EVALUATION OF AN AYURVEDIC COMPOUND OF H. SPICATUM, I. RACEMOSA AND E. OFFICINALIS FOR TREATMENT OF EOSINOPHILIA IN BRONCHIAL ASTHM

Background Tamaka shvasa mentioned in Ayurvedic classics is equated with bronchial asthma. Eosinophilia is normally observed in bronchial asthma patients with range of 500 to 2000 eosinophils /μl in blood. Eosinophils are able to produce many mediators responsible for inflammatory reaction. Safer herbal formulation having anti eosinophilic effect is required to decrease the Eosinophil circulation in peripheral blood. Material and Method Twelve freshly diagnosed cases of bronchial asthma having the eosinophil percentage between 524% and absolute eosinophil count between 540-1700/μlwere selected for the study. An Ayurvedic compound containing Sati (Hedychium spicatium Rose), Puskaramoola (Inula racemosa Linn) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Linn)was administered orally in dose of 9 grams in three divided doses in powdered form along with honey. Assessment was made on the basis of Eosinophil percentage and absolute eosinophil count. Result On treatment for 6 weeks with the trial drug, the mean percentage of eosinophil was 6, 4.25 and 2.16 was decreased to 5.6, 7.25 and 9.33 after 2, 4, and 6 weeks respectively which shows highly significant effect ((<0.001). The mean absolute count (AEC) before treatment was 942.1±136.9 which declined to 582.8, 375.5 and 218.3 at 2, 4, and 6 weeks respectively. Conclusion The results of the clinical study confirmed the anti-eosinophilic effect of the Sati, Puskara and Amalakichoorna which further supports the fact that it is a safe formulation for the treatment of eosinophilia in bronchial asthma.