Screening for performance enhancing substances and quantification of ethanol in different Arishta manufactured in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background Arishta have been used in ayurveda medicine for over thousands of years in Sri Lanka to treat various diseases. Ashwagandharishta, Balarishta and Dashamoolarishta are usually prescribed to obtain an anabolic effect, and Ashwagandharishta and Dashamoolarishta for androgenic effect in males. Thus, these arishta have shown similar effects as anabolic androgenic steroids and stimulants in western medicine. Therefore, arishta could potentially be used by athletes to improve their performance in sports leading to unintentional doping. Additionally, ethanol develops in-source during arista fermentation, which can affect athletes health. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether the anabolic androgenic steroids or stimulants banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) were present in these arishta, and to determined their ethanol content. Methods Methanol extractions of Ashwagandarishta, Balarishta and Dashamoolarishta from four different manufacturers were screened for 21 stimulants and 22 anabolic androgenic steroids banned by WADA, using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS). Ethanol content of the twelve arishta samples were also measured. Results Anabolic androgenic steroids or stimulants were not present in the tested arishta samples, and percentage volume by volume (v/v) ethanol content of all arishta samples were between (5.80-8.35) +/- 0.5. Conclusion The tested brands of Ashwagandharishta, Balarishta and Dashamoolarishta did not contain stimulants or anabolic androgenic steroids banned by WADA.