Scientific Validation of Aphrodisiac & Fertility Promoting Activity of Vajikarana Drugs of Ayurveda

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1 ISSN: ( Guest Editorial Scientific Validation of Aphrodisiac & Fertility Promoting Activity of Vajikarana Drugs of Ayurveda Abstract Ex-Professor & HOD, Dept. of Dravyaguna, IPGT&RA,Jamnagar Vedas are the oldest recorded treasures of knowledge of every aspect of human life, written in a methodical and systemic way. Ayurveda has been derived and developed from these vedas, mainly from Atharvaveda. Hence etymologically knowledge (science) of life has been termed Ayurveda and not Ayurvijnana. According to Charaka, life is a combination of many factors viz., body, senses, psyche and soul. Sushruta stressed that health is the product of physiological equilibrium of all these factors. Based on the definition envisaged by Sushruta,World Healh Organization (WHO) redefined health as the state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.the scope of Ayurveda is twofold i.e.,to cure those who are inflicted with disease and to maintain health of the healthy. For maintaining positive health Acharyas of Ayureda introduced two approaches namely Rasayanatantra(Rejuvenation therapy) and Vajikaranatantra (science of fertility and virility).the use of vajikarana medicines was advocated for two purposes- one to increase the sexual vigor and the other to increase fertility which is achieved by their therapeutic effects on spermatogenesis. It is often interpreted that vajikaranatantra as science of aphrodisiacs, but it is an improper statement since vajikarana therapy aims at promoting fertility. Significant research has been carried out during past three decades on Rasayana drugs mentioned in ayurvedic texts and successfully produced evidence about their effective antioxidant and immune-modulatory activities. In the case of vajikaranadrugs there is a lack of scientific validation for their aphrodisiac and fertility promoting activities. Ayurvedic classics described certain formulations (foods & drugs) and single drug recipes for promoting fertility and virility. It appears that medieval ayurvedic works mainly concentrated in documenting aphrodisiac activity of vajikarana drugs, ignoring the fertility promoting activity.among several drugs the medicinal plants namely Kapikacchu,Gokshura, Vidari, Nagabala, Kushta, Masha,Satavari,Jatiphala,Ahiphena,Bhanga,Aswagandha are attributed with Vrishya activity. Recent researches reported aphrodisiac activity of Kapikacchu and Gokshura only and the fertility activity was not subjected to a thorough scientific scrutiny. So there is a real necessity to produce evidence of the safety and efficacy of Vajikarana drugs. *Corresponding author: Pravin R. Joshi, MD,PGDMB,Ph.D,PD,D.Litt(H.C), G.S.Gune Ayurveda college,ahmednagar,maharashtra. ayurpravin@yahoo.co.in Quick Response Code: I J E P P J u l y - S e p t e m b e r 2018 V o l 4 I s s u e 3 Page 70

2 INTRODUCTION The authors of Sarngadharasamhita and Bhavaprakashasamhita defined that the drug which bestows horse like sexual power and makes men virile with women as vajikarana. i The drugs namely Kapikacchu,Nagabala,Aswagandha,Musali,Satavar i,sarkara are mentioned as examples by sarngadhara and bhavamisra. ii Vajikarana medicine is also called vrishya, which is derived from the word vrisha, meaning a stud bull. Therefore, vrishya is that medicine which produces sexual vigor like that found in a stud bull. The term vaji is interpreted as horse as well as sukra, and horse is considered as the representation of potent sexual power. Susrutha has denoted a comprehensive definition of Vajikarana and explained that Vajikaranatantra (Science of fertility and virility) deals with conditions like alpasukra(oligospermia),dushtasukra(qualitatively defective sperms) and ksheenasukra(azospermia) iii. It is explicit that Susrtha presented vajikarana as medicine of fertility. Medieval ayurvedic texts proposed Vajikarana as science of aphrodisiacs and concentrated about the management of klaibya( impotence) and premature ejaculation (PME). These ayurvedic classics never given any importance to women s sexual problems i.e., frigidity. Adhamalla a commentator of Sarngadharasamhita for the first time interpreted that Vajikara is useful to produce Harshana (sexual arousal ) in both the sexes. iv He further classified Vajikarana drugs into two groups i.e., one to address premature ejaculation (sukrasthamhaka) and second one to increase spermatopoeisis(viryavardhaka). v Sukra is identified as substance which circulates all over the body in both the sexes. Modern integrated ayurvedic scholars interprete that sukra in a general sense as male and female sexual hormones and this interpretation appears sensible. Eligibility criteria: Charaka has laid down the eligibility criteria for receiving vajikaranatherapy.according to him a person who is having good control over sensory organs should receive vajikarana therapy. vi The statement that woman is kshetra(receipient for harsha( pleasure) clearly indicates vajeekarana therapy is meant for men only. vii Woman is recognized as the abode of Dharma (virtue) and Artha (wealth) since she is begetter of offspring. The real purpose of married life is to have children (apathya) through whom two out of four purusharthas can be achieved. Married people with more number of children commanded great respect and sterile persons were looked down as useless individuals. Hence one cannot find the contraceptive measures and antifertility drugs in classical ayurvedic works,documented during 1000BC-8 th AD. Before starting vajikarana therapy it is mandatory to subject the individual to sodhana therapy( purificatory procedures like emesis,purgation etc.) viii Vajikarana drugs: Any substance which is madhura, snigdha, guru, jeevaniya and brmhaniya is referred as vrishya and any substance which imparts pleasantness/stimulation to mind is also categorized under vrishya. ix Basing on these definition some scholars interprete that vrishya drugs can be administered to treat mental depression. Any drug which is madhura in rasa and vipaka with snigdha and guru gunas/virya acts as vrishya. One of the formulations given by Charaka namely Vrishyaksheera yoga contains five dasaimani group of drugs. ie,. Sukrajanana, Jivaneeya, Brimhana, Balya and Sthanyajanana. x These five groups may be useful to address Alpasukra (oligospermia) and ksheenasukra (Azoospermia) conditions, while sukrasodhana group may be useful to treat dushtasukra( vitiated sperm) condition. If the seminal analysis shows puscells and abnormal forms (tail less etc.),it clearly indicates sukradushti and sukrasodhana group of drugs should be considered in treatment. Satavari, yashtimadhu, Kapikacchu, Gokshura are frequently employed in vajeekarana formulations by Charaka. Mentioning of Aswagandha only in one formulation namely vajeekaranaghrita indicates that it was not mostly preferred drug for vrishya purpose, Balya and Brimhaneeya activities are attributed to it. But in later works it has occupied the place as one of the most reputed drugs. Aswagandhaghrita (prepared from aswagandha, saindhavalavana and sarkara) as an external application over the penis helps to increase its size. xi Dual combination of Aswagandha and Vriddhadaru is suggested for both vrishya and I J E P P J u l y - S e p t e m b e r 2018 V o l 4 I s s u e 3 Page 71

3 rasayana activity. It bestows strength and endurance in sex and relieves wrinkles of the skin and greying of hairs xii (Sarangadharasamhita). This claim of Sarangadhara requires a scientific scrutiny. The powder of Satavari, Gokshura, Kapikacchubeeja, Gangeruki, Atibala and Ikshurakabeeja is another powerful aphrodisiac formulation suggested by Sarangadhara. Similarly Musalikanda, Guducisatwa, Kapikacchu, Gokshura, Shalmali, Amalaki mixed with sugar, milk and ghee helps in increasing sexual vigour. xiii Essential list of Aphrodisiac drugs: Bhavamishra prepared a list of drugs in the form of formulations by collecting together all powerful aphrodisiac drugs and claims it is best among many aphrodisiac formulae. The drugs are - Gokshura ( Tribulus terrestris Linn) Ikshuraka (Asteracantha longifolia Nees) Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera Dunal) Satavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) Musali ( Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.) Vanaribeeja ( Mucuna prurita Hook) Yashti ( Glyzirhiza glabra Linn) Nagabala (Sida veronicaefolia Lam.) Bala (Sida cordifolia Linn) Gokshura processed in goat s milk is claimed to be best for treating impotence. Some evidence has been produced with a steroid saponin namely protodioscin present in Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) for aphrodisiac activity in experimental animals. In clinical study the formulation of Gokshuradimodaka with certain modifications ( substituting Nagabala with Atibala) was evaluated in impotence due to Diabetes and moderate activity was reported A thorough clinical study with a larger sample is needed to produce a significant evidence. Gosh (1950) reported aphrodisiac activity of Kushta (Sausseria lappa) in his pharmacology book and explained it s mode of action by its volatile oil excreted through genitourinary tract and irritation caused by it may result in penial erection. Charaka s claim about semen of crocodile (Nakrareto vrishyanam) remained as myth due to lack of scientific validation. Modern scientific community firmly hold the view that this claims as false claims and opine that fail to extend therapeutic benefit to the patient population suffering from impotence and infertility. Research studies: There are in vitro and in vivo models for studying Aphrodisiac activity. Methods included in the study include a) physical methods including mating behavior test such as mount latency] (ML), intromission latency (IL), ejaculation latency (EL), mounting frequency (MF), intromission frequency(if), ejaculation frequency(ef), postejaculatory interval, index of libido, computed male parameters. Other tests are test for libido, test for sexual potency, penile microcirculation study, intracavernous pressure(icp), and biochemical methods such as determination of testicular and serum cholesterol, hormonal determination, assay for neuronal nitric acid synthase and androgen receptor protein. Research conducted at TBGRI, Trivandrum has revealed that the alcohol extract of Argeria nervosa can enhance male sexual activity in normal mice. xiv Another interesting observation from this study was that alcohol extract of Argeria nervosa altered sex ratio favoring males. A number of phytomedicines have positive effects on spermatogenesis, sperm parameters (sperm motility, count and viability); increasing Leydig cell counts, seminiferous tubule diameters, decreasing abnormal sperm and improving histopathological recovery and sexual stimulation (erection, intromission and ejaculatory latency); increasing concentration andmotility of sperm in ejaculation volume CONCLUSION A good number of single drug recipies and formulations (eg. Vanarigutika, Akarakarbhadivati etc..) are mentioned in various Ayurvedic texts written from 1000 BC to 18th AD. Certain formulations are in vogue in current practice. So far no solid scientific validation is produced to support the claim made with regard to aphrodisiac activity of Ayurvedic drugs. I J E P P J u l y - S e p t e m b e r 2018 V o l 4 I s s u e 3 Page 72

4 Table :1 Scientific validation of certain drugs Drug Extract Result Asparagus racemosus xv Aqueous root extract Enhanced body weight Reproductive organ, Penile erection Mount frequency Chlorophytum borivilianum xvi Crocus sativus xvii Curculigo orchioides xviii Mucuna pruriens xix Myristicafragrans xx Aqueous root extract Aqueous extract stigma, crocin, safranal Ethanolic extract of rhizomes Ethanolic extract Clinical study Infertile men with psychological stress- evaluated with questionnaire and serum cortisol level Significant enhancement of body weight and reproductive organs, penile erection, MF Significant reduction in ML, EL and IL. Crocin and stigma extract shown significant improvement in MF, IF and reduction in ML,EL and IL Significant increase in Penile erection, mating performance, MF, and increase of penile erection index, and weight of reproductive organs Increased MF, IF and EL Decreased mounting latency, IL, Post ejaculatory interval, intromission interval significantly ameliorated psychological stress and seminal plasma lipid peroxide levels along with improved sperm count and motility. Treatment also restored the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, GSH and ascorbic acid in seminal plasma of infertile men Significant augmentation of sexual activity. Increased MF, IF and EL. Decreased mounting latency, IL, Post ejaculatory interval, intromission interval Ocimum gratissimum xxi Ethanolic extract Increase in MF, IF and IL Erection as well as aggregate of penile reflexes, Significant reduction in ML, Post ejaculatory interval Pedalium murex xxii Petroleum ether extract Increase in mating and mounting behavior, body weight, percentage of pregnancy, litter size, sperm motility, increased level of testosterone, germinal cells and luminal spermatozoa Tribulus terrestris xxiii Increase in mating and mounting I J E P P J u l y - S e p t e m b e r 2018 V o l 4 I s s u e 3 Page 73

5 behavior Increase in MF, IF and IL Significant reduction in ML, Post ejaculatory interval Mimosa pudica xxiv Ethanolic extract Significant sexual function enhancing activity- increased mounting and intromission frequency( libido and potency indicators) Gain in body weight and reproductive organ weighttestosterone activity Withaniasomnifera xxv Clinical study in 46 patients with oligospremia for 90 days There was a 167% increase in sperm count 53% increase in semen volume 57% increase in sperm motility REFERENCE i Pt. Parasurama Sastri, Vidyasagar Editor Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi; Prathama khanda.4/14-15; p 38 ii Ibidem 1 iii Vd. Yadavaji Trikamaji Acharya and Narayan Ram Acharya Kavyatirtha, editor, Susruta Samhita Of Susruta with Nibandhasangraha Commentary of Sri Dalhanacharya and the Nyayachandrika Panjika of Sri Gayadasacharya on Nidanasthana, Sutrasthana, 1/8, Reprint edition 2004, Chaukhamba Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, p 3. iv Ibidem 1 Dipika commentary of Adhamlla v Ibidem 1 Dipika commentary of Adhamalla vi Varanasi, Chikithsasthana 2/1/ 3; p 390 vii Varanasi; Chikithsasthana 2/1/ 4; p 390 viii Varanasi, Chikithsasthana 2/1/ 51; p 392 ix Varanasi, Chikthsasthana 2/4/ 36; p 397 x Varanasi, Chikthsasthana 2/2/ 20; p 393 xi Pt. Parasurama Sastri, Vidyasagar Editor Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi; Uthara khanda.11/114; p368 xii Pt. Parasurama Sastri, Vidyasagar Editor I J E P P J u l y - S e p t e m b e r 2018 V o l 4 I s s u e 3 Page 74

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