Amitabha Dey

• Ph.D. (Pharmacology)
• Area Medical Advisor at Pfizer

Background: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an herb with anti-inflammatory properties used in managing arthritis. There is significant clinical data in the public domain on the effects of Ashwagandha and this study was aimed at compiling and analysing these data in a structured manner. The major sources of evidence data were clinical trials an...

Background Arishta technology is an age-old heritage and uses herbal decoctions to prepare self-generated alcoholic medicines. In Ayurveda, Arishta preparations are widely used as a remedy for metabolic disorders. However, their safety and influence on herb metabolism pathways were not yet explored. Aim: To study the subacute toxicity of a polyherb...

Asavas and arishtas are considered as important Ayurvedic self-fermented dosage forms which are being used widely to promote health and well-being and for management of digestive and metabolic disorders. The present investigation was carried out to study the potential of an Ayurvedic polyherbal asava–arishta preparation (ZP) in gastroprotection, in...

Background: The objective of the study is to compare stress resistance-promoting effect of triethylene glycol (TEG) and root extract of Ashwagandha (Withaniasomnifera) i.e. withanolide-free root extract of Withaniasomnifera (WFWS). Materials and methods: Mice groups treated orally with 10 mg/kg TEG or WFWS (3.3, 10, 33.3, or 100 mg/kg) for 12 co...

In mammalian cells, glucose is the prime source of energy, and the uptake of glucose into the cell is a rate limiting process for its utilization. Glucose is transported across the cell’s membrane by a family of glucose transporters (GLUT). Insulin is the most potent physiological anabolic agent that regulates the transport of glucose into the cell...

Background: Contents of bioactive substances extractable from different parts of terrestrial plants vary enormously. Aim: To ascertain that parts of Withania somnifera other than its roots can also be used for prevention and cure of unavoidable stress triggered central hypersensitivity to pain. Material and Methods: Groups of male or female mice tr...

Aim: The objective of these studies was to assess the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity claim of an Ayurvedic lini-ment (ZRL) formulation prepared basis the wisdom of classical formulations. Materials and methods: Carrageenan-induced paw edema was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity. Analgesic activity was examined using hot p...

Background: In Ayurveda, use of multiple herbs in a single formulation is popular and polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations are widely used as growth promoters, gastrointestinal and hepatic regulators, hepatic tonics and so on. Despite the widespread use, there is a lack of scientific evidence on their efficacy and safety. Aim: This study was undertake...

Plants and plant products both as extract and derived compounds are known to be used as chemopreventive agents against various types of cancer. Identification of phytochemicals is found to be an effective chemopreventive agent in the field of chemoprevention research. Pharmacological and clinical investigations of medicinal plants have provided a w...

Salacia is used by the folklore practitioners of Southern Asia and in classical Ayurvedic text for the management of diabetes. The present observational study was conducted on standardized root extract of Salacia oblonga with a primary objective to obtain data on glycemic response and associated symptoms in 100 diabetic patients who were taking S....

Asavas and arishtas are considered as important Ayurvedic self-fermented dosage forms which are being used widely to promote health and well-being and for management of digestive and metabolic disorders. The present investigation was carried out to study the potential of an Ayurvedic polyherbal asava–arishta preparation (ZP) in gastroprotection, in...

Abstract Background: Ayurveda is being practiced from ancient time to modern era emphasizes promotion and preservation of health and cure of the disease. It focuses on various lifestyle measures and dietary modifications for keeping a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The aim of the study is to understand the various attributes of Ayurveda useful in...

Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) are the two perennial herbs and have been used for many centuries as potential medicine to promote longevity and immunizing the body against various ailments. However, in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine, rhizomes of C. longa and roots of W. somnifera are often used for the treatment...

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extracts and several pharmaceutical formulations containing them are currently often used as tonics useful for prevention and cure of mental health problems, including sleep disturbances, accompanying or caused by diverse slowly progressing chronic diseases. The possibility that W. somnifera could be used for treatm...

Scientific studies have revived interest in herbal medicines. Published information available on clinical and preclinical research on 35 important frequently used Ayurvedic medicinal plants has been collected. Databases such as Scopus, PubMed, MED-LINE, SciFinder, Google Scholar etc. have been searched to compile the research data on 35 Ayurvedic m...

Withania somnifera is an important Ayurvedic Rasayana herb, the roots of which are often used in traditionally known systems of medicine as tonic or for rejuvenation purposes. Effects of a single and ten daily oral doses (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) of an analytically well standardized Withania somnifera root extract against foot shock stress triggered tr...

Objective: Withania somnifera is an important Ayurvedic medicinal plant oftenly used for prevention and cure of diabetes and its comorbid disorders. This study was designed to experimentally evaluate the potential effect of Withania somnifera on cholinergic activity in diabetic rats. Methods: Groups of streptozotocin administered diabetic rats wer...

Aim: Withania somnifera root (WSR) extracts are often used in traditionally known Indian systems of medicine for prevention and cure of psychosomatic disorders. The reported experiment was designed to test whether low daily oral doses of such extracts are also effective in suppressing marble burying behavior in stressed mice or not. Materials and...

Objective: To compare oral efficacies of different parts of the Ayurvedic Rasayana herb Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha or Indian Ginseng) in a model for obsessive compulsive disorders in stressed mice. Methods: Groups of male mice were treated with stress resistance promoting oral doses (10 mg/kg/day) of a medicinally used Withania somnifera root...

Objective: To compare physiological stress response modulating potentials of triethylene glycol and quercetin in mice. Methods: Effects of single and 10 daily oral doses (5, 20, 100 and 400 mg/kg/day) of quercetin and triethylene glycol (TEG) to male mice on foot shock stress induces transient hyperthermia and on basal rectal temperatures and body...

Herbs are used for both medicinal and culinary purposes for thousands years. In many delicious cuisines, dietary herbs are used to increase the taste and flavor of foods. Recent years' reports revealed that herbs contribute as dietary nutrients, which are known to possess a number of beneficial health properties. Currently, research is progressing...

Aim of this study was to define oral dose range and treatment regimen of a pharmaceutically well-standardized Withania somnifera root extract (WS) potentially useful for treatments of diabetes-associated comorbidities. Normal and diabetic male mice were treated daily with graded oral doses of WS for 10 consecutive days. On the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 10...

Withania somnifera root is an important Ayurvedic Rasayana herb now often referred to as Indian ginseng. It is often used in traditionally known Ayurvedic formulations as an herbal adaptogen for promoting physical and mental health or for increasing longevity. Materials and Methods: Effects of a single and 5, 7, and 10 daily oral doses (10, 20 and...

Withania somnifera root is an important Ayurvedic Rasayana herb now often referred to as Indian ginseng. It is often used in traditionally known Ayurvedic formulations as an herbal adaptogen for promoting physical and mental health or for increasing longevity. Materials and Methods: Effects of a single and 5, 7, and 10 daily oral doses (10, 20 and...

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it is used as tonic to rejuvenate the body and increase longevity. In Ayurvedic preparations, various parts of the plant have been used to treat variety of ailments that affect the human healt...

Aim: To assess the efficacy of a Withania somnifera root extract (WSR) as a stress response-modulating agent with preventive potentials against obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Methodology: Groups of mice orally treated with 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg/day WSR, or with its vehicle, were subjected to a stress induced hyperthermia test on the 1st, 5th, 7...

Aim: To assess the efficacy of a Withania somnifera root extract (WSR) as a stress response-modulating agent with preventive potentials against obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Methodology: Groups of mice orally treated with 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg/day WSR, or with its vehicle, were subjected to a stress induced hyperthermia test on the 1st, 5th, 7...

Objective: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it was used as tonic to promote physical and mental health, rejuvenate the body in debilitated conditions and increase longevity. Materials and Methods: The study was designed to co...

Objective: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it was used as tonic to promote physical and mental health, rejuvenate the body in debilitated conditions and increase longevity. Materials and Methods: The study was designed to c...

Objective: To validate the science behind the traditional use of Withania somnifera in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat anxiety, the study was designed to explore the protective effect of root extract of W. somnifera (WSR) against anxiety using rodent models. Materials and Methods: WSR was evaluated on two behavior models i.e. Stress i...

Objective: To validate the science behind the traditional use of Withania somnifera in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat anxiety, the study was designed to explore the protective effect of root extract of W. somnifera (WSR) against anxiety using rodent models. Materials and Methods: WSR was evaluated on two behavior models i.e. Stress in...

Diabetes mellitus is a common form of metabolic disorder where level of blood glucose in the bloodstream raises high, because of deficiency of insulin and development of insulin resistance in diabetic individuals. It is categorize under modern age life style disorder, commonly affected by middle-aged people and the children in adolescents in most d...

Objective: The present investigation was aimed to justify the scientific basis in traditional use of Drynaria quercifolia as anti-inflammatory agent in North-East India. Methods: In-vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated by Reducing power method, Superoxide scavenging method and DPPH radical scavenging method. In-vitro and in vivo anti-inflamm...

Background:The present study was aimed to authenticate scientifically the traditional use of Cyathea gigantea as anti-inflammatory agent in North-East India. Aim:To study antioxidant, anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanolic extract of bark of Cyathea gigantea. Materials and Methods:In this study, extract was evaluated on in-vitroantioxida...

The investigation was undertaken to standardize the protocol for the micropropagation of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Sm. Rhizome buds were surfaced sterilized using 0.1% mercuric chloride for 15 minutes, 100 μg/ml fungicide (Carbendazim) and 70% ethanol for different exposure timings. Among the tested sterilization steps, treatment of rhizome with fungi...

To evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous extracts and its aqueous, n-butanol, ethyl-acetate, and chloroform fractions of Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp. leaves. In this present study, all the test samples were evaluated on in-vivo inflammatory model such as carrageenan and histamine-induced acute-inflammation and cotton...

An endophytic fungus was isolated from rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Sm. (Z.z) an important medicinal plant of North-East India. Colonial morphological trait, microscopic observation and molecular sequence analysis of ITS region of isolated fungus insinuated 99% similarity with Fusarium oxysporum. The isolated and identified fungus was then cu...

To rationalize scientifically the traditional claim on use of Wedelia biflora (Linn.) D. C. for the treatment of wounds and infections, the present study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial and wound healing activity of ethanol extract of leaves of W. biflora. In in vitro assays the test extract was subjected to antimicrobial activity by aga...

The present study emphasizes to reveal the antivenom activity of Aristolochia bracteolata Lam., Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merrill, and Leucas aspera S. which were evaluated against venoms of Daboia russelli russelli (Russell’s viper) and Naja naja (Indian cobra). The aqueous extracts of leaves and roots of the above-mentioned plants and their poly...

The objective of the study was to find out the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Scoparia dulcis Linn for antidiarrhoeal effects on Wister albino rats. The extract was evaluated for castor oil- induced diarrhoea and intestinal transit in rats by charcoal meal. S. dulcis Linn. Significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently reduced frequency of stoolin...

To validate the science behind the traditional use of Cucurbita moschata Linn. fruits in Indian system of traditional medicine to treat inflammation and gastric ulcer, present study was designed to explore the protective effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Cucurbita moschata fruits against inflammation and drug induced gastric ulcer. Both...

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Sm. commonly known as Singkha, Namna and Haijung in Manipuri, is a useful Zingiberaceae plant. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene compound of phytomedical interest was quantified from hexane extract of Z. zerumbet (HXZZ) rhizomes by HPLC method. Antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by reducing power and superoxide a...

Aqueous and ethanolic extract of Osbeckia nepalensis Hook was evaluated for the antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Hyperglycemic was confirmed to Albino rats (150- 200 g) by treated with alloxan upto 320.6 ± 3.59 at 1 hr, 445.6 ± 4.23 at 5 days from non treated rats of 316 ± 3.56± mg/ dL. A significant hypoglycemic activit...

In present study, oral administration of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the aqueous extract of Thuja occidentalis Linn in rats and mice were evaluated for its anxiolytic, nootropic, anticonvulsant and motor coordination activity by using different animal models. The number of entries as well as the duration of stay in the open arms significantly i...