures. The indigenous medicinal plant, called Atasi (Linum usitatissimum Linn.) in Ayurveda, or flax seed, is the best plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. The present study is designed to investigate whether Ashwagandharishta and Atasi taila (flax seed oil) protect against maximal electroshock (MES) seizures in albino rats. Further, a possible protective role of flax seed oil as an adjuvant to Ashwagandharishta in its anticonvulsant activity has also been evaluated in the study. MES seizures were induced for rats and seizure severity was assessed by the duration of hind limb extensor phase. Phenytoin was used as the standard antiepileptic drug for comparison. Both flax seed oil and Ashwagandharishta significantly decreased convulsion phase. Pre-treatment with flax seed oil exhibited significant anticonvulsant activity by decreasing the duration of tonic extensor phase. Contrary to the expectations, pre-treatment with flax seed oil as an adjuvant to Ashwagandharishta failed to decrease the tonic extensor phase; however, it significantly decreased the flexion phase (P < 0.001) and duration of the convulsions (P < 0.05). Both the drugs exhibited an excellent anti-post-ictal depression effect and complete protection against mortality.

Vara Asanadi Kwatha (VAK) is a compound Ayurvedic formulation prescribed in the management of obesity. Pharmacognostical study counting both macroscopic and powder microscopy of raw drug exposed the quality and genuineness of all the constituents of VAK. Organoleptic features of coarse powder made out of the crude drugs were within the standard range. Specific gravity of the decoction was 1.0185 and pH was 5.5.Total solid content present in the Kwatha was 4.525% w/v, total ash 0.949% w/v, and acid insoluble ash was 0.052% w/v. Iron assay showed the presence of Fe ₂ O ₃ as 0.065% w/v. Qualitative scrutiny demonstrated the presence of flavonoids and tannis. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) were carried out after organizing appropriate solvent system in which maximum three spots were distinguished in TLC and nine spots in HPTLC and most of the R _f values were identical when done with different sample extractive methods. This shows the presence of certain definite constituents in the decoction and is helpful for the easy separation of these constituents.

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to intimidate the human race since time immemorial not only due to its effects as a medical malady, but also by its impact as a social and economic tragedy. At the dawn of the new millennium, we are still mute witnesses to the silent yet efficient march of this sagacious disease, its myriad manifestations and above all its unequalled, vicious power. Through the millennia, TB never ever disappeared from the developing world. In 1991, the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution recognized TB as a major global public health problem. The DOTS strategy was launched in 1994, and became the global recommended strategy for TB control since then. The present study deals with clinical evaluation of Rasayana drugs considering of Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia willd.), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) Dunal, Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.), Pippali (Piper longum Linn.), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.), Kustha (Saussurea lappa Falc.), Haridra (Curcuma longa Linn.) and Kulinjan (Alpinia galangal Linn.) as an adjuvant therapy with anti-Koch's treatment. The results obtained revealed that Rasayana compound was found to decrease cough (83%), fever (93%), dyspnea (71.3%), hemoptysis (87%) and increase body weight (7.7%) with statistically highly significant (P<0.001).