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INTRODUCTION: The
Human brain is the most complex organ
in any living thing. Encased in a
bony armor (the skull) and guarded
by a series of chemical barriers,
the brain has long defied analysis.
Hippocrates correctly surmised some
2400 years ago that Not only
our pleasure, our joy and our laughter
but also our sorrow, pain, grief and
tears arise from the brain, and the
brain alone. The convoluted
cerebral cortex crowns the brain which
at maturity-around 18-weighs 3 pounds
and numbers 50 to 100 billion nerve
cells. These nerve cells are highly
specialized units called neurons.
The neurons hold the key to the brains
subtle and efficient system of communication.
Each neuron has a long, white-sheathed
tail called an axon which transmits
nerve impulses. The brain develops
nerve cells at a rate of about 360
million a day during the fetal development
stage, this process halts at birth.
From then on , we live with what we
have and less every day as the brain
cells die at a regular rate. However,
proper nutrition, a stress free life
and various other environmental conditions
impact the way our brain cells live.
To protect these complex cells, the
brain is protected by protein sheets
. These protein deposits protect the
brain from injury but an excess of
protein deposits can damage the brain.
Therefore it is essential for the
process to be regulated. Stress is
a major cause of damage to nerve cells.
Memory is an often misunderstood term.
Everyone has a memory, some have a
better power of recall than others,
but that is because those individuals
have trained one part of the brain
to function better that others. The
only significant difference is stress.
Stress causes short term memory loss
due to a lack of focus. This is what
is referred to as Memory loss. Unfortunately,
most of us must deal with stress as
a part of our daily existence. Even
children are subject to stress by
way of exams, peer pressure and puberty.
This is where some children develop
recall deficiency. The power to absorb
a fact or to recall a fact is impacted
by biochemical changes in the brain
that cause neurons to misfire and
lose communication, resulting in short
term or selective memory loss.
THE PRODUCT:Nature
has provided humans with not only a
unique brain, but the ability to use
it. We have done so by investigating
plants that help protect our brains.
Many of these plants have been thoroughly
investigated in numerous clinical studies.
AV MEMVITA contains a selection of herbs
that have been traditionally and scientifically
proven to protect the brain cells from
damage and also improve memory.
COMPOSITION:
Each Capsule of AV MEMVITA contains:
RESEARCH:
CELASTRIS
PANICULATA
Celastris has been traditionally used
in products that enhance memory. Researchers
in India found that the proprietory
extract of C. paniculata possesses
tranquilizing, sedative, central muscle
relaxant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic,
anti-ulcerogenic, anti-emetic, analgesic
and adaptogenic properties Other researchers
reported the seed Oil extract of C.paniculatus
obtained from Amsar Private Limited,
to have memory enhancing effect besides
anti-anxiety and lipid lowering properties
in albino rats of either sex. Celastrus
paniculata decreased transfer latency
in elevated plus maze in the rats
receiving 60 mg/kg and decreased the
secondary avoidance blockade in conditioned
avoidance response.
BACOPA MONNERI
Nir Brahmi ( Bacopa monniera Linn.)
is a reputed nervine tonic in Ayurvedic
literature. It has been the focus
of a 30 year study to establish the
scientific basis of it's action. Scientists
of the Indian laboratory at the Central
Drug & Research institute (CDRI)
have isolated and characterized the
two major compounds: Baccoside A &
Baccoside B. The extract contained
in this product is the same extract
developed by this premier institute
and contains 50% Baccosides A &
B. This herb is reputed to be the
one Lord Brahma used and therefore
the name Brahmi is given to it. Researchers
administered the aqueous suspension
of the proprietory extract (40mg/kg,p.o.)
for three or more days to rats. The
first schedule induced a labile behavior
using a shock motivated brightness
discrimination reaction. The brahmi-treated
group showed a better acquisition,
improved retention and delayed extinction
(p< 0.01-0.05). similarly, in an
active conditioned flight reaction,
the drug-treated animals showed a
shorter reaction time than the controls(p<0.01)
. Also in the continuous avoidance
response the drug-treated group performed
better than the controls (p<0.01
- 0.05). B. monneri L. has been widely
used in the treatment of mental retardation,
epilepsy and insanity in the traditional
system of Indian medicine
WITHANIA
SOMNIFERA
Withania somnifera is used in Ayurvedic
medicine as a medhrasayan, which promotes
learning acquisition and memory retrieval.
Withania somnifera is one of natures
wonders as it has proven to be useful
in a host of diseases. It's use in
cancer has been investigated, it's
anti-anxiety activity has been proven.
It is very useful in cases of memory
loss, anxiety, fatigue. Scientists
have studied the effect of Withania
somnifera on Dopaminergic receptors
in Rat Brain during stress. The animals
were subjected to immobilization stress
for 5 hrs., and the dopamine receptor
population of the corpus striatum
was studied by [3H] spiroperidol ligand
binding without and after pretreatment
with the proprietory extracts of withania
somnifera. The results showed that
the DA receptor population was significantly
increased after stress which was prevented
by pretreatment with Withania somnifera.
Other researchers investigated the
neuropharmacological activity of Withania
somnifera and reported that the proprietory
extract potentiates the pentabarbitone
induced hypnosis. They observed that
there was a significant increase in
the pentylenetetrazole induced seizure
latency in 8 days treatment.
TRIKATU
Trikatu is a group of three acids
i.e. Piper nigrum, Piper longum, Zingiber
officinalis. Trikatu increases drug
bioavailability either by promoting
rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal
tract or by protecting the drug from
being metabolized/oxidized in its
first stage through the liver after
being absorbed, or by the combinations
of these mechanisms
CENTELLA
ASIATICA
Argarwal & Singh, have reported
that the proprietory extracts prolonged
the hypnotic effect of sodium phenobarbitone
in mice and rats. It reduced the amphetamine
toxicity by 20 to 30 per cent in mice.
No protection was seen against convulsions
produced either by metrazol in mice
or by electric shock seizures in rats.
Significant fall in rectal temperatures
of rats which was maximum at two hours,
was shown with a dose of 100mg/kg.
The proprietory extract and the glycosides
have shown mild tranquilizing effect
The whole plant and the leaves of
C. asiatica are taken as tonic and
for the improvement in memory. The
extracts and powders have shown to
have significant activity in improving
mental ability in mentally retarded
children. A six week treatment in
patients with anxiety neurosis reduced
anxiety levels and showed improvement
in the mental fatigue rate and immediate
memory span. It has been found efficient
in the treatment of educable mentally
retarded children of age range 8-12
years and improved general mental
ability of mentally retarded children.
TINOSPORA
CORDIFOLIA
The proprietory extract of the roots
of t. cordifolia was investigated
for its effect on brain amine levels
in stressed rats. It was found to
possess normalizing activity against
stress induced changes in norepinepherine
(NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine
(5-HT) and 5-hydroxtindole acetic
acid (5-HIA) levels (20).
CONVOLVULUS
PLEURICAULIS
Dr . H. K. Kushwaha and Dr K.P. Sharma
conducted an indepth study on Shankpushpi
in the management of Depressive illness.
The Researchers felt that Depression
is a major disorder leading to various
social problems. They therefore undertook
a study specifically to investigate
the role of this traditional herb
in depressive illness.
20 Patients were chosen suffering
from depression. 15 males and 5 females
were the subject of the study. All
patients were screened to ensure that
the illness exhibited was chronic
and not the result of an immediate
emotional issue. The chosen patients
exhibited mild to moderate symptoms
of depressive disorders.
The antidepressant activity was noted
to be significant with 20% of the
treated group showed a moderate improvement,
60 % showed a positively marked improvement
and 20% showed excellent improvement.
Correspondingly 60 % of the group
on placebo did not show any change
whilst 40% showed moderate improvement.
The Researchers concluded that Shankpushpi
has an important role to play in the
management of depressive disorders.
INDICATIONS:
- Improves memory
- Stress and anxiety
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Enhancing learning capacity and
improving attention span.
DOSAGE:
1 TO 2 Capsules daily after meals
CONTRAINDICATIONS
:Not to be taken with St
Jonhs Wort or other anti-depressants
PREGNANCY
:To be taken under medical
supervison
REFERENCES:
- Singh, N, Chand, N and Kohli,
R P (19740 Pharmacological studies
on celastrus paniculata (Malkunguni)
Journal of Research in Indian Medicine
- Sunanda, S N, Sandira, L and Aamir,
R Psychopharmacological screening
of oil of Celastrus paniculatus
n animals and phase I study in healthy
volunteers. Neuropharmacology ONEUR-15:
53.
- K.S.KARNATH, K.K. HARIDAS, S.
GUNASUNDARI,and M. N. Guruswami;
Aroyga- J. Health. Sci., 1980, VI,
137-139
- Desai, V G (1927) The Materia
medica and therapeutics of Indian
medicinal Plants.Bombay. pp. 212
- Hakim, R A (1964) A trial report
on malkanguni oil with other indigenous
drugs in the treatment of Psychatric
cases. Gujrat State Branch.IMA Med.
Bulletin pp. 77
- Nadkarni s Indian Matria
Medica (1976) vol. I ed. Nadkarni,
A K. Popular Prakashan, Bombay pp.
296
- Chopra, R N and Chopra, I C (1956)
Glossary of Indian Medicinal plants
CSIR, New Delhi pp. 32.
- Singh, H K and Dhawan, B N (1978)
Ind. J. Pharmacol 10: 72;.
- Singh, H K and Dhawan, B N (1982)
J. Ethnopharmacol 5: 205.,
- Singh, H K et.al (1988) Phytother.
Res. 2: 70
- Nadkarni, K M (1954) Indian Materia
Medica vol. I Popular book depot
Bombay, 3rd edition. pp. 624.(10).
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