Short Communication Investigation of Depressant Activity of an Ayurvedic Churna in Mice: A Preliminary Study

The history of herbal medicines is as old as human civilization. Ayurved-Ancient science of life is believed to be prevalent for last 5000 years in India. It is one of the most noted systems of medicine in the world. One medicinal formulation churna subdues excitement and calms the subject without inducing sleep, though drowsiness may be produced. It gives sedation, with decreased responsiveness to any level of stimulation and associated decrease in motor activity and ideation. This churna of the roots of vatjata (Ficus bingalensis), sariva (Hemidasmus indicus), manjistha (Rubia cardifolia) and jatamansi (Nordostachys jatamansi) have been used by Ayurvedic practitioner in rural Chhattisgarh to calm down the patient. It is a mixture of fine powder of the above components. However no phytochemical investigations of these roots have been conducted so far to substantiate practice of Ayurved. The current study is aimed to explore the neuropharmacological potential of Churna. The central inhibitory effects of the Churna (from Ayurvedic Formulary) were investigated in mice to provide scientific evidence. Churna is a mixture of fine powder of Manjistha, Sariva, Vatjata and Jatamansi and decoction of drugs (watery extract). This churna may also have significant antihypertensive effect. (Sharma AP 1991 and Ayurvedic formulary 1978)