Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Rasayana drugs in healthy human volunteers

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly being realized that many of today's diseases are due to “oxidative stress” that results from an imbalance between formation and neutralization of free radicals. Rasayana Chikitsa is a unique branch of Ayurveda. The word Rasayana means the way for attaining excellent Rasadi Dhatus. Several medicinal plants have been described as Rasayanas in Ayurveda. Ashwagandha and Guduchi are the best among the Rasayanas described by Charaka. AIM: To study the efficacy of Ashwagandha and Guduchi in oxidative stress in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 30 healthy volunteers after obtaining written informed consent. They were randomly distributed in three groups. Each group was treated with three different colored capsules containing Ashwagandha, Guduchi and placebo in the dose of 1 capsule (500 mg) twice a day for 6 months. The parameters such as hemoglobin%, Erythorcyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Super-Oxide Dismutase (SOD) level, etc., were assessed before and after treatment. The Student's t-test was applied to assess significant variations in all of the studied parameters. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant increase in SOD level and decrease in MDA level in Ashwagandha and Guduchi groups. CONCLUSION: Ashwagandha and Guduchi may be helpful in preventing the oxidative stress and premature aging.