Review on shilajit used in traditional Indian medicine

Wilson, Eugene; Rajamanickam, G. V.; Dubey, GP; Klose, Petra; Musial, Frauke; Saha, Felix Joyonto; Rampp, Thomas; Michalsen, Andreas; Dobos, Gustav

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.033

Cited by 63 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Unfortunately shilajit lacks systematic documentation and well-established clinical trials on its antioxidative and immunomodulatory actions in humans, and it is expected that considering the reported benefits evidenced from trials will be obtained in the near future [25]. …”

Section: Novel Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity

Carrasco-Gallardo

Guzmán

Maccioni

2012

International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

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Shilajit is a natural substance found mainly in the Himalayas, formed for centuries by the gradual decomposition of certain plants by the action of microorganisms. It is a potent and very safe dietary supplement, restoring the energetic balance and potentially able to prevent several diseases. Recent investigations point to an interesting medical application toward the control of cognitive disorders associated with aging, and cognitive stimulation. Thus, fulvic acid, the main active principle, blocks tau self-aggregation, opening an avenue toward the study of Alzheimer's therapy. In essence, this is a nutraceutical product of demonstrated benefits for human health. Considering the expected impact of shilajit usage in the medical field, especially in the neurological sciences, more investigations at the basic biological level as well as clinical trials are necessary, in order to understand how organic molecules of shilajit and particularly fulvic acid, one of the active principles, and oligoelements act at both the molecular and cellular levels and in the whole organism.

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Section: Novel Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity

Carrasco-Gallardo

Guzmán

Maccioni

2012

International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

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“…Fractions of humic substance extracted from MP exhibited a dosedependent complement-fixing activity in vitro with high potency (Schepetkin et al, 2009). There is, however, a lack of substantial scientific evidence to explain the bioactivity of MP (Wilson et al, 2011). In this paper, we report the stimulatory effect of the aqueous extract of MP on humoral, cell mediated and innate immune responses in mice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Mineral pitch stimulates humoral, cellular and innate immune responses in mice

Rubab

Routray

Mahmood

et al. 2013

Pharmaceutical Biology

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Context: Mineral pitch (MP), a traditional medicine, is proposed to boost immunity in conditions that suppress Th1 cytokines such as AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and cancer. Objective: This study investigates the immunoregulatory mechanisms of MP in innate, humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Materials and methods: Mice given MP (100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg, orally) for 10 consecutive days were immunized intravenously with goat RBC or ovalbumin, and investigated for plaqueforming cells (PFC), hemagglutination titer, hypersensitivity response, lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage function. Results: MP increased PFC (330.2 versus 182.2/10 6 splenocytes) in mice immunized with goat RBC and elicited ovalbumin-specific IgG titer at 400 mg/kg. Increase in Th1 immunity was correlated with the increased level of IFN-g (724 versus 470 pg/ml) and decreased IL-4 (96 versus 178 pg/ml). CD4 þ /CD3þ ratio and delayed-type hypersensitivity response also increased to, respectively, 20.62 AE 0.59 (versus 16.47 AE 0.72) and 1.59 AE 0.12 (versus 0.87 AE 0.10 mm) in MP-treated mice. MP increased lymphocyte proliferation (11.14 AE 0.60 versus 5.81 AE 0.40 SI) and macrophage phagocyte response (0.24 AE 0.02 versus 0.15 AE 0.009), expressed as absorbance at 570 nm, but decreased nitrite production (17.4 AE 1.10 versus 24.3 AE 1.30 mM/10 6 cells). We also observed an increased bone marrow cellularity (24.5 AE 1.10 versus 17.10 AE 0.70 cells/femur) and WBC count (12 667 AE 377 versus 9178 AE 213 cells/mm 3 ) following MP treatment. There was no sign of toxicity at 400 mg/kg, 1/12th of reported LD 50 . Conclusion: MP elicits a dose-dependent Th1 immune response.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mumiyo has been used as a traditional medicine in the former Soviet Union, India, and Tibet for more than 3000 years, and is currently available in numerous countries as a food supplement [1]. Although there are many claims on the activity of mumiyo , scientific evidences on the chemical components and bioactivity are lacking [1]. In our search for new bioactive compounds [2–11], the mumiyo in Kyrgyzstan was investigated, resulting in the isolation of five new diterpenoids, mumic acids A–E ( 1 – 5 ) and agathic acid ( 6 ) [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%