You are on page 1of 5

Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 28 Series 12 2 DECEMBER - 2022 ISSN: 2455-1384

A Review on Antitoxic Effects of Haridra Against Gara Visha


Dr. Bharat Bhushan, PG Scholar, Dept.of Agada Tantra,R.G. Govt. PG Ayurvedic College, Paprola, H.P.
*Dr. Jaram Singh, Professor, HOD, Dept.of Agada Tantra,R.G. Govt. PG Ayurvedic College, Paprola, H.P.
Dr. Rajveer, Lecturer, Dept.of Agada Tantra,R.G. Govt. PG Ayurvedic College, Paprola, H.P.
*Corresponding author: drjaramsingh@gmail.com
Received on: 17-09-2022 Accepted: 02-10-2022 Corrected: 22-10-2022
Background: Poison is a substance that kills, injures or harms living organism through its chemicals. It is
termed as Visha in Ayurveda. Three types of Visha are mentioned in Ayurveda including sthavara, jangham
and kritrima. Kritrima visha is further classified as Dushi and Gara visha. Gara visha is incompatible
combination of poisonous and non-poisonous substances. It causes weakening of digestive system and other
immunity related disorders. To treat these toxic effects vishaghna drugs are mentioned. Haridra is one of
them working through different mechanism to improve the conditions.
2. Materials and Methods: Various literatures including scientific articles, books and databases were searched.
3. Result: 3.1: Anti-inflammatory effects: Essential oil and curcuminoids of Haridra have proven anti-
inflammatory effects through nociceptive effects, inflammatory mediators and expression of inducible nitric
oxide synthase.
3.2: Antioxidant effects: Haridra has shown to reversal of oxidative stress through various pathways.
3.3: Gastroprotective effects: The works on gastroprotective effects of Haridra have shown antiulcer
activities.
3.4: Hepatoprotective and Spleen protector effects: Haridra is proven to work through antioxidant activities
and regulations of gene expression responsible hepatic damage.
3.5: Antidiabetic effects: Curcumin is shown to improve the function of β-cell.
3.6: Effects against asthma, cough and fever: The improvement in condition of cough, dyspnoea and fevers
has been shown.
4. Conclusion: Haridra works perfectly to improve the conditions generated by toxic effects of Gara visha.
Keywords: Visha, Gara visha, Haridra, Curcumin, Curcuma longa.......
Paracelsus, the father of toxicology mentioned that the dose differentiates poison from drugs and others1.
However, Merriam-webster dictionary defines poison as a substance that through its chemical action usually kills,
injures or impairs an organism2. Originally, poison may be biological or non-biological, but toxins are chemical
substances of biological origin3. They usually do not later the metabolic functions within organisms of their origin, but
act as offensive or defensive reactions to other organism4. It means both have toxic effects. So, both are classified as
Visha (poison) in Ayurveda.
On the basis of origin, Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita have classified poison in two types as
sthavara (immobile) and jangham (mobile)5,6. Poison of vegetable and mineral origins are placed under sthavara
while those from animal origins are under jangham. Sharangdhara Samhita has added one more types along with
sthavara and jangham i.e., kritrima (synthetic or artificial) visha7. Kritrima visha is further classified as Gara
and Dushi visha8. Gara visha is incompatible combination of poisonous and non-poisonous substances that exerts
toxic effects causing deterioration of health leading to death9. If any visha vitiates the dhatu, it is called as dushi
visha. It is aggravated direct breeze, uncooked food, cold, cloudy winter, sleeping during the day, ingestion of
unsuitable food etc. leading to specific diseases10. Due to Gara visha, person becomes pale and emaciated. Digestive
system weakens and disorders of liver and spleen are mentioned. Cough, dyspnoea, fever and upward movement of
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 28 Series 12 3 DECEMBER - 2022 ISSN: 2455-1384
vata are suggested.11
To counter the toxic effects of different types of visha, vishaghna (anti-poison) drugs are used. Charak
Sutrasthana 4/16 has mentioned vishaghna dashemani as Haridra, Manjistha, Suvaha, Sukshmaila, Palindi,
Chandana, Kataka, Sirisha, Sindhuvara and Sleshmataka12. In number of places in Charak Samhita and
Sushruta Samhita, Haridra is referred to various diseases including skin diseases, arthritis, psychosis and other
problems, either as single drug or part of formulation with other drugs. In vitro and animal studies have shown that
the Haridra possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-tumor, anti-inflaammatory, wound healing and gastroprotective
activities. These are toxic effects of Gara visha. The mechanism of action is discussed in present study.
2. Materials and Methods
Ayurvedic classical literatures, journals and other publications were screened. Articles from databases of
PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for related topics were searched and studied in details.
3. Result
3.1:Anti-inflammatory effects: The anti-inflammatory drugs act through receptors, signalling pathways, regula-
tion of mediators to response tissue and by working on medium on target tissue14. The main chemical constituents of
rhizome of Haridra are volatile oil and non-volatile curcuminoids15. The dried rhizome contains 1.5-5% volatile
oil16.
Liju and others (2011) presented the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil of Haridra on carrageenan-
induced acute inflammatory model, dextran-induced acute inflammatory model and formalin-induced chronic
inflammatory model17. Anti-nociceptive activity was also shown on Balb/C mice17. The essential oil also provides
synergistic effects to curcumin for its anti-inflammatory effects as revealed by Todon et al. (2017) 18. The study
showed the better efficacy of essential oil-curcumin in compared to curcumin in terms of improved disease activity
index. The upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL (interleukin)-10 and IL-11 and FOXP3 (forkhead
box P3) was noted in dextran sodium sulfate- induced colitis in animal model18. Tumerones, major components of
volatile oil, have successfully been evaluated for its activity against inflammation in xylene-induced ear edema and
cotton pellet granuloma models in albino Swiss mice19. Kumar et al. (2018) demonstrated the inhibitory effects of
essential oil from waste leaves of Haridra under in vitro study against production of pro-inflammatory cytokines
(tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6m IL-1β in the human keratinocyte cell line20. Topical application also ameliorated
pro-inflammatory cytokines at protein and mRNA levels in tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate- induced mouse model
of inflammation20. Funk et al. (2010) studied the inhibitory effect of essential oil in female rats with streptococcal cell
wall (SCW)- induced arthritis21.
Other than volatile oil, 95% concentration of three curcuminoids are present naming curcumin,
bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin22. The anti-inflammatory effect and neuroprotective activity of
curcumin was studied. Zhang and others (2019)have shown that the curcumin to decrease the expression of iNOS
(inducible nitric oxide synthase), IL-1β, IL-6 and CD/16/3223,24. It was also responsible for attenuation of TLR4/
NF-kB (toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappaB) by balancing and alleviation of LPS (lipopolysaccharide)- induced
inflammation23,24. Li et al. (2019) found by both in vivo and in vitro study that curcumin effectively attenuates cigar-
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 28 Series 12 4 DECEMBER - 2022 ISSN: 2455-1384
-ette smoke-induced inflammation through modulation of PPARy (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y)-
NFkB pathway25. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are also shown through inhibition of the Janus kinase
(JAK)-sgnal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway26.
3.2: Antioxidant effects: Antioxidant are molecules or compounds able to decrease the oxidative damage by
reacting with free radicals or by inhibiting the activity or expression of free radicals27. Qiang and others (2021) have
shown the DPHH free radical scavenging activity of volatile of Haridra28. The antioxidant activities of turmeric
essential oil resulting to neuroprotective activity against cerebral ischemia in rats through caspase pathway is shown
by Rathode et al. (2008)29.
The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) result for the ovarian oxidative stress induced in female
Kunming mice has shown reversal of oxidative stress through MDA (malondialdehyde), SOD (superoxide dismutase)
and glutathione peroxidase pathways30. Sokmen and Khan (2016) have shown the antioxidant activities of curcumin
with other curcuminoids through DPHH and β-carotene assay31. Mosovska and others (2016) found antioxidant
activities of curcumin through ABTS and FRAP assays32.
3.3: Gastroprotective effects: Various aetiologies work together to cause gastrointestinal problems as reactive
oxygen species, nitric acid oxide synthase, lipid peroxidation, excessive secretion of acid, non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs, Heliocobacter pylori, foods etc.33 Many of these factors are also related with inflammation,
aging and necrotic effects on drugs. The acetone extract of turmeric has been proven for gastroprotective effects
against ethanol-induced damage in Wistar rats34. Molecular weight modified pectin from turmeric is responsible for
antiulcer effects in rats by limiting the inflammatory factors35. Curcumin is significantly shown for its gastroprotective
effects through indomethacin-induced gastric injury model in rats36.
3.4: Hepatoprotective and Spleen protector effects: Oxidative stress is a crucial factor for causing functional
abnormalities in the liver as hepatocytic proteins, lipids and DNA are easily affected by ROS (reactive oxygen
species)37. Such stress is induced by various agents including alcohol, drugs, viral infection, environmental pollutants,
liver fibrosis, cirrhosis etc.38 Curcumin is proven antioxidant, inhibits lipid peroxidation and neutralize ROS by various
modes including induction of haem oxygenase-1, a Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor) regulated gene
playing a pivotal role to reduce many of stress39,40,41. Crude curcuminoid extract showed a significant cellular recovery
of hepatocytes and reduction of hepatic enzymes and thiobarbituric acid reactive species values in carbon tetrachloride
induced hepatic damage42. It also helps to restore lymphocyte viability in thrombocytes and splenic helper
lymphocytes42.
3.5: Antidiabetic effects: Both in vitro and in vivo studies show effectiveness of curcumin in delaying of diabetes
by prevention of β-cell death and improvement of functions of β-cell43. It has protective role against glycation. It
reduces blood glucose by regulation of polyol pathway in diabetic rats44.
3.6: Effects against asthma, cough and fever: A clinical study of 77 patients showed improvement in forced
expiratory volume one second using curcumin. Clinical assessment was done for dyspnoea, wheezing cough, chest
tightness and nocturnal symptoms45. Curcumin is also observed attenuating lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness
behaviour and fever in rats through modulation of Nrf2 activity46.
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 28 Series 12 5 DECEMBER - 2022 ISSN: 2455-1384
4. Conclusion
Screening of various researches done on Haridra and its constituents proves the efficacy of Haridra in
amelioration of effects generated due to Gara visha. Effects of Gara visha are related with response of immune
system. Haridra is proven for immunomodulatory effects through various mechanism for improvement in wound-
healing, inflammation, cough, fever, diabetes etc. Classical texts suggest the gradual and sustained effects of Gara
visha in long terms, so understanding based on genetic modification responsible for various metabolic changes are
required. Gene expression studies based mentioned effects are needed.
Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest lies as per author.
Funding: Not funded
References:
1. Grandjean P. (2016). Paracelsus Revisited: The Dose Concept in a Complex World. Basic & clinical pharmacology &
toxicology, 119(2), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.12622
2. Available on: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison (accessed on: 09-08-2022).
3. Pita, R., Anadón, A., Romero, A. and Kuca, K. (2020). Chapter 7 - Chemical weapons of mass destruction and terrorism: a threat
analysis. Editor(s): Ramesh C. Gupta in Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents. Third Edition. pp. 79-94.
Academic Press.
4. Madsen, J.M. (2005). Bio Warfare and Terrorism: Toxins and Other Mid-Spectrum Agents, Editor(s): Philip Wexler in
Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Second Edition). pp. 273-279. Elsevier.
5. Sharma, P.V. (2001). Trans. Sushruta Samhita, Vol. III. Kalpasthana 2/3. p.16. Chaukhambha Viswabharati, Varanasi.
6. Sharma, P.V. (1998). Trans. Charak Samhita, Vol. II. Fourth ed. Chikitsa sthana 23/6. p.365. Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi.
7. Tripathi, B. (2017). Comment. Sharangdharaaamhita. Purvakhanda: 7/196, p.83. Chaukhambha Surbharati Publication, Varanasi.
8. Ibid. Tripathi, B. (2017). Comment. Sharangdharaaamhita. Purvakhanda: 7/200-201, p.83.
9. Ibid. Sharma, P.V. (1998). Trans. Charak Samhita, Vol. II. Fourth ed. Chikitsa sthana 23/14. p.365.
10. Murthy, K.R.S. (2008). Vagbhat’s Ashtanga Hridayam. Vol. III. Uttarasthana: 35/33-37. pp. 333-334. Chowkhamba Krishnadas
Academy.
11. Ibid. Murthy, K.R.S. (2008). Vagbhat’s Ashtanga Hridayam. Vol. III. Uttarasthana: 35/50b-54a. pp. 336-337.
12. Sharma, P.V. (2014). Trans. Charak Samhita, Vol. I. Revised ed. Sutrasthana 4/16. p.26. Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi.
13. Hosseini, A., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2018). Antidotal or protective effects of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and its active ingredient,
curcumin, against natural and chemical toxicities: A review. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine &
pharmacotherapie, 99, 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.072
14. Medzhitov R. (2010). Inflammation 2010: new adventures of an old flame. Cell, 140(6), 771–776. https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.cell.2010.03.006
15. Dosoky, N. S., & Setzer, W. N. (2018). Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils
of Curcuma Species. Nutrients, 10(9), 1196. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091196
16. Li, S., Yuan, W., Deng, G., Wang, P., Yang, P. and Aggarwal, B. (2011). “Chemical composition and product quality control of
turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)”. Faculty Publications. Paper 1. http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/agriculture_facultypubs/1
17. Liju, V. B., Jeena, K., & Kuttan, R. (2011). An evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities of
essential oil from Curcuma longa. L. Indian journal of pharmacology, 43(5), 526–531. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.84961
18. Toden, S., Theiss, A. L., Wang, X., & Goel, A. (2017). Essential turmeric oils enhance anti-inflammatory efficacy of curcumin
in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Scientific reports, 7(1), 814. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00812-6
19. Bagad, A. S., Joseph, J. A., Bhaskaran, N., & Agarwal, A. (2013). Comparative Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of
Curcuminoids, Turmerones, and Aqueous Extract of Curcuma longa. Advances in pharmacological sciences, 2013, 805756.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/805756
20. Kumar, A., Agarwal, K., Singh, M., Saxena, A., Yadav, P., Maurya, A. K., Yadav, A., Tandon, S., Chanda, D., & Bawankule, D. U.
(2018). Essential oil from waste leaves of Curcuma longa L. alleviates skin inflammation. Inflammopharmacology, 26(5),
1245–1255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0447-3
21. Funk, J. L., Frye, J. B., Oyarzo, J. N., Zhang, H., & Timmermann, B. N. (2010). Anti-arthritic effects and toxicity of the essential
oils of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(2), 842–849. https://doi.org/10.1021/
jf9027206
22. Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 6(10),
92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6100092.
23. Zhang, J., Zheng, Y., Luo, Y., Du, Y., Zhang, X., & Fu, J. (2019). Curcumin inhibits LPS-induced neuroinflammation by
promoting microglial M2 polarization vi a TREM2/ TLR4/ NF-κB pathways in BV2 cells. Molecular immunology, 116, 29–37.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2019.09.020
Newsletter of ARMARC Vol 28 Series 12 6 DECEMBER - 2022 ISSN: 2455-1384
24. Gao, Y., Zhuang, Z., Lu, Y., Tao, T., Zhou, Y., Liu, G., Wang, H., Zhang, D., Wu, L., Dai, H., Li, W., & Hang, C. (2019). Curcumin
Mitigates Neuro-Inflammation by Modulating Microglia Polarization Through Inhibiting TLR4 Axis Signaling Pathway
Following Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Frontiers in neuroscience, 13, 1223. https://doi.org/10.3389/
fnins.2019.01223
25. Li, Q., Sun, J., , Mohammadtursun, N., , Wu, J., , Dong, J., , & Li, L., (2019). Curcumin inhibits cigarette smoke-induced
inflammation via modulating the PPARγ-NF-κB signaling pathway. Food & function, 10(12), 7983–7994. https://doi.org/
10.1039/c9fo02159k
26. Ashrafizadeh, M., Rafiei, H., Mohammadinejad, R., Afshar, E. G., Farkhondeh, T., & Samarghandian, S. (2020). Potential
therapeutic effects of curcumin mediated by JAK/STAT signaling pathway: A review. Phytotherapy research: PTR, 34(8),
1745–1760. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6642
27. Lü, J. M., Lin, P. H., Yao, Q., & Chen, C. (2010). Chemical and molecular mechanisms of antioxidants: experimental approaches
and model systems. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine, 14(4), 840–860. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-
4934.2009.00897.x
28. Qiang, Y., Si, R., Tan, S., Wei, H., Huang, B., Wu, M., Shi, M., Fang, L., Fu, J., & Zeng, S. (2021). Spatial variation of volatile
organic compounds and antioxidant activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) essential oils harvested from four provinces of
China. Current research in food science, 4, 882–890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2021.11.002
29. Rathore, P., Dohare, P., Varma, S., Ray, A., Sharma, U., Jagannathan, N. R., & Ray, M. (2008). Curcuma oil: reduces early
accumulation of oxidative product and is anti-apoptogenic in transient focal ischemia in rat brain. Neurochemical
research, 33(9), 1672–1682. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9515-6
30. Wang, X. N., Zhang, C. J., Diao, H. L., & Zhang, Y. (2017). Protective Effects of Curcumin against Sodium Arsenite-induced
Ovarian Oxidative Injury in a Mouse Model. Chinese medical journal, 130(9), 1026–1032. https://doi.org/10.4103/0366-
6999.204927
31. Sökmen, M., & Akram Khan, M. (2016). The antioxidant activity of some curcuminoids and
chalcones. Inflammopharmacology, 24(2-3), 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-016-0264-5
32. Mosovska, S., Petakova, P., Kalinak, M. and Mikulajova, A. (2016). “Antioxidant properties of curcuminoids isolated from
Curcuma longa L.”. Acta Chimica Slovaca. 9(2): 130-135.
33. Yadav, S. K., Sah, A. K., Jha, R. K., Sah, P., & Shah, D. K. (2013). Turmeric (curcumin) remedies gastroprotective
action. Pharmacognosy reviews, 7(13), 42–46. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.112843
34. Orona-Ortiz, A., Velázquez-Moyado, J. A., Pineda-Peña, E. A., Balderas-López, J. L., Tavares Carvalho, J. C., & Navarrete, A.
(2021). Effect of the proportion of curcuminoids on the gastroprotective action of Curcuma longa L. in rats. Natural product
research, 35(11), 1903–1908. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2019.1644504
35. Rajagopal, H. M., Manjegowda, S. B., Serkad, C., & Dharmesh, S. M. (2018). A modified pectic polysaccharide from turmeric
(Curcuma longa) with antiulcer effects via anti-secretary, mucoprotective and IL-10 mediated anti-inflammatory
mechanisms. International journal of biological macromolecules, 118(Pt A), 864–880. https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.ijbiomac.2018.06.053
36. Díaz-Triste, N. E., González-García, M. P., Jiménez-Andrade, J. M., Castañeda-Hernández, G., & Chávez-Piña, A. E. (2014).
Pharmacological evidence for the participation of NO-cGMP-KATP pathway in the gastric protective effect of curcumin
against indomethacin-induced gastric injury in the rat. European journal of pharmacology, 730, 102–106. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.02.030
37. Cichoż-Lach, H., & Michalak, A. (2014). Oxidative stress as a crucial factor in liver diseases. World journal of
gastroenterology, 20(25), 8082–8091. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8082
38. Farzaei, M. H., Zobeiri, M., Parvizi, F., El-Senduny, F. F., Marmouzi, I., Coy-Barrera, E., Naseri, R., Nabavi, S. M., Rahimi, R., &
Abdollahi, M. (2018). Curcumin in Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Cellular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and
Clinical Perspective. Nutrients, 10(7), 855. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10070855
39. Ak, T., & Gülçin, I. (2008). Antioxidant and radical scavenging properties of curcumin. Chemico-biological interactions, 174(1),
27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2008.05.003
40. Priyadarsini K. I. (1997). Free radical reactions of curcumin in membrane models. Free radical biology & medicine, 23(6),
838–843. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0891-5849(97)00026-9
41. Balogun, E., Hoque, M., Gong, P., Killeen, E., Green, C. J., Foresti, R., Alam, J., & Motterlini, R. (2003). Curcumin activates the
haem oxygenase-1 gene via regulation of Nrf2 and the antioxidant-responsive element. The Biochemical journal, 371(Pt 3),
887–895. https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20021619
42. Abu-Rizq, H. A., Mansour, M. H., Safer, A. M., & Afzal, M. (2008). Cyto-protective and immunomodulating effect of Curcuma
longa in Wistar rats subjected to carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress. Inflammopharmacology, 16(2), 87–95. https:/
/doi.org/10.1007/s10787-007-1621-1
43. Pivari, F., Mingione, A., Brasacchio, C., & Soldati, L. (2019). Curcumin and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevention and
Treatment. Nutrients, 11(8), 1837. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081837
44. Nabavi, S. F., Thiagarajan, R., Rastrelli, L., Daglia, M., Sobarzo-Sánchez, E., Alinezhad, H., & Nabavi, S. M. (2015). Curcumin:
a natural product for diabetes and its complications. Current topics in medicinal chemistry, 15(23), 2445–2455.
45. Abidi, A., Gupta, S., Agarwal, M., Bhalla, H. L., & Saluja, M. (2014). Evaluation of Efficacy of Curcumin as an Add-on therapy
in Patients of Bronchial Asthma. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 8(8), HC19–HC24. https://doi.org/
10.7860/JCDR/2014/9273.4705
46. Reis, L., Oliveira, M. K., Rojas, V. C. T., Batista, T. H., Estevam, E. S., Vitor-Vieira, F., Vilela, F. C., & Giusti-Paiva, A. (2022).
Curcumin attenuates LPS-induced sickness behavior and fever in rats by modulating Nrf2 activity. Neuroscience letters, 781,
136680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136680 *****

You might also like