Immunomodulatory effects of Swarnamakshika Bhasma : A Experimental Study

Abstract

The present day lifestyle and food habits have increased the production of free radicals. These cytotoxic free radicals not only raise the oxidative stress but also play an important role in the immune-system dysfunction due to which the mankind is prone to various major ailments and it is now proved that diseases like Prameha, Pandu, Vatavyadhi etc. are free radical mediated ones. To tackle these free radicals our body needs antioxidants. An antioxidant is a molecule which is capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals which in turn start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates and inhibit other oxidation reactions. Many herbals drugs and compound herbal preparations have been screened for their antioxidant and immuno-modulatory properties but still there is a need for effective antioxidants. This dearth and also the fact that Swarnamakshika is being used in treating many of the free radical mediated diseases prompted us to take the present study which aims to validate the immuno-modulatory effect of Swarnamakshika Bhasma scientifically and explain its probable mode of action at the cellular level.