LEARNING AND MEMORY ENHANCING ACTIVITY OF A CLASSICAL FORMULATION- ASHVAGANDHADHYA GHRITA, IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Dr. Vasavdutta Kothari*, Dr. B. J. Patgiri, Dr. Mukesh Nariya and Prof. P. K. Prajapati

ABSTRACT

Ashvagandhadya ghrita is a classical formulation stated in Chakradutt, Vatavyadhi chikitsa. Its ingredients are Ashvagandha kvatha, Ashvagandha kalka, godugdha and goghrita. The individual ingredients have medhya, rasayan, jivaniya etc. properties. Medhya means that which is beneficial for the brain - i.e. beneficial for the intellect, memory and mental abilities. Thus this formulation may have learning and memory enhancing effect and so this was studied by animal experimentation in Swiss albino mice. However, regarding the preparation of this ghirta as per reference, it can be prepared in three days as it contains milk and it can also be prepared in twelve days as it contains roots. So this ghrita was prepared in three days (sample B) and in twelve days (sample C). One sample of this ghrita with Gir cow goghrita and fresh root decoction was also prepared (sample E) as Gir cow goghrita is considered to be superior and as per classical reference Ashvagandha should be used in the fresh state. The result showed that all the samples had learning and memory enhancing activity, the sample E having greatest effect followed by sample B, at a statistically significant level. Sample C did show this activity but it was not at a statistically significant level.

Keywords: Nootropic, Ashvagandhadhya ghrita, learning and memory enhancing activity, Alzheimer?s disease.