Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF VACHADI GHRITA, A MEDICATED GHEE FORMULATION USING ANIMAL MODELS

Pawar Madhuri S.*, Gurav Kunal, Karandikar Yogita, Wele Asmita

ABSTRACT

Vachadi ghrita is medicated ghee ayurvedic formulation, recommended to improve cognition.Synergism of herbal drugs of preparation of VG and extraction of lipid soluble extractives of these drugs in Goghrita [Cow Ghee] may show cumulative positive effect on cognition. Thus the cognitive-enhancing activities of medicated ghee formulation VG was evaluated in Morris water maze test and in diazepam induced amnesia mice model using Elevated plus maze. Methodology: Piracetam, most widely used nootropic agent as positive control and Goghrita as negative control was employed in both tests. VG was given in X/2, X and 2X dose levels. Results: Vachadi Ghrita at X and 2X dose showed significant reduction in decrease in transfer latency in EPM test. In Morris water maze test, escape transfer latency of Piracetam, VG X and 2X groups showed significant improvement in memory on eleventh and twenty sixth day. However VG X/2 group did not show significant results on improvement of memory compared to Goghrita group in EPM and MWM tests. Goghrita also showed positive result on retention of memory in comparison to plain control group in both models. Antioxidant properties of Vacha, Apamarga, Haritaki and Guduchi were proved in earlier researches. Synergism of these ingredients in VG might be responsible to produce neuro-protective and memory enhancement activities. Study findings suggest that Vachadi Ghrita at therapeutic dose, exhibited anti-amnesic and memory enhancement activity in EPM and MWM tests. Hence it can be employed as nootropic drug or adjuvant to conventional treatment to minimize adverse effects of these drugs.

Keywords: Vachadi Ghrita, Medicated ghee, Goghrita, Nootropic activity, EPM, MWM models.