Abstract
The time-tested Ayurvedic medicinal food, Chyawanprash, has been a part of the Indian diet since ancient times. It is an extremely concentrated mixture of extracts from medicinal herbs and processed minerals, known for its immunity boosting, rejuvenating, and anti-oxidative effects. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of Patanjali Special Chyawanprash (PSCP) using the zebrafish model of inflammation. Zebrafish were fed on PSCP-infused pellets at stipulated doses for 13 days before inducing inflammation through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The test subjects were monitored for inflammatory pathologies like behavioral fever, hyperventilation, skin hemorrhage, locomotory agility, and morphological anomaly. PSCP exerted a strong prophylactic effect on the zebrafish that efficiently protected them from inflammatory manifestations at a human equivalent dose. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), were also reduced in the LPS-stimulated zebrafish fed on PSCP-infused pellets. Skin hemorrhage, hyperventilation, and loss of caudal fins are characteristics of LPS-induced inflammation in zebrafish. PSCP prophylactically ameliorated skin hemorrhage, restored normal respiration, and prevented loss of caudal fin in inflamed zebrafish. Under in vitro conditions, PSCP reduced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion by THP-1 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner by targeting NF-κB signaling, as evident from the secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter assay. These medicinal benefits of PSCP can be attributed to its constitutional bioactive components. Taken together, these observations provide in vivo validation of the anti-inflammatory property and in vitro insight into the mode-of-action of Chyawanprash, a traditionally described medicinal food.
Highlights
Chyawanprash is an amalgamation of two Sanskrit words, “Chyawan” and “Prash”
The zebrafish were divided into five groups, namely, NC or normal control, DC or disease control, 1X-HED-Dexa receiving human equivalent dose (HED) of dexamethasone, 0.2XHED-Patanjali Special Chyawanprash (PSCP) fed with 0.2 times human equivalent dose of PSCP and 1X-HED-PSCP that received its human equivalent dose
The zebrafish in NC and DC groups were fed on regular pellets whereas the feeds for the other three groups were enriched with the respective compounds in the designated doses
Summary
Chyawanprash is an amalgamation of two Sanskrit words, “Chyawan” and “Prash”. Chyawan was the name of an ancient Indian sage who, in his quest for enlightenment, underwent strict practices that weakened him leading to rapid aging. In Sanskrit, Chyawan means “loss” and Prash “foodstuff”. Sage Chyawan was prescribed a health boosting, jam-like tonic to restore his strength, vigor, vitality, and youthfulness, which came to be known as Chyawanprash: the food of sage Chyawan (Sharma et al, 2019). Chyawanprash is a rich health supplement made of several herbs, herbal extracts, and processed minerals, and has been an essential part of the Indian diet for a long time. Health benefits associated with Chyawanprash have been recognized even before the minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants became popular as health supplements (Parle and Bansal, 2006)
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