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Received: August 14, 2017 Accepted: October 25, 2017 Online: December 31, 2017
Abstract
Nardostachys Jatamansi DC is a reputed This study was conducted to understand the
ayurvedic herb and has been used in various mechanism of Nardostachys jatamansi DC in
formulations. It is an effective drug and used protection on loss of memory and cognition
in the treatment of many diseases. The anti- deficit.
stress properties of Nardostachys jatamansi
Keywords: Nardostachys jatamansi | Nervine
extract were studied on male and female
tonic | clinical study | brain monoamines
registered patients of approximately similar
age groups, for cognitive disorders at local Introduction
ayurvedic hospital. Volunteers were grouped Human body and its psychological personality
according to their age, sex and educational depend upon the various behavioural patterns.
status (including both illiterate and literate). Composite parameters of evaluating
These patient were divided into Control (C1) personality, such as memory retention, also
Stress group (E1), Dose group (E2) and Stress include hyperactivity, short attention span,
+Dose group (E3) and were subjected to impulsive and explosive behaviour, erratic
memory retention and recall test. Student t’ task performance and poor social adjustments,
test was used to analyze the results. The study lack of concentration etc. are very important
demonstrated that N.jatamansi root extract variables for a developed personality.
showed its anti-stress effect on drug treated Memory is a cognitive process involving
volunteers as compared to stressed. collection, analysis, encoding, storage and
For Correspondence: retrieval of information as and when required
1Deptt. of Zoology, K. L. Mehta Dayanand College for (Kaplan and Sadock, 1995). The key role
Women, Faridabad H Played by hippocampus in memory functions
2Deptt. of Zoology, Pacific College of Basic and
Applied sciences, PAHER University, Udaipur, has been well documented in the past
Rajasthan
Email: dr.shvetaarya@gmail.com
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Singh et al./VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/54 – 61
(Rawlins, 1985; Squire, 1987 and Sutherland syncope and hysteria (Hamied et al., 1962),
and Rodriguez, 1989). antiparkinsonism (Ahmad et al., 2006), it
A reduction in the hippocampal volume and improves memory and reduces forgetfulness.
cell numbers has been reported in animal It acts as memory restorative agent in people
models of aging, depression, and with memory loss. (Vinutha, 2007; Joshi and
alcoholism—conditions that have all been Parle, 2006) and antidepressant (Habibur
associated with memory loss in humans(Heine Rahman and Muralidharan, 2010).
et al., 2004; Herrera et al., 2003).Chronic Neuropharmacological profile of jatamansone
stress is associated with hippocampus- was studied by Arora, (1965b), which is the
dependent learning and memory impairments active ingredient of Nardostachys jatamansi,
have been reported in animals subjected to 6 h reduced aggressiveness, restlessness.
of physical restraint each day for 21 Children with marked mental retardation
days(Sunanda, et al., 2000). Behavioral showed corresponding improvement in I.Q.
deficits in animal models of chronic stress were also noted (Gupta and Virmani 1968).
have been associated with loss of Habibur Rahman et al. (2010) have also
hippocampal neurons, dendritic atrophy, and concluded that methanolic extract of N.
increase in dendritic spines and excrescences jatamansi DC possesses protective activity
(Sunanda, et al., 1995; Uno et al., 1989) and from the loss of memory and cognition
Such models therefore provide an useful deficits. Karkada et al. (2012) also described
approach to study the pharmacological efficacy of Nardostachys jatamansi in the
potential of agents in preventing/reversing prevention of stress induced memory deficit.
stress-related cognitive impairments. Although these studies give significant results
that N.jatamansi work as nervine tonic and
In Ayurveda there are so many drugs that are
have memory enhancing properties but there
used as memory and intelligence enhancers.
is no evidence of human testing. This study
Some of them are as Guduchi (Tinospora
was conducted to understand the mechanism
cordifolia), Jyothishmati (Celastrus
of Nardostachys jatamansi DC in protection
panniculata), Shankhapushpi (Evolvulus
on loss of memory and cognition deficit
alsenoids), Brahmi (Baccopa monniera),
clinically.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).
The plant Nardostachys jatamansi DC of Material and Methods
family Valerianaceae is a well-known plant in The study was conducted on 16 clinical out
the Indian traditional medicinal system and patients for known stress related disorders
has historically been used in Ayurveda as such as proved and known cases of cognitive
Medhya (Brain tonic), Rasayana disorders, depression etc, at local Ayurveda
(Rejuvenative to the mind), Nidrajnana hospital with prior permission of the
(Promotes sleep) and Manasrogaghna authorities. For control studies, a group of
(Alleviates mental diseases) (Pandey, 1991; fifteen persons were selected by a pre-test for
Sharma et al., 2001). N. jatamansi DC quickly the study and as per practitioner’s selection.
relieves from psychosis, maniac psychosis, Healthy persons of both sexes and similar age
group were allowed to volunteer for the study.
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Both control and patient volunteers were learning word list. 5 trials were made to find
explained related aspects of drug and test to be out the effect of repetition on long-term
conducted without explaining them the real retention. Percent value of word recall is
purpose of the tests prior to start of the calculated for each person and each trial.
experiment. Test was conducted everyday Mean value, standard deviation, standard error
between 10 AM to 12 PM after one hour of of mean was calculated for all groups in both
drug intake in all the four groups. Drug (N sexes. Student‘t’ test was used to find out the
Jatamansi) was given as per ayurvedic significance of the results. All values are
practitioner’s prescription depending on the represented Mean ± SEM (N = 4).
patient’s condition. Persons of both sexes Group Male Female
were separately divided into Control (C1), Control 77 ± 8.16 84 ± 7.40
Diseased persons (stress group; E1), only Stressor Diseased 43 ± 4.18 45 ± 3.14
(E1) +++ +++
Dose group (E2) and Diseased persons Only Dose (E2)
supplemented with dose (Stress + Dose group, 72 ± 4.73 75 ± 4.54
1st Week
E3). Volunteers were grouped according to *** ***
72 ± 5.83 80 ± 4.78
their age, sex and educational status 2nd Week
*** ***
(including both literate and illiterate). In each 78 ± 7.27
3rd Week 80 ± 3.16 **
***
group at least five volunteers selected were Stress or Disease + Dose (E3)
illiterate. 1st Week 53 ± 3.87 49± 4.10
Tests were designed keeping the educational 2nd Week 58 ± 3.74 57 ± 3.46
status of the volunteers with the help of 3rd Week
67 ± 4.42 66 ± 6.05
*** ***
Department of Psychology, M.L.S.
University, Udaipur. Literate persons in all
groups were given test papers in Hindi or Results
English language according to their In control group, 4 volunteers of both sexes
preference. Illiterate persons in all groups were taken of near about same age groups. In
were given pictures of articles, animals, birds, 1st trail 50-60 % word recall was observed. In
and specific scenes for testing memory status. 2nd to 5th trial word recall percentage
English and Hindi word list including nouns increased gradually. First Trial in Males word
were taken from paper of Yuile and Madigan, list recall was 50% it increased with increased
(1969). number of trails. In both male and female
Mode of Test word list recall was increased with each
successes trail.
Each volunteer in all control and experimental
groups was given a list of 20 words and made In stressed or diseased group E1, Patient
to read aloud for 30 seconds one by one. The suffering from varied disease and other
person recalled these words in 1-minute time psychosocial stress related disorders including
period. Numbers of words recalled were epilepsy and depression. The word recall was
noted. After each trial a set of 10-15 words or significant less (P< 0.05 in male and P<0.05
pictures were given as distracters, to avoid in Female) as Compared to Control group.
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Singh et al./VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/54 – 61
In E2 or only dose group the effect of drug percentage for all the three weeks was done.
extract was evaluated to find out any This observation showed that after first and
discrepancies due to drug intake. The second week of drug intake both male and
observed values suggest that after every week female groups did not show any significant
of drug intake word recall values were found increase in word recall, but after third day of
to be significant in both male and female as drug intake both male and female showed
compared to stressed male and female. significant increase (P<. 05) in memory level
In stress or disease + dose group (E3) same as compared to stressed group. Data are
patients were tested for the word list recall for summarized in figure 1-3.
3 weeks. Analysis of the word recall
100
90 Male
*** ***
80
% of Words Recall
70 Female
60
50
40 +++ +++
30
20
10
0
Control Stress or Only Dose Stress or
Diseased Diseased + Dose
Groups
FIGURE 1: Effect of various treatments on word recall percentage after 1st week. Values are expressed as mean ±SEM
and significance is obtained from student t-test showing p<0.01=++; p<0.05=+++ as compared to stress;
p<0.01=**;p<0.05=*** as compared to stress group.
100
90 Male
80
*** *** Female
% of Words Recall
70
60
50
40
+++ +++
30
20
10
0
Control Stress or Only Dose Stress or
Diseased Diseased + Dose
Groups
FIGURE 2: Effect of various treatments on word recall percentage after 2nd week. Values are expressed as mean
±SEM and significance is obtained from student t-test showing p<0.01=++;p<0.05=+++ as compared to
stress;p<0.01=**;p<0.05=*** as compared to stress group.
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Singh et al./VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/54 – 61
100
90 Male Female
*** **
% of Words Recall
80
70 *** ***
60
50
40
+++ +++
30
20
10
0
Control Stress or Only Dose Stress or
Diseased Diseased + Dose
Groups
FIGURE 3: Effect of various treatments on word recall percentage after 3rd week. Values are expressed as mean ±SEM and
significance is obtained from student t-test showing p<0.01=++; p<0.05=+++ as compared to stress;
p<0.01=**;p<0.05=*** as compared to stress group.
noradrenaline, catecholamine, and GABA). stimulates the healthy nervine functions and
Scientific studies have found that N.jatamansi help combating cognitive performance,
increases the cerebral levels of GABA learning, memory and other age related
(GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID). N. neurodegenerative disorders.
Jatamansi is likely to reduce depression by
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