Journal of Innovations in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (JIPBS)
eISSN: 2349-2759 | pISSN: 2395-1095 | Vol. 9, Issue 2, 2022, pp. 24-29

Immunity enhancing ability of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya with special reference to Pranavahasrothus Roga (Respiratory tract Diseases): A review

Gunathilaka L.M.T.I.D.1, Karunaratne T.D.N2, Wimalasiri Y.S.G2, Ishara M.D.P.3

1Temporary Demonstrator, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
2Senior Lecturer, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
3Temporary Lecturer, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
DOI: 10.56511/JIPBS.2022.v9.i02.pp24-29 | Published: 2022-04-29 | Article page and PDF

Abstract

Now a day, there is a pandemic situation in infectious disease of respiratory track and researchers reviewing multi-disciplinary aspects of immune boosting methods in the body and preventive measures of respiratory infections. Proper immune response and pulmonary functions should be restored in case of respiratory infectious disease. Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya is a famous Avaleha Kalpana used to prevent and cure for Pranavaha Srotasroga (respiratory disease). Rasayana drugs would be improving the physical quality of life by producing best functions of dhatus by tissue nourishment which help to enhance ojas and Vyadhikshamathva. In Ayurveda concept immunity define as the Vyadhikshamathwa or shareerabala. The word Vyadhi meaning is diseases, kshamathwa mean resist agents the disease. This is a review study to find out the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya effects of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya on respiratory disease and immunity. The data was collected from authentic texts, websites and previous research findings. Formula of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya has 22 ingredients. According to the data it was revealed that Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya consists of immune boosting herbs in that formula. Out of 22 ingredients, 20 ingredients consist of immunity enhancing properties in the body. It was found that mainly vathakaphashamana action prominent in this formula so, this rasayana can be used to manage respiratory disease. Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya can be used as an immune booster for emerging infectious disease in the management of respiratory disease after further studies

Keywords: Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya; Immunity; Vyadhi Kshamathwa; Respiratory disease

Introduction

Ayurveda is an ancient science of life with the focus on quality of life and also has described a vast number of Rasayanas drugs which deals with the prevention of disease and promotion of the health in human beings. They promote both physical and mental health, promote the status of Dhatus (tissues), confer immunity & rejuvenate the system. There are 3 types of Rasayana viz kamya, naimittika and ajasrika. Naimittika rasayana deals with the diseases & proved for its beneficial role in the patients suffering from chronic diseases [1]. It also helps in promoting the vitality & ability to withstand the devastating effects of the disease. Usually, it is used as adjuvant to the main treatment of the disease and prevention of the disease.

Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya is a famous avaleha drug used in Ayurvedic medicine mentioned by Sage Agastya to prevent and cure for respiratory diseases like kasa, swasa, hikka, kshaya, penus and heart diseases [2]. Avaleha means semisolid drug preparation with addition of jaggery, sugar/ sugar candy and boiled with decoction. Avaleha also mentioned as rasakriya, leha and lehya (licking form of drugs) [3]. In Ayurveda concept immunity define as the Vyadhi Kshmathwa or sharerabala and the word Vyadhi meaning is diseases or damage to the body and Kshamathwa mean resist agents the disease. In the other word Vyadhi

Table 1. Pharmacodynamic properties of the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya [4].
Table 1. Pharmacodynamic properties of the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya [4].

Kshmathwa means the resistance power of the body to diseases that is the body immunity.

Purposes of review

1. To find the Pharmacodynamic properties and it’s benefits to respiratory disease of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya.

2. To find out the immunity enhancing properties of the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya.

Procedure of Reviewing

Existing data of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya were collected from authentic Ayurveda texts in the Library,

Outcomes

Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo from January to May 2021 and the data were collected from published research articles, other relevant Ayurveda texts, scientific journals, web sources about Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya. The collected data were analyzed.

Accordance with present study Pharmacodynamic properties of the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya,Tikta rasa was prominent (59.09%), Katurasa (50%) and Madhura rasa (45.45%) were respectively prominent. Prominent veerya and vipaka were respectively Ushnaveerya (63.63%) and Katuvipaka (50%), Madhura vipaka (50%).

(Lightness) is the prominent guna in

Figure 1. Rasa properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya The predominant Rasa (taste) was Tikta Rasa (59.09%) in Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya
Figure 1. Rasa properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya The predominant Rasa (taste) was Tikta Rasa (59.09%) in Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya

60 50 40 30

Presentage

20 10 0 Kashaya Laghu Guru Ruksha

Figure 2. Guna properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya.
Figure 2. Guna properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya.

Laghuguna

Snigdha Pichchila Sara Thikshna

Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya

Immunity Enhancing Effect

4. Immunomodulatory action of the ingredients of

Figure 3. Veerya properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya. In Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya prominent Veerya is UshnaVeerya.
Figure 3. Veerya properties of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya. In Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya prominent Veerya is UshnaVeerya.

100 90 80 70 60 50 40

Precentage

30 20 10 0 Positive

Figure

Table 2. Immunomodulatory action present/absent in the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya
Table 2. Immunomodulatory action present/absent in the ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya

Negative

Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya.

11. Mucuna prurita Wight 12. Convolvulus pluricaulis 13. Hedychium spicatum 14. Sida cordifolia Linn 15. Piper chaba 16. Achyranthes aspera Linn 17. Piper longum Linn 18. Plumbagazeylanica Linn 19. Clerodendronserratum Linn 20. Inula racemosa Hook 21. Hordeum vulgare Linn 22. Terminalia chebula Retz The immunity enhancing effect of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanayahas is 90.90% percentage.

Within the 22 ingredients of the Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya 20 have the beneficial effect on immunity enhancement. Those ingredients were Aegle marmeloes, Oroxylum indicum, Gmelina arborea, Stereospermumsuaveolens, Desmodiumgangeticum, Solanum indicum, Solanum surattense burn, Tribulus terrestis Linn, Mucuna prurita Wight, Convolvulus pluricaulisChoisy, Hedychium spicatum, Sida cordifolia, Achyranthes aspera, Piper Chaba, Piper longum, Clerodendronserratum, Inula racemose, Hordeum vulgare and Terminalia chebula.

Conversation of outcome

Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanayawas predominant in Tikta (Bitter) (60%) in taste. With the Tiktarasa (Bitter) food items have increased the vata in the body. Also tend to facify the Pitta and Kaphain the body.

According to the modern science, Immunological activity has been experimentally researched in each plant so that the Immunological activity of it is highlighted. The previous study showed that the Aegle marmeloes 25 g leaf extract/kg of feed was found to be competent to enhance optimum immune response by using in freshwater fish (Catlacatla) [5].

Other study was found the immunological action of the Aegle marmeloes [4]. In experimental animal’s rats treated with n-butanol fraction (100 mg/kg bw) of Oroxylum indicum root bark for 22 consecutive days using measures of immune responses to sheep red blood cells [6]. The previous study was showed the supplementation of Achyranthes aspera [19, 20] seeds in diets influenced both nonspecific and specific immunity. In-vivo study of the Pteridospermsuaveolens (Roxb.) root extract increased the total leukocyte count and the population of monocyte and neutrophil in rats [9]. Previous study was discovered the immunity enhancing effect of the Sidacordifolia [17]. In general, a drug with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, bronchodilator and immune modulator activity will work in here. While 22 in the ingredients of the Agasthya Harithaki + [14] + [15] + [16] + [17] + [18] + [19,20] + [21] + [22] + [23] + [24] + [25] + [26,27] (Table 2). According to Ayurveda,Vyadikshamathwa as the capacity of the body act against the strength of the disease and capability of inhibition of diseases manifestation. Vyadhikshamathwa depends on Bala and Ojas. Bala means vital strength of the body and Ojas defines supreme essence of all the seven dhatus. Most of the drugs in Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya are having the dominance of Tikta and Katu Rasa, Laghu and Ruksha Guna, UshnaVirya, KatuVipaka andTridoshahara, predominantly which can lead to remove the obstructions in the channels in the respiratory system. Moreover, According to Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka concept of it has Tikta Katu Rasaand Laghu Rukshaguna increase the Jataragni and lead to nourishment of dhatus by ahararasa which ultimately leading to get essence of all saptha dhatu Ojas. Ojowardhaka ingredients helps to increase the immunity in the body to fight against diseases. Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya can included in the Naimittika Rasayana according to the Ayurveda concept bcause this type of rasayana is indicated for specific diseases. It has Vatakaphahara properties which will be benefited to management ofvathakaphajvara produced by infections in the pranavahasrothas. This can be given as an adjuvant along with specific management of the disease and given to fight against a specific respiratory disease as mentioned in Ayurveda. Benefits of Agasthya Harithki Rasayana according to the Sri Lankan Ayurveda pharmacopeia, it indicates the respiratory disease viz, cough, asthma, wheeze, tuberculosis, hiccough, Pneumonia, catarrh and heart disease and it can be given as an anti-aging and as an Immune enhancing agent [29].

Conclusion

The present study showed that ingredients of Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya have immunity enhancing effect and also most of the ingradients in Agasthya Harithaki Rasayanaya are having the dominance of Tikta and Katu Rasa, Laghu and Ruksha Guna, Ushna Virya, Katu Vipaka andTridoshahara, predominantly which can help to prevent the respiratory track disorders by removing the obstructions immune booster for emerging infectious disease in the management of respiratory disease after further studies.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this review article.

Authors Contribution

All the authors have contributed equally in designing, drafting the manuscript as per the journal submission format. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

References

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