Preclinical study of Siddha Drug Arootha Chooranam for its Aphrodisiac, Spermatogenesis and Anti Oxidant Activities

In this dissertation work I have selected “Arootha Chooranam” from the Siddha literature Sikitcha Rathna Deepam authored by Thiru Kannusamy pillai for the evaluation of safety, efficacy and therapeutic potency in “Sukkila vatham” for its Aphrodiasiac, spermatogenesis and Anti oxidant activities. “Arootha chooranam” is a poly herbal preparation. It is very effective and traditionally used in the treatment of “Sukkila vatham” (Premature Ejaculation). Collection of literature review regarding the ingredients of trial medicine carried out in Siddha aspect, Botanical aspect and pharmaceutical review. Various collections of Siddha and modern literatures about the ingredients of the drug supports the fact of aphrodisiac activity and their role in maintaining sexual health. All the ingredients of the trial drug “Arootha chooranam” were purchased from Tirunelveli – Traditional drug store. Each ingredient is verified and authenticated by the Gunapadam experts from the department of Gunapadam, Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital, Palayamkottai. The trial drug was prepared as per the procedure given in the literature “Sikitcha Rathna Deepam”. Physico chemical analysis of “Arootha Chooranam” shows, 1. It is Brownish in colour, has pleasant odour, pungent in taste, sense of touch is smooth and appeared in coarse powder. 2. The loss on drying is 9.23%. It is within the acceptable range. This low moisture content is always desirable for higher stability of days. 3. Total ash is 9.4% Acid insoluble ash is 9.70 %, So the drug has high quality. Water soluble ash indicate the purity of the drug. Water soluble ash 7.70% higher than acid insoluble ash represents good quality of the drug. 4. Extractive value shows, water 9.70%. 5. pH of AC is 6.90. It does not alter the pH of the stomach. 6. Microbial limit test shows, 7. Total viable aerobic bacterial counts within the normal level, 8. Total fungal counts within the normal level, 9. Specific pathogens salmonella sp, staphylococcus aureus, E.coli and pseudomonas aeruginosa are nil. So it can be stored for a long period and would not easily be attacked by microbes. It is hygenically good for taking as internal medicine. The Biochemical analysis of AC showed the presence of ferrous iron, chloride, starch, sulphate, unsaturated compounds and amino acid. Calcium activated channels chloride play major role in maintaining neuro muscular excitability. Here amino acids increases stamina and endurance, mood and libido and erectile capabilities. It also increases sexual behaviour. Ferrous iron balance between sufficient and too much iron may be more stringent in male fertility than in testosterone production, though, as iron is not only necessary for enzymatic funtion, but even low levels of oxidative stress are also necessary for sperm development and function. Phytochemical screening of the alcoholic and aqueous extract of the Arootha Chooranam revealed the presence of alkaloids, protein, glycosides, saponins and fixed oil and fat. i. Saponin improves the sexual behaviour. ii. Fixed oil and fats indicates that the oil and fat may boost serum testosterone levels in healthy adult men. iii. Glycosides It related to the testosterone and mainly contributes to its aphrodisiac potential hecogenin produces anabolic hormone. iv. SEM analysis of the Arootha chooranam shows the particles present in the sample are microsize and near Nano sixe. v. So very minimal quantity of the Trial medicine is enough to treat the disease. vi. FTIR confirms that Arootha Chooranam constitutes amine, nitrocompound, alkane, halo compound, thiol, sulfoxide, cyclopentanone, alkene as functional groups. vii. Here serotonin is an important amine. It is a mood stabilizer. It regulates anxiety and reduce depression. viii. Nitro compound decreases anxiety and act as mood elevator. It dilates the blood vessels and increases blood flow. ix. ICP-OES results Arootha chooranam shows below detectable limit of Arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium. It is evident that the safety of Siddha medicine has been proved by modern scientific way. Also it indicates the presence of calcium, potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. x. Magnesium plays a role in mood disorders including depression and anxiety. xi. Zinc supplementation can boost both total and free testosterone level in normal man. It leads to enhanced sexual health and libido. It can produce healthy veins and arteries that enhance the blood circulation. xii. Iron supplement as well as providing you with normal daily energy the essential mineral is vital to arousal and oragasm too. X-Ray diffractometers result showed the presence of functional groups and minerals respectively. As per Siddha literature sukkila vatham is due to decreased vatha humour and increased kabha humour. It leads to severe emaciation of the body affects the venneer (semen). “வேர்க்கவே வேலிபோல் வளைந்து காக்கும் விந்துவுடன் பிராணவாயு விளக்கலாமே" - யூகி முனி. "வன்னியும் வாயுவுமாயுறும் சுக்கிலம்" - சித்த மருத்துவாங்க சுருக்கம். According to these, semen (Vinthu) has the potency of fire (Theyu) and air (Prana vaayu). Semen is affected due to the imbalance of these two elements (Theyu, Vaayu), the taste of Arootha chooranam is kaarppu (pungent). This combination of the five elements in kaarpu (pungent), taste is theyu & vaayu. The pungent taste increases the potency of sukkilam (semen). The pungent taste dilates the blood vessels, removes the impurities found in the blood vessels and increases blood flow to the vessels for penile erection. Thus the drug Arootha chooranam proven its action to treat the disease “Sukkila vatham”. Acute toxicity study result shows it does not produce any toxic sign and mortality upto its maximum dose level of 2000mg/animal body weight in wistar albino rats. Sub-acute toxicity study result shows, no signs of toxicity and mortality were observed in animals from different dose groups during the dosing period of 28 days. So it can be safely administered for a long period. Aphrodisiac activity study of AC shows that the number of mounts, the number of intromission, the number of ejaculation are increased in AC treated rats. This reveals the aphrodisiac activity of AC. The spermatogenesis activity of AC shows that the body weight as well as the weight of sexual organs (Vas deferens, seminal vesicle, epidydymis) are increased in AC treated rats and also the sperm count is increased in semen, which reveals the spermatogenesis effect of AC. The decreased serum testosterone level is increased after treatment with AC at a dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. The result obtained from the present investigation it was concluded that the formulation AC possess significant antioxidant property and may act therapeutically in treating several oxidative stress related disorder’s. Further present investigation had generated an evidence based data with respect to purity, standards and antioxidant potential of the formulation AC. Increased oxidative insults to sperm lipids, proteins and DNA are associated with alterations of signal transduction mechanism curcial for fertility. A balance of the benefits and risks from the free radical production seems to be crucial for the sperm survical and function. Microbiological study of the trial drug carried out by Agar-well diffusion method. It is observed that “Arootha chooranam” is sensitive to E.coli, klebsiella pneumonia, staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonella typhi. E.coli and pseudomonas aeruginosa both are responsible for Urinary Tract Infections. UTI is one of the cause of PE. AC can prevent urinary tract infections. It can be concluded that, the dose level 3g mentioned in Siddha literature is the safety dose for human consumption. CONCLUSION: From the literature review and results, Physico-chemical, Bio-chemical, Phytochemical, Instrumental analysis, Microbioal limit test, Toxicological studies, Pharmacological it has been concluded that The trial drug is a Arootha Chooranam selected from the text book of “Sikitcha Rathna Deepam” authored by Kannusamy Pillai and the results supported the study has got a significant Aphrodisiac, Spermatogenesis and Anti oxidant activity. So it can be safely used for sukkilavatham as an effective drug