GC MS Analysis of One Ayurvedic Preparation ‘Aswagandharishtam

Published by Oriental Scientific Publishing Company © 2018 This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted Non Commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. GC MS Analysis of One Ayurvedic Preparation ‘Aswagandharishtam’

Ashwagandharishta or Aswagandharishtam is a liquid Ayurveda medicine used in the treatment of feeling tired all the time, psychiatric conditions, dullness, loss of memory, sluggishness, epilepsy, stomach problems like low digestion power, emaciation, Piles and Vata imbalance diseases. This increases ojas, nourishes all dhatus. It is also used as a nervine tonic.
s e x u a l d i s o r d e r s , d e p r e s s i o n etc. Ashwagandharishta contains about 5 -10 % of self generated natural alcohol in it acts as a media to deliver water and alcohol soluble the active herbal components to the body. The dosage of this medicine in usually 12-24 ml twice daily after food or as advised by the physician. Not much scientific data of validation of this medicine is available. The present work undertakes the GC MS analysis of this medicine to throw some light on the type of molecules present in Ashwagandha and their medicinal role. This is a first step in the direction of understanding the medicinal efficacy of Aswagandharistam. This Arishtam is made of the following ingredients and the following paragraphs indicate the medicinal role of each of the ingredients briefly. The ingredients are divided into two sections: Kwatha dravyaas and Prakshepa dravyaas.
The coarse powder of Kwatha dravyaas are added with water, boiled and reduced to 12.288 liters, filtered. It is added with honey and Prakshepa Dravyaa powders are added and kept in an air tight container for one month for fermentation. After a month time, it is filtered and preserved.
The medicinal properties of the ingrediants are mentioned here under briefly.

Ashwagandha -Winter cherry/ Indian Ginseng (root) -Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
This plant has medicinal values such as immuno-modulator, aphrodisiac, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti stress, antioxidant, sleep inducing, effective in memory related conditions, and cardiopulmonary systems (Uddin et al, 2012) (1). The phyto-constituents present in this plant like Withanoside IV or VI produced dendritic outgrowth in normal cortical neurons of isolated rat cells, whereas axonal outgrowth was observed in the treatment with withanolide A in normal cortical neurons (2). The crude extract of the plant containing the steroidal substances sitoinodosides VII-X and withaferin A augmented learning acquisition and memory in both young and old rats (3).

Mushali (Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker)
The tuberous roots are medicinally important and are known commonly as safed musali. Safed musali is used as an aphrodisiac and galactogogue as well as for its nutritive, health promoting properties and immune-enhancing, hepatoprotective and antioxidants activities (4)(5)(6). The tubers are also used in fever and leucorrhoea.

Nisha -Turmeric-Curcuma longa
Turmeric is another important medicinal plant with its wide application as food, medicine and as preservative. Many workers have worked on this plant on various aspects. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, preservative, antifungal, anticancer, cardio protective, hypoglycemic and antidiabetic (14,15).

Daruharidra (Berberis aistata)
Berberis aristata is ethno botanically important herb that is used from time immemorial by mankind for the treatment of various ailments. Sharma et al, 2011 has reviewed this plant's therapeutic role such as hepato-protective, hypoglycemic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant etc. among many other medicinal values (16).

Arjuna-Terminalia arjuna
Terminalia arjuna is one of the most versatile medicinal plants having a wide spectrum of biological activity. The Hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark was reported by Ram et al, 1997, in rabbits (27). Antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark powder was reported by Gupta et al, 2001 (28). The bark of T. arjuna is anti-dysenteric, antipyretic, astringent, cardiotonic, litho-triptic, anticoagulant, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial and antiuremic agent (29)(30)(31). Many useful phytoconstituents have been isolated from T. arjuna which included triterpenoids for cardiovascular properties, tannins and flavonoids for its anticancer, antimicrobial properties and so on (32). In studies on mice, its leaves have been shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (33).
(Asclepiadaceae) has been used for treating inflammatory conditions such as muscle and joint pain, stiffness of tendon, and arthritis (43).

Chandana -Santalum album
Sandal is an age old medicinal plant and it is used for many diseases. It has curative roles such as anti hyperglycemic and anti hyper lipidemic, cardio protective, as a brain tonic and anti ulcerogenic (44,45).

Rakta Chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus)
This plant is one of the oldest medicinals having properties like hepato protective, gastro protective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti diabetic and apoptotic (46).

Sunthi -Zingiber officinalis)
Ginger is also one of the household medicines used against common cold, cough and indigestion. Its medicinal values are well documented. Adel and Prakash, 2014, have reported its antioxidant properties. Ginger controls vomiting and nausea during pregnancy. It controls blood pressure by blocking calcium channels (51).

Magadhi -Piper longum
Kumar et al, 2011 have reviewed the various health benefits of Piper longum. with many important medicinal values such as anticancer, antioxidant, hepato protective, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, antidepressant, anti amoebic, vasodialtory, bioavailability enhancer due the presence of piperine in it, anti obesity activity, radio protective, cardioprotective and antifungal activities (52).

Pepper -Piper nigrum
Pepper plays a great role in digestions, useful for low appetite, sluggish digestion, abdominal pain, toxins and borborygmus (53). Its anthelmentic qualities help remove worms. The drug stimulates the thermal receptors and increases secretion of salvia and gastric mucous. It has antimicrobial effect. It influences liver and metabolic function, and has insecticidal effect. It has other pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anticonvulsant, sedative, muscle relaxant, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antiulcer and lipolytic (54,55). Meghwal and Goswami, 2012 have reviewed the chemical and physiological aspects of pepper (56). The dried or fried seeds are used for various culinary and medicinal use. In Ayurveda it is known as Kapha virodhini (works against Phlegm). The decoction of Pepper is used for treating cough.

Twak -Cinnamon -Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Almost every part of the cinnamon tree has some medicinal or culinary use. Ranasinghe

Ela -Cardamom -Elettaria cardamomum
Cardamom is another important culinary ingredient used for its characteristic aroma. Apart from the aroma it has medicinal value. Its leaf and bark is used widely as flavouring agent in various culinary preparations. This tree is valued for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antidiabetic activities (61).

Priyangu -Callicarpa macrophylla
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India describes the fruits of Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl as an essential component of several ayurvedic formulations (62,63). The plant has been reported to have various medicinal properties. The bark is used to heal cuts and wounds. Seeds and roots are used for digestion and leaves are used for rheumatism. The fruits are used for blisters and boils. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of this plant have been already proved (64). As many as 20 species from Callicarpa have reported ethnomedical uses, and several members among these are well known in the traditional medical systems of China and South Asia. Ethnomedical reports indicate their use in the treatment disorders like hepatitis, rheumatism, fever, headache, indigestion, and other ailments (65). The plant is already reported to have antibacterial, antidiabetic, analgesic and antipyretic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity (66).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The medicine which is available in liquid form was subjected to GC MS analysis after necessary procedure.
The metabolites in the samples were identified using a P2010 gas chromatography with thermal desorption system TD20 coupled with mass spectroscopy (Shimadzu). The ionization voltage 70ev and GC was conducted in the temperature programming mode with a Restek column (0.25mm, 60m, XTI-5). The temperature in the initial column was 80°C for 1 min, and then increased linearly to 70°C to 220°C held for 3 min followed by linear increased temperature 100° C up to 290°C and held for 10min. The injection port temperature was 290° C and the GC/MS interface was maintained at 29°C, the samples were introduced via an all glass injector working in the split mode with helium carrier gas low rate with 1.2 ml per minute. The identification of metabolites was accomplished by comparison of retention time and fragmentation pattern with mass spectra in the NIST spectral library stored in the computer software (version 1.10 beta, Shimadzu) of the GC-MS. The relative percentage of each extract constituent was expressed with peak area normalization.

CONCLUSIONS
T h e G C M S a n a l y s i s o f Aswagandharishtam has shown some promising molecules like prostaglandin A2, Cholesterol, Piperine, Gentamicin a, d-Mannose, Eugenol, Pipradrol etc. which have a activities similar to that of Aswagadharistham. This is a preliminary report and further work is on to prove the efficacy of this medicine by other parameters.