Biotechnology and Microbiology

Background & Objective: Gandhaka Rasayana (GR), a sulfur based ayurvedic formulation is used extensively in treatment of various skin and gastro-intestinal disorders and in healing of chronic non healing wounds. The rasayana is believed to play a significant role in repairing or rejuvenating of cellular functions. In this study, we investigated the effect of GR on fibroblast function. Materials & Methods: Conditioned media were obtained from 3T3-L1 and McCoy fibroblast cells treated with GR extract. In-vitro studies were carried out to study the effect of conditioned medium on wound closure and expression of metallothioneins (MTs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMP 1) in A549 cells. Results and Conclusion: GR extract was found to induce increased expression of MTs to an extent of 1.5-1.9 fold in A549 cells. Under the experimental conditions employed, the conditioned media from GR treated McCoy and 3T3 were found to upregulate expression of MTs to an extent of 1.6-2.2 and 1.5 fold respectively in A549 cells. The conditioned medium from McCoy upregulated expression of TIMP 1 in A549 cells to a limited extent of around 1.35 folds. GR appears to affect fibroblast activation and modulate the expression of proteins involved in tissue remodeling. Conditioned media from both the fibroblast cell lines facilitated gap closure in A549 cell layer.

Sushruta has advocated blood letting (Raktamokshana) as one of the main treatment measures especially using leeches (Jalukavacharana), for the management of inflammation, abscess, cellulitis, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases etc. Various recent research studies have reported infection at the site of leech-bite wound, resulting in septicemia in untreated patients. Leech bite site was commonly infected with the bacterial species, which necessitated prophylactic antibiotic cover. But before Jalukavacharana, Sushruta has described a method of preparing or detoxifying the leeches in Haridra (turmeric) water for a period of 45 minutes before it is used on a patient. Four batches of gut samples from both Haridra treated and untreated leeches were subjected to metagenomics study. Total count of gut flora in Haridra treated leeches was found to be lower in comparison to the gut flora in untreated leeches in three of these batches. Count of bacterial species belonging to phyla Proteobacteria and...

Sushruta has advocated blood letting (Raktamokshana) as one of the main treatment measures especially using leeches (Jalukavacharana), for the management of inflammation, abscess, cellulitis, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases etc. Various recent research studies have reported infection at the site of leech-bite wound, resulting in septicemia in untreated patients. Leech bite site was commonly infected with the bacterial species, which necessitated prophylactic antibiotic cover. But before Jalukavacharana, Sushruta has described a method of preparing or detoxifying the leeches in Haridra (turmeric) water for a period of 45 minutes before it is used on a patient. Four batches of gut samples from both Haridra treated and untreated leeches were subjected to metagenomics study. Total count of gut flora in Haridra treated leeches was found to be lower in comparison to the gut flora in untreated leeches in three of these batches. Count of bacterial species belonging to phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, especially the members belonging to proteobacteria was lower in the gut samples obtained from treated leeches.