Ayurveda – American ME and CFS Society

Culinary spices and herbs in managing early and long-COVID-19 complications: A comprehensive review

Abstract:

Human race is preparing for the upsurge and aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic complicated by novel variants, new waves, variable mortality rate, and post-COVID complications. Despite use of repurposed drugs, symptomatic treatments and licensing of multiple vaccines, the daily number of cases and rate of transmission are significant. Culinary spices and herbs have been historically used in pandemic and non-pandemic times to reduce respiratory viral burden. Specific food items and culinary spices can boost the levels of protective immunity and also offer therapeutic benefits against impervious bugs via well-known as well as less-known but scientifically testable mechanisms.

Here, we analyzed the phytochemicals profile of Ayurvedic herbs and inferred from the clinical trials/observational studies to provide a focused and succinct perspective on the relevance of “food-based” traditional decoction to moderate COVID-19 disease and long-COVID via modulation of immunity and reinstatement of homeostasis. We also underscore the druggable targets in pathogenesis of COVID-19 which are relevant to the ongoing clinical trials using spices and herbs. This information will provide a strong scientific rationale for standardization of the traditional herbs-based therapies and adopting the use of herbs, spices, and their formulations for reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, long-COVID symptoms, and COVID-19 disease progression.

Source: Maurya DK, Sharma D. Culinary spices and herbs in managing early and long-COVID-19 complications: A comprehensive review. Phytother Res. 2023 Jul 19. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7957. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37468320. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37468320/

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Spilanthes oleracea with potential effect in chronic fatigue syndrome infirmity

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) holds a mystery for researchers due to its multifactorial nature; hence, its diagnosis is still based on symptoms and aetiology remains obscured. Number of scientific evidences regarding the role of oxidative stress, immune dysfunction in CFS and alleviation of symptoms with the help of nutritional supplements guided us to study effect of ethanolic extract of Spilanthes oleracea (SPE) in CFS.

OBJECTIVES: Present study was designed to evaluate antioxidant, immunomodulatory properties of S. oleracea flower to ameliorate CFS infirmity in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: In order to induce fatigue, experimental animals were stressed by chronic water – immersion stress model. Meanwhile, parameters like immobility period and tail withdrawal latency were assessed. On the 21st day, mice blood was collected and they were immediately sacrificed for biochemical estimations.

RESULTS: Biochemical analysis results revealed that CFS elevates lipid peroxidation, nitrite level and diminishes the endogenous antioxidant enzyme like catalase level in stressed animal’s brain homogenate. Stressful condition developed muscle fatigue leading in alteration of lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Triglycerides (TG) levels. Concurrent and chronic treatment of SPE for 21 days restored all these behavioural despairs and associated biochemical adaptation in mice in dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION: The outcome of this study indicates ability of SPE in amelioration of CFS by mitigating the oxidative stress and thus provide a powerful combat against CFS which may be due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.

Source: Nipate SS, Tiwari AH. Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of Spilanthes oleracea with potential effect in chronic fatigue syndrome infirmity. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2018 Nov 16. pii: S0975-9476(17)30116-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2017.08.008. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S097594761730116X?via%3Dihub (Full article)

Effect of Swarna Jibanti (Coelogyne cristata Lindley) in alleviation of chronic fatigue syndrome in aged Wistar rats

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Swarna Jibanti scientifically known as Coelogyne cristata Lindley (Orchidaceae), an orchid mentioned in Ayurvedic medicine is used to promote healthy life span.

OBJECTIVE: The present work was planned to study the efficacy of hydro-alcoholic extract of pseudobulbs of C.cristata (CCE) to assess its role on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) induced behavioural and biochemical changes in aged Wistar rats compared to Panax ginseng (PG), a prototype anti-stress agent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: CFS was induced by forced swimming for consecutive 21 days for fixed duration (15 min sessions). The criteria of CFS due to fatigue were counted using locomotor activity, depression and anxiety through automated photactometer, immobility time and plus maze activity respectively. Acute toxicity study of CCE (upto 2 g/kg, Limit test) was also performed. For CFS, animals were divided into five groups, naive control, control, CCE treated (25 mg/kg b.w., 250 mg/kg b.w.) and standard PG treated (100 mg/kg b.w.) groups. All drugs were given orally for consecutive 21 days along with CFS. After assessing behavioural parameters, all animals were sacrificed at day 21 and in vivo antioxidant potential of CCE was determined by lipid peroxides, nitrite, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in brain tissue.

RESULTS: CCE was found to be non-toxic. CCE treated aged rats significantly improved (p < 0.001) the spontaneous locomotor movement with respect to control rats, while, decreased the mobility period or depression score. In CFS, CCE also enhanced the time spent (p < 0.001) in open arms while reducing the time spent in closed arm as compared to CFS control, indicating lowering anxiety score. Moreover, marked diminution in lipid peroxidation, nitrite and SOD level was exhibited after CCE treatment and significantly enhanced catalase level significantly (p < 0.01) with respect to CFS control. PG also showed similar actions.

CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the potential therapeutic actions of CCE against experimentally induced CFS in aged rats that might be due to its CNS mediatory antioxidant properties.

Source: Mitra A, Sur TK, Upadhyay S, Bhattacharyya D, Hazra J. Effect of Swarna Jibanti (Coelogyne cristata Lindley) in alleviation of chronic fatigue syndrome in aged Wistar rats. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2017 Nov 1. pii: S0975-9476(17)30217-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2017.06.011. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947617302176 (Full article)

Shilajit attenuates behavioral symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and mitochondrial bioenergetics in rats

Abstract:

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shilajit has been used as a rejuvenator for ages in Indian ancient traditional medicine and has been validated for a number of pharmacological activities.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The effect of processed shilajit which was standardized to dibenzo-α-pyrones (DBPs;0.43% w/w), DBP-chromoproteins (DCPs; 20.45% w/w) and fulvic acids (56.75% w/w) was evaluated in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The mitochondrial bioenergetics and the activity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis were evaluated for the plausible mechanism of action of shilajit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: CFS was induced by forcing the rats to swim for 15mins for 21 consecutive days. The rats were treated with shilajit (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) for 21 days before exposure to stress procedure. The behavioral consequence of CFS was measured in terms of immobility and the climbing period. The post-CFS anxiety level was assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Plasma corticosterone and adrenal gland weight were estimated as indices of HPA axis activity. Analysis of mitochondrial complex chain enzymes (Complex I, II, IV and V) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in prefrontal cortex (PFC) were performed to evaluate the mitochondrial bioenergetics and integrity respectively.

RESULTS: Shilajit reversed the CFS-induced increase in immobility period and decrease in climbing behavior as well as attenuated anxiety in the EPM test. Shilajit reversed CFS-induced decrease in plasma corticosterone level and loss of adrenal gland weight indicating modulation of HPA axis. Shilajit prevented CFS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by stabilizing the complex enzyme activities and the loss of MMP. Shilajit reversed CFS-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in terms of NO concentration and, LPO, SOD and catalase activities.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that shilajit mitigates the effects of CFS in this model possibly through the modulation of HPA axis and preservation of mitochondrial function and integrity. The reversal of CFS-induced behavioral symptoms and mitochondrial bioenergetics by shilajit indicates mitochondria as a potential target for treatment of CFS.

Source: Surapaneni DK, Adapa SR, Preeti K, Teja GR, Veeraragavan M, Krishnamurthy S. Shilajit attenuates behavioral symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and mitochondrial bioenergetics in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Aug 30;143(1):91-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.002. Epub 2012 Jul 6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22771318