HOME REMEDY: The bitter taste of Triphala generally fails to elicit a happy expression

Triphala is a popular herbal formula commonly prescribed by practitioners of ayurveda. Triphala (literally meaning three fruits) is a mixture of three herbs ? Amalaki (Embelica officinalis), Haritiki (Terminalia chebula) and Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica) ? in equal proportions.

Till recently, it was prescribed for complaints of constipation and some other gastro-enterological ailments. And it has proved effective in cleansing and toning the gastrointestinal tract, detoxifying the body and enhancing digestion.

Antioxidant

However, researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have discovered that this traditional Indian medicine can cure much more than irregular bowel movement. According to them, Triphala is also a potent antioxidant and “radio-protecting agent” that can promote immunity, especially against the carcinogenic effects of radiation (such as sunburns). “Triphala has both antioxidant and radio-protecting properties, which enables it to scavenge for free radicals produced by the exposure to radiation,” Dr K.I. Priyadarshani and her colleagues write in the journal Current Science.

The study holds promise because excessive production of free radicals ? termed “oxidative stress” ? is responsible for many heart diseases, cancer and age-related ailments.

Free radicals, Priyadarshani explains, are molecules or atoms having one or more unpaired electrons which makes them highly reactive. “Aerobic organisms, which need an oxygen-abundant environment to breathe, go on producing a number of free radicals in living cells during respiration and metabolism. This induces multiple chemical changes in cellular organelles like membrane lipids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and proteins,” Priyadarshini says.

Antioxidants, however, prevent the combination of cellular organelles with oxygen. These can therefore be used to minimise the unwanted effects of excessive free radicals. Antioxidants, vitamins, polyphenols (natural plant anti-oxidants), flavonoids (certain compounds found in fruits and vegetables) are also effective scavengers of free radicals, she adds.

Oxidative stress

Priyadarshini says, “Cells exposed to ionising radiation have effects like oxidative stress.” She explains that water is the major constituent of cells. This water undergoes radiolysis or splits up owing to radiation.

This reaction produces hydroxyl radicals. These radicals react with cellular organelles just like the free radicals produced by oxidative stress. “Owing to this similarity, an antioxidant can also act as a radio-protector in principle,” she says.

Small doses

The researchers point out that a mixture of antioxidants, like Triphala, in small doses is more effective than a single antioxidant substance, like those found in modern medicines. Moreover, herbal and plant extracts used in ayurvedic formulations are better because they are of natural origin and have fewer side effects than synthetic antioxidants.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO), too, has recognised the importance of traditional medicines. It has been actively creating strategies, guidelines and standards for selling herbal cures like those prescribed by ayurveda," Priyadarshini says.

United approach

According to figures released by WHO, 65 per cent of Indians use traditional medicines for primary health care. However, these formulations are yet to be accepted by the international community. This is due to several limitations like the lack of proper communication among different groups working in institutions or hospitals in the country and outside.

Therefore the need is to ensure a multidisciplinary approach starting from standardisation to clinical testing of different herbal formulations, so that the country’s bio-diversity can be transformed into its economic wealth.