AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF BASTI KARMA OVER RATS: AN EVIDENCE BASED AYURVEDA THERAPY FOR PARKINSONS DISEASE

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Understanding of Parkinson's disease in terms of Ayurveda can be done under the Vatavyadhi, to be specific, caused due to the Avarana of vata. By keeping all these points Madhu taillika basti was selected for study. To give preclinical support to this study Animal experimentation was carried out on Albino rats to determine the influence of Matra basti (MB) and Madhu tailika basti (MTB) on Psychoneuro-pharmacological activity profile. The present study aimed at assessing the anti-Parkinsonian activity of the test basti against well-known experimental models. Healthy Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing about 150-200 g were selected and divided into 4 groups. Group 1 Control group, Group 2 Standard group (activity specific), Group 3 Basti group (ordinary or non-Murchita tila taila) and Group 4 Test group (Madhu tailika basti). Animal experimentation revealed that both Matra basti and Madhu tailika basti have produced highly significant anti-depressant effect in behavioural 'despair' test. Both produced significant anti-anxiety activity, open field apparatus test a complex behavior pattern was observed. In the memory and learning related test both the test procedures did not affect the learning process significantly but both produced remarkable reversal of the amnesic effect of scopolamine, this indicates memory enhancing effect. Similarly, antiamnesic effect was observed in CAR based protocol also. Both improved the performance of the rats on the rota rod. Both the test procedures produced good anti-parkinsonian activity. Animal experimentation revealed that both Matra basti and Madhu tailika basti have no effect on general gross behavior.