Swarna Jibanti, a plant used in Ayurveda, shows potential therapeutic activity against chronic fatigue syndrome

Researchers from India investigated the therapeutic activity of a species of orchid used in Ayurvedic medicine against chronic fatigue syndrome. Their findings were published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.

• Swarna jibanti (Coelogyne cristata) is an orchid used in Ayurvedic medicine to promote a healthy life span.
• The researchers assessed the efficacy of the hydro-alcoholic extract of pseudobulbs of C. cristata (CCE) on the behavioral and biochemical changes induced by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in aged Wistar rats compared to Panax ginseng (PG), a prototype anti-stress agent.
• The researchers subjected rats to forced swimming for 15 minutes each day for 21 consecutive days to induce CFS.
• The researchers measured CFS using locomotor activity, depression and anxiety using an automated photactometer, immobility time and plus maze activity, respectively. They also performed acute toxicity study of CCE (up to 2 grams (g)/ kilogram (kg), Limit test).
• For CFS, they divided the rats into five groups: naive control, control, CCE treated (25 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), 250 mg/kg b.w.) and standard PG treated (100 mg/kg b.w.) groups. They gave the drugs to the rats orally for 21 consecutive days together with CFS.
• The researchers assessed their behavioral parameters. They also determined the antioxidant potential of CCE in vivo using lipid peroxides, nitrite, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in brain tissue.
• Their investigation yielded the following results:
  • CCE was non-toxic.
  • CCE-treated aged rats significantly improved in terms of spontaneous locomotor movement; CCE decreased the mobility period or depression score.
  • In rats with CFS, CCE enhanced the time spent in open arms and reduced the time spent in closed arms compared to CFS control, indicating reduced anxiety score.
  • CCE treatment reduced lipid peroxidation and nitrite and SOD levels. It also significantly enhanced catalase level with respect to CFS control. PG also showed similar actions.

These findings indicate that CCE has potential therapeutic actions against induced CFS in aged rats that might be due to its CNS mediatory antioxidant properties.

Find the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Mitra A, Sur TK, Upadhyay S, Bhattacharyya D, Hazra J. EFFECT OF COELOGYNE CRISTATA LINDLEY IN ALLEVIATION OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME IN AGED WISTAR RATS. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2017;9(4):266–271. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2017.06.011