Scientific review on indication and therapeutic effects of selected nootropic herbs/drugs from Kashyapa Samhita
Authors: Kumar Shobhit , Namburi Uday Ravi Sekhar , Chiluveri Ashwin C. , Londhe Deepak , Dora Binod B. , Chiluveri Sudha K. , Chinchalkar Shital 
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Ayurveda Samhita's has documented nootropic drugs, which may play crucial role in brain development during infancy and early childhood. Any deviation in brain development can affect the overall personality and result in low IQ, poor cognitive function, defective learning, impairment in memory, language, speech, and social communication in later life of child. As a result, knowledge of nootropic medicines is critical for dealing with memory-related symptoms in children.

Objective:

The present review is to explore the therapeutic domain of Medhya Rasayana (nootropic drugs) mentioned by Acharya Kashyapa in the light of recently reported contemporary evidence.

Materials and Methods:

Kashyapa Samhita was reviewed in terms of description of Medhya Rasayana or Medhya drugs including single and compound drugs. The electronic database such as PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature published from time of their inception to 2020, with results restricted to report in English language and information was extracted from different published articles as per the search criteria.

Results:

Important nootropic drugs mentioned by Acharya Kashyapa are Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.), Triphala (Phyllanthus emblica L., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Terminalia chebula Retz.), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica L.), Vacha (Acorus calamus L.), Trivrut (Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.), Shatapushpa (Anethum graveolens L.), Nagabala (Grewia hirsuta Vahl.) and Danti (Baliospermum montanum (Willd.) Müll.Arg.), Brahmi Ghrita, Kalyanaka Ghrita, and Pancha-Gavya Ghrita, etc. These herbs/drugs have a positive effect on memory; improve the intellect, learning, memory, language, and speech of a child. Moreover, these drugs have shown potential therapeutic actions like cognitive function, antiepileptic effect, antianxiety effect, sedative, tranquilizer, antidepressant, antioxidant, antistress, and adaptogenic effect. Specific medicinal herbs like Triphala, O. turpethum, and P. zeylanica under nootropic drugs are found to act through “gut-brain” axis.

Conclusion:

Nootropic drugs mentioned in Kashyapa Samhita is very unique contribution and in recent times these drugs are scientifically validated in pre-clinical and clinical trials, which plays an important role for brain development in pediatric age group. These drugs are clinically tested for promoting mental health since ancient times. Moreover, most of the pre-clinical/clinical studies have proved that nootropic herbs/drugs are useful in many diseases like epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, speech disorders, etc. Clinical studies may be planned on pediatric psychological/mental health issues taking leads from the available anecdotal evidence as well as pre-clinical evidence to generate robust empirical evidence which can be used to promote better physical and mental health in a child.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Nootropic herbs/drugs are unique drugs mentioned by Kashyapa Samhita, which are having evidence for providing better mental health as well as in the treatment of many neurological disorders.