Effects of Some Indigenous Indian Medicinal Preparations on Cognitive Functions

In Indian indigenous systems of medicines namely Ayurveda and Unani-Tibb some mineral preparations are used and called as Bhasmas and Kushta respectively. Preparations of these drugs involve calcination of certain metals and incorporation of some herbal juices into it through some exhaustive procedures. In the present study four such drugs have been evaluated for their toxic manifestations on cognitive functions. Two drugs are the calcined forms of mercury and two are of lead taken one each from Ayurvedic and Unani systems. Ayurvedic preparations were Kajjali Bhasma (Hg) and Nag Bhasma (Pb), and Unani drugs were Kushta-Sangraf (Hg) and Kushta-Surb (Pb). For testing the cognitive activity two behavioural models of active and passive learning with retention were used in the study. To substantiate these findings neurochemical estimation of acetylcholinesterase and serotonin in discrete brain areas were also carried out. All the four drugs caused the impairment of cognitive functions along with corresponding effects on neurochemical parameters on high dose in ten days study. Result in this study calls for some extra precautions while prescribing such extensively used preparations