THE ANTISTRESS ACTIVITY OF A GEM-CONTAINING UNANI FORMULATION AGAINSTDIVERSE STRESSORS

Drugs of mineral origin, especially gems, are extensively used in Tibb -e-Unani (Unani Medicine), both as single drugs and as compound formul ations. But such drugs have not yet been adequately studied scientific ally. Jawahir Mohra (JM) is one such, as yet unstudied, anti-stress Un ani preparation, containing a few herbal and animal ingredients also. Therefore in the present study, a modified JM preparation was investig ated for its anti-stress activity against physical, chemical and metab olic stimuli. The non-gem complement (NGC) of JM was also studied for action against physical stress. In albino rats stressed by swimming an d subsequently tested for motor function by Rota rod (muscle coordinat ion), activity wheel (forced motor activity) and photoactometer (spont aneous motor activity), JM treatment for 7 days produced a striking an d significant increase in activity. The NGC also increased the activit y significantly which was however less than JM. JM also produced a str iking increase in cold swimming endurance and in the latency of post-a noxia convulsions, while pentylentetrazol (PTZ)-induced defecation and urination in an open field arena under continuous stimulation by inte nse light and sound was significantly decreased. Therefore, the presen t investigation indicates that the gem-containing Unani compound JM ha s significant anti-stress activity of a non-specific type against dive rse stressors. This could be due to adaptogenic activity of the prepar ation. The study also shows that the gems in JM contribute significant ly to its anti-stress activity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.