C.N.S. Protective Drugs: An Overview

Abstract

Although regulatory authorities presently authorize extremely few drugs for dealing with multifactorial conditions and conditions of cognition such as Alzheimer's, specific plant-derived agents, consisting of, for instance, galantamine and rivastigmine (a semi-synthetic derivative of physostigmine) finding an application in contemporary medicine. However, in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine which is more than 5000 years of ages, selected plants have long been categorized as 'Medhyarasayanas,' from the Sanskrit words 'Medhya,' indicating intellect or cognition, and 'Rasayana,' implying 'rejuvenation.' These plants are utilized both in natural and traditional medicine and offer advantages that pharmaceutical drugs do not have. The article is an attempt to examine the most critical medical plants, consisting of Vacha (Acorus calamus), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Vidhara (Argyreia Nervosa), Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus prostratus), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Mandukaparni (Centella Asiatica), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus) which are extensively used for their reputed effectiveness in C.N.S. conditions. This paper’s main aim is to explore C.N.S. Protective drugs or Medhya Rasayana mentioned in Ayurvedic classical textbooks concerning modern science mode of actions and to study the mechanism of the C.N.S. protective drugs. The source for this study is collected from classical Ayurvedic books and commentaries, modern medical science textbooks, and different articles from Pubmed, D.H.A.R.A., Google Scholar, etc. Various Medhya Rasayana mentioned in Ayurvedic texts have potent qualities to enhance memory and relieve medical illnesses related to C.N.S., whether it is related to mental or sensory problems. So, various safe and natural remedies are available in Ayurveda; long-term or short-term mental health can be recovered without any life-threatening complication.