Sandhu Jaspal Singh, Shah Biren, Shenoy Shweta, Chauhan Suresh, Lavekar G S, Padhi M M
Department of Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab - 143 005, India.
Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010 Jul;1(3):144-9. doi: 10.4103/0974-7788.72485.
Several medicinal plants have been described to be beneficial for cardiac ailments in Ayurveda like Ashwagandha and Arjuna. Ashwagandha-categorised as Rasayanas, and described to promote health and longevity and Arjuna primarily for heart ailments. coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypercholesterolemia, anginal pain and can be considered as a useful drug for coronary artery disease, hypertension and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
There are no scientific clinical studies showing effect of both these drugs on exercise performance after regular administration when given as supplements The present study was therefore designed and performed to assess the effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) individually and as a combination on maximum velocity, average absolute and relative Power, balance, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and blood pressure in humans.
Forty normal healthy. Subjects (either sex, mean age 20.6 ± 2.5yrs and mean Body Mass Index 21.9 ± 2.2) were recruited after written informed consent was obtained. Institutional Ethics Committee permission was also obtained. Thirty participants were assigned to experimental group of which 10 received standardized root extracts of Withania somnifera, 10 received standardized bark extract of Terminalia arjuna and the rest of the 10 received standardized root extract of Withania somnifera in addition to bark extract of Terminalia arjuna both. Both the drugs were given in the form of capsules (dosage 500mg/day for both the drugs). Ten participants received placebo (capsules filled with flour). All the subjects continued the regimen for 8 weeks. All variables were assessed before and after the course of drug administration
Our study showed that Withania somnifera increased velocity, power and VO2 max whereas Terminalia arjuna increased VO2 max and lowered resting systolic blood pressure. When given in combination, the improvement was seen in all parameters except balance and diastolic blood pressure.
Withania somnifera may therefore be useful for generalized weakness and to improve speed and lower limb muscular strength and neuro-muscular co-ordination. Terminalia arjuna may prove useful to improve cardio-vascular endurance and lowering systolic blood pressure. Both drugs appear to be safe for young adults when given for mentioned dosage and duration.
阿育吠陀医学中描述了几种药用植物对心脏疾病有益，如印度人参和铁力木。印度人参属于延缓衰老药，据说能促进健康和长寿，而铁力木主要用于治疗心脏疾病。冠状动脉疾病、心力衰竭、高胆固醇血症、心绞痛，可被视为治疗冠状动脉疾病、高血压和缺血性心肌病的有用药物。
目前尚无科学临床研究表明这两种药物作为补充剂定期给药后对运动表现的影响。因此，本研究旨在评估南非醉茄（印度人参）和铁力木单独及联合使用对人体最大速度、平均绝对和相对功率、平衡能力、最大耗氧量（VO2 max）和血压的影响。
招募了40名正常健康受试者（男女不限，平均年龄20.6±2.5岁，平均体重指数21.9±2.2），并获得了他们的书面知情同意书。同时也获得了机构伦理委员会的许可。30名参与者被分配到实验组，其中10人接受南非醉茄标准化根提取物，10人接受铁力木标准化树皮提取物，其余10人同时接受南非醉茄标准化根提取物和铁力木树皮提取物。两种药物均以胶囊形式给药（两种药物剂量均为500mg/天）。10名参与者接受安慰剂（装有面粉的胶囊）。所有受试者持续该方案8周。在药物给药前后评估所有变量。
我们的研究表明，南非醉茄提高了速度、功率和VO2 max，而铁力木提高了VO2 max并降低了静息收缩压。联合使用时，除平衡能力和舒张压外，所有参数均有改善。
因此，南非醉茄可能对全身虚弱、提高速度和下肢肌肉力量以及神经肌肉协调有用。铁力木可能对提高心血管耐力和降低收缩压有用。当按上述剂量和疗程给药时，这两种药物对年轻人似乎都是安全的。
